By Matt Davies
Copyright walesonline
Alan Titchmarsh has expressed his adoration for a destination “awash with subtropical flowers and succulents.” In a nostalgic piece reflecting on his enthusiasm for alfresco entertainment, the Ground Force icon recently reminisced about his initial experience of this as a youngster when he went to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo whilst in the Scouts. In a remarkably detailed recollection, Alan remembered how they were seated inside the castle walls during a fierce wind, with the gale “whistling up” their shorts as they huddled beneath blankets. Alan (who also treasures Porthcurno beach in Cornwall) also revealed a “nifty idea” they came up with: making a hole in a blanket for camping trips. This functioned as a makeshift poncho whilst they performed Ging Gang Goolie beside the campfire in the Yorkshire Dales. The 76-year-old then drew parallels between his childhood adventures and contemporary existence. Nowadays, he’s more inclined to be savouring opera in his “evening dress” rather than roasting marshmallows. He penned in BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine: “On our return home, our mums would sew on badges from the places we visited so that, over time, the blankets became a highly decorated talisman of our outdoor experiences ‘Up The Dales’ and in far-flung exotic locations such as Scotland and Essex. “How times have changed. I can now be found in evening dress at outdoor opera venues, picnicking at Glyndebourne (a bit of a trek from Hampshire) and, nearer to home, at the Grange Festival and the Henley Arts Festival.” Yet, one Cornwall offering reigns supreme for the beloved gardening expert: “But my favourite outdoor venue is the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno in Cornwall, where the garden that slopes with the tiered seating down to the glistening Atlantic is awash with subtropical flowers and succulents.” He mentioned that even when not watching a show , he can “simply turn” his head to appreciate the flora or gaze out to sea, where he might catch sight of dolphins performing what he playfully describes as “aquarobics.” It’s no wonder Alan is such a big fan of the Minack Theatre (and it’s not just about its stunning garden). Conceived by architect Rowena Cade, the Minack is an open-air venue built into the cliffs on the Cornish south coast. The impressive venue was originally built in the 1930s (much of it by Rowena herself) and boasts 550 seats, holding more than 200 performances each year. It also offers breathtaking views of Porthcurno Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, Rowena landscaped the area near the auditorium, and it was then given a boost by two local gardeners, Jill and Niall Milligan, in the 1990s. It is now under the watchful eye of RHS gold medallists Claire Batten and Jeff Rowe.
