Reclaim tools from garden shed and get gardening, claims presenter

17:01:20 26th January 2010

People need to get the tools out from their hiding place in the garden shed and get back to basics, according to television presenter Alan Titchmarsh.

The former Gardening World presenter told the Telegraph that Britons have forgotten how to garden because technology has "left us afraid of the earth".

He told the news provider: "We have lost the skills of gardening that were always in us. It has been overlaid with years of sophistication and technology because we do not need it anymore, we can press a button instead."

People have become less confident said Mr Titchmarsh, who is fronting a new campaign with home improvement retailer B&Q to encourage Britons to spend more time in their gardens.

The campaign will see him working with the company to give his expert advice to keen and novice gardeners, through both in-store communication and online.

B&Q chief executive Euan Sutherland said the initiative would provide people, regardless of gardening level or confidence, with relevant "advice, products and inspiration".