Geoffrey Smith (gardener)

Geoffrey Smith (born 1928) is a professional gardener, broadcaster, writer and lecturer. He was the presenter of "Gardeners World" from 1980 to 1982 and a number of other BBC series in the early 80s including "Geoffrey Smith's World of Flowers", "Mr Smith’s Flower Garden", "Mr Smith's Favourite Garden" and "Mr Smith’s Indoor Garden" all of which were accompanied by books. [Citation | last =Smith | first =Geoffrey | year =1979 | title =Mr Smith's Indoor Garden | publication-place =London United Kingdom | publisher =BBC Book Publishing |isbn =0563163135]

Biography

Smith trained at the Yorkshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture, which brought him the prize for best all-round student. [cite web |title=Askham Bryan College |publisher=The Independent |date=2007-07-27 |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/askham-bryan-college-458851.html |accessdate=2008-03-20] At the age of 26, he was appointed Superintendent at the Northern Horticultural Society Gardens. He worked as the Superintendent of Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate from 1954 to 1974 where he was known for growing plants which experts had labelled unfit for the northern climate. [cite web |last=Smith |first=Geoffrey |title=It’s green not grim up North |work=The Garden |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |date=2001 |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/Publications/pubs/garden0701/garden_viewpoint.htm
accessdate=2008-03-20 ]

In 1972 he was made an Associate of Honour to the Royal Horticultural Society, for services to gardening, and in 1988 he received an honorary masters degree from the Open University. He won the Garden Writers' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for 2006 at the age of 78.

He made appearances on BBC TV's "Gardening Club" which were followed, in 1976, by his first BBC series, "Mr Smith’s Vegetable Garden". He had a distinctive voice and sharp wit which were well known to radio listeners as he became a regular panelist on Radio 4’s "Gardeners' Question Time".

Smith is a prolific writer, contributing to "The Lady" (for whom he still writes), [cite web | last =Smith |first=Geoffrey |title =Geoffrey Smith shows you how to make the best of your containers | publisher =The Lady |url=http://www.lady.co.uk/ed_showarticle.cfm?issue=/0609arta.cfm&relocated=yes
accessdate =2008-03-20] Garden News and The Garden. And his many books became gardening best sellers, among them "Mr Smith's Flower Garden", "Gardening (Sure & Simple)", "A Passion for Plants", "The Book of Primroses", "Shrubs and Small Trees for Your Garden and The Joy of Wildlife Gardening".cite web | title =GWG Awards |publisher =Garden Writers Guild |date =2006 |url=http://www.gardenwriters.co.uk/awards/2006/2kpress03.html | accessdate=2008-03-20]

Geoffrey Smith lives in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales and his hobbies include fell-walking, photography, fly fishing and a passionate interest in all things pertaining to the countryside.

References