Peter Seabrook

Peter Seabrook, 2011.

Peter Seabrook is a retired British gardening writer and television broadcaster. He is known known for his column in Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloid The Sun.

Early life

Seabrook started working at weekends on a local market garden before starting secondary school. He grew sweet peas in his back garden to sell to the local florist and raised enough money to fly to Holland and visit nurseries there aged sixteen.

Career

Seabrook was employed on seed trial grounds for two years before studying horticulture at Writtle College gaining the College Diploma in 1956. During college vacations experience was gained working in top fruit orchards, bedding plant and tomato nurseries, before doing two year national service were the army paid for lessons in floristry.

Returning to Cramphorn the seed and garden retail company, he worked in all areas of nursery production, mail order and shows becoming nursery director. Then after four years on the road for Bord na Mona, travelling in the South East of England and the Channel Isles as their technical representative, he became a consultant to leading wholesale nursery companies, a director of two separate garden centre companies and gave advice to many independent horticultural businesses.

His broadcasting appearances started with the BBC Radio Home Service in 1965 including In Your Garden and Gardeners' Question Time, then on to BBC Television from 1975 presenting such programmes as Gardeners' World, Pebble Mill at One, Chelsea Flower Show and in America over twenty years broadcasting coast to coast with PBS programme The Victory Garden out of Boston, USA.

The Peat Controversy

Peter Seabrook is defensive of his use of peat and this contrasts his approach with many modern gardeners. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has highlighted their concern about peat-use due to habitat destruction.

External links

• BBC Gardening Article on Ethics Of Using Peat.
• RSPB Call For Tax on Peat Use.
• The Peat-Use Debate In Consumer Magazine Which ?.
• Peter Seabrook defends his use of peat despite widespread enviromental concerns.
• Peter Seabrook Biography on Sun Gardening.
• Seabrook recalls a visit to the Harrison's garden and walks the Chelsea tribute garden with Olivia Harrison.
• Peter Seabrook is listed in Debretts.