Gardeners' World tonight: the Boroughbridge gran who grows trees

“We wanted to thank Janet publicly because very few people have done as much for Yorkshire's woods from a garden of their own”

A remarkable octogenarian who has grown 5,000 native trees from local seed in her own garden in Boroughbridge will be seen on BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World tonight on Monty Don's final show as presenter.

Boroughbridge tree grower Janet Willoner, who supports Make it Wild, an important rewilding group, will appear on Gardeners' World on BBC 2 tonight. | Submitted

placeholder image — Boroughbridge tree grower Janet Willoner, who supports Make it Wild, an important rewilding group, will appear on Gardeners' World on BBC 2 tonight. | Submitted

The incredible achievements of tree grower Janet Willoner will be the focus of a seven-minute film during Monty Don’s farewell after 23 years on the show which will air on BBC 2 at 8pm tonight, Friday, November 6.

For the last six years Janet has given these young trees to Make it Wild, a UK-based nature restoration and rewilding organisation founded in Yorkshire, and the programme shows some of them being planted on our nature reserves.

Chris Neave, co-founder of Make It Wild, said: “Janet is an amazing lady and worthy of all the praise and awards she has received for her diligent work growing trees from seed over many years.

“We wanted to thank her publicly, because very few people have done as much for Yorkshire's woods from a garden of their own.

"We have been honoured to take her tree seedlings and plant them in our nature reserves.

"Her efforts have made a huge difference to our woodland creation, we are immensely grateful.

“Her approach perfectly aligns with Make it Wild’s aims to protect and enhance the UK’s biodiversity.”

A former teacher with no land of her own, she taught herself to raise more than 20 native species, including oak, hazel, rowan and birch, and set herself the aim of growing 5,000 trees.

In 2019, after watching her grandchildren join the school climate strikes, she taught herself to grow native trees from seed in her back garden.

She set out to raise 5,000 trees ready for planting.

Now, as will be shown on BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World tonight, she has done it.

Make It Wild has already planted some of them on its nature reserves, beginning beside ancient woodland at Summerbridge in Nidderdale.