Monty Don has called homeowners with paved and tarmacked driveways one of the worst contributions to climate change.
The Gardeners’ World presenter said one of the ways people can help conserve water and mitigate the effects of climate change is to have as many soft, absorbent surfaces in their gardens as possible.
He says that driveways are being tarmaced and paved is a serious problem.
Monty Don blasted homeowners for having paved driveways that are tarmacked and paved, calling it one the ‘worst contributors’ to climate change.
Writing in BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, the 66-year-old said: ‘A garden compromised mostly of hard surfaces is making everybody’s problems around water worse.
“We must make every opportunity for excess water to be absorbed, so that it can slowly move down into our underground wells and then on to our rivers and the sea.
“Although extreme weather is rare, this is what most people experience. Extreme weather is becoming more common, and it will only get worse.
“Gardeners and householders have made one of the most damaging contributions to the problem: Too many front gardens are tarmaced and paved.
“Although we need to reduce the number and use of cars, cars will not disappear any time soon.
“Car parking is part the horticultural problems – local authorities and governments should join forces to find solutions.
“The short and simple truth is that we all need as many soft, absorbent surfaces as possible in our gardens.
Writing in BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, the 66-year-old said: ‘The long and short of it is that we all need to make as many soft, absorbent surfaces in our gardens as possible’
And this isn’t the first time the broadcaster, writer, and journalist has made his views about climate change public.
Last year, he blasted garden centres for ‘actively choosing to do harm’ by selling compost made from peat.
Don also advised gardeners to stop purchasing mass-produced disposable pots that are often grown in peat.
He stated that it was time to stop’sticking their heads in the sand and make climate change a priority above profits and convenience.
Don also questioned why lawns should be given such a close shaved in March this year.
He suggested that weeding out the grass is a male obsession, which is linked to controlling rather then embracing.