Staff at an East Devon garden centre recently sprang into action after receiving an SOS phone call from Alan Titchmarsh.
The celebrity garden wanted to know if Otter Nurseries in Ottery St Mary had a ready supply of plants needed for a garden he was creating in Bideford for his TV show, Love Your Garden.
Hardy nursery worker, Carla Ward-Best said: "At first we thought it was a wind-up, but there's no mistaking his voice. He was very knowledgeable about the plants he wanted, too."
The garden in question was being created for the Woods family who had moved to North Devon from France after dad Alex suffered a major epileptic fit and brain haemorrhage, causing him to lose his sight. Mr Titchmarsh had planned the coastal-style garden with a French twist, but the original supplier was unable to fulfill the order.
"The production team had rung a number of Devon garden centres but no-one had enough of the right plants," explained Carla. "They needed coastal species such as Erigeron, ERynigium, Limonium latifolium - sea lavendar - and lots of echium, which is common near the sea."
Following the request, Otter Nurseries put together 100 plants from the growing area, ready for collection the next day. However, when the television production team arrived in the morning they brough a lorry - and an additional list! Staff scrambled to gather trellis, climbers and specimen shrubs. In total, the garden centre supplied around 300 plants.
Managing Director, Jacqui Taylor said: "We were delighted to be able to help with the request at such short notice. We hope the new garden will offer improved quality of life to Mr Woods, and his family."
The episode was broadcast on July 22 and is available to view on ITV Player.
The celebrity garden wanted to know if Otter Nurseries in Ottery St Mary had a ready supply of plants needed for a garden he was creating in Bideford for his TV show, Love Your Garden.
Hardy nursery worker, Carla Ward-Best said: "At first we thought it was a wind-up, but there's no mistaking his voice. He was very knowledgeable about the plants he wanted, too."
The garden in question was being created for the Woods family who had moved to North Devon from France after dad Alex suffered a major epileptic fit and brain haemorrhage, causing him to lose his sight. Mr Titchmarsh had planned the coastal-style garden with a French twist, but the original supplier was unable to fulfill the order.
"The production team had rung a number of Devon garden centres but no-one had enough of the right plants," explained Carla. "They needed coastal species such as Erigeron, ERynigium, Limonium latifolium - sea lavendar - and lots of echium, which is common near the sea."
Following the request, Otter Nurseries put together 100 plants from the growing area, ready for collection the next day. However, when the television production team arrived in the morning they brough a lorry - and an additional list! Staff scrambled to gather trellis, climbers and specimen shrubs. In total, the garden centre supplied around 300 plants.
Managing Director, Jacqui Taylor said: "We were delighted to be able to help with the request at such short notice. We hope the new garden will offer improved quality of life to Mr Woods, and his family."
The episode was broadcast on July 22 and is available to view on ITV Player.
