Downing Street has been dubbed ‘the greyest frontage known to man’ by TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, who is offering to buy, plant and maintain pots of plants outside the Prime Minister’s residence at No. 10.
Speaking at the first RHS Greening Grey Britain Front Garden Summit, aimed at finding ways to encourage homeowners to replace hard surfaces like concrete and tarmac with plants, Mr Titchmarsh said a pair of statuesque urns filled with flowers would brighten the famous front door.
New research commissioned by the RHS found that only 10% of people want to get involved in growing plants in their front gardens. Three times as many front gardens have been paved over compared to 10 years ago, with more than three million fully paved and over seven million partially paved, increasing the risk of flooding, reducing biodiversity and increasing temperatures.
Local Government minister Greg Clark MP promised to personally tell the Prime Minister about the suggestion, saying he was sure Mr Cameron would be ‘thrilled’ to hear of the offer. A Downing Street spokesman welcomed Mr Titchmarsh’s comments, saying ‘It’s great to see such a celebrated gardener showing an interest in Downing Street’ – but said there were no plans to take him up on his offer.