Monty Don calls for garden activism

Former presenter of Gardeners World Monty Don has called on Britains horticultural enthusiasts to embark on a self-sufficiency campaign with regard to staple foods.

In his new role as president of the Soil Association, he suggested that he wishes to turn the organisation into a campaigning body to alter attitudes towards the environment

Mr Don said that the movement should involve all of Britains gardeners, from those with window boxes to large-scale farmers.

He stated that private gardens, public parks and open spaces around offices should be turned into areas in which to grow vegetables.

Recalling a visit to Cuba, he noted the resilience of the people there in response to dwindling fuel supplies, the Guardian reports.

"People had to be self-sufficient. They had to grow their own herbs for medicine. In Havana, there were 300,000 people working on the land, growing superb quality vegetables," he stated.

Regarding his health, he said that he is "recovering well" from the stroke which led to his retirement from Gardeners World.

The Soil Association is an environmental charity which promotes sustainable, organic farming.