Peter Seabrook MBE, died suddenly on Friday 14th January 2022.  It is reported he suffered a heart attack at home.

Read the report in The Sun here.

and Mondays article:  Inside Sun gardening guru Peter Seabrook’s incredible life from royal fans to tending to Barbara Windsor’s window boxes

Its been a sad day today with the news coming early on about Peter's sudden death.  We understand he hadn't been ill and was working with his usual haste but suffered a heart attack at home.

I'm sure the news has saddened many in horticulture and the garden industry.  He will be sorely missed as a champion for new plants, for down to earth gardening and his unbounded enthusiasm for everything that is good about horticulture and gardening.  Peter always had time for people, and typically at press events he always asked the most perceptive and difficult questions, but always in a very pleasant way.

All in the world of gardening media will be grateful for his role in setting up the Garden Writers Guild that became the Garden Media Guild.  In particular, Peter wanted all freelance and salaried journalists to have a voice and to celebrate their success via the Garden Media Guild Awards. Peter we thank you for that.

I last saw Peter at the Westland Press Day in November 2021 where the subject of peat and peat replacements were talked about earnestly as you can imagine.  He was on good form, asking pointed questions of the Westland team.  We all enjoyed his company for the day. 

More recently I corresponded and spoke about the Open Letter on Peat which has generated so much coverage about issues Peter passionately felt were being ignored.  Peter, I'll do everything I can to keep those issues on the agenda so that we get a full and proper story for the industry and all gardeners about growing media.  All you wanted was for people to grow and enjoy beautiful plants and bountiful harvests!

Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given me over many years.

In haste... Trevor Pfeiffer.

Tribute to Peter Seabrook from Perrywood Garden Centre

Peter was always keen to hunt out the next high performing plant variety, so would always quiz Alan about what we were growing, and mention several recommendations of his own in return. His passion for plants was evident to all who met him.

Peter once worked for Cramphorn’s on Newton Road in Sudbury, which three years ago came into our ownership and is now Perrywood Sudbury.

He came along to our first anniversary party and shared his stories of working on the site, telling us he used cycle to work from Chelmsford, a four to five hour round trip! We will miss his dedication to the industry, his support for Perrywood, his floral fantasia displays at RHS Hyde Hall, his ties, his notebook and his smile.

The Bourne Family (Alan, Karin, Hannah, Simon & Tristan) and all at Perrywood

Tribute from Pershore College

Peter Seabrook MBE.

‘UNTIL NEXT TIME’

         Legendary Sun gardening guru Peter Seabrook dies aged 86

I received the sad news on Sunday that Peter Seabrook MBE had died of a heart attack on

Friday 14^th January.

Peter was a great supporter of the RHS Horticulture Unit at Pershore High School and gave advice, support and wonderful opportunities such as the RHS Chelsea Flower to students both past and present and made a surprise visit to RHS Wisley when Kristian Foxley got through to the finals of RHS Young School Gardener of the Year to give his support.

Staff who were at the school in 2018 will remember him for his wonderful talk at Presentation Evening. He was a wonderful kind man who was my inspiration as a child and became my guru in later years, it was an honour to work with him and he will be sadly missed within the Horticulture Industry.

Anne Watson

Head of Horticulture

Tribute from HTA President Boyd Douglas-Davies

“It was with a heavy heart that I learnt of the passing of Peter Seabrook. He was, without doubt, "Mr Gardening" - the original gardening superhero.

I was fortunate to meet Peter in the early days of my career in Horticulture. The enthusiasm he shared with me 30+ years ago never diminished. He enthralled and educated the public through TV, radio and the written word for decades.

His passion for everything garden related was infectious. He engaged with children as easily as he did with their grand-parents. He had time for all and was never slow to share his opinion.

Many a time I have shared a stage with Peter and been amazed at his unwavering ability to answer any question. His 'readers letters' were legendary and hugely entertaining.

The industry has lost a true champion. A character. A media giant. A knowledge that will be impossible to replace. Above all, we have today lost a friend. Peter RIP”

Boyd Douglas-Davies

See more tributes in the comments below, and please feel free to add your tributes to Peter, or send them to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk and we will add them to the pages of GTN Xtra.