GARDEN centre bosses have paid tribute to a popular gardening broadcaster and industry stalwart Peter Seabrook.

Gardening writer and broadcaster Mr Seabrook died at the age of 86.

Mr Seabrook was born in Chelmsford in 1935 and studied horticulture at the nearby Writtle College.

The horticulturalist went on to present programmes including Gardeners’ World and wrote a gardening column for The Sun for more than 40 years.

He was also a supporter of Perrywood garden centre in Tiptree which is run by Alan Bourne and his and wife Karin’s three children Hannah Powell, Simon Bourne and Tristan Bourne.

In tribute to Mr Seabrook, a spokesman for the Bourne family said: “We’ve lost an industry stalwart with the passing of gardening commentator Peter Seabrook, who was so supportive to Perrywood over the years.

“Peter was always keen to hunt out the next high performing plant variety, so would always quiz our owner 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.”

In 1959-60, Mr Seabrook worked for Cramphorn’s in Sudbury which came into Perrywood’s ownership in 2018 and is now Perrywood Sudbury.

He went along to the site’s first anniversary party and shared his stories of working on the site, where he told the bosses of how he sometimes used cycle to work from Chelmsford, a four to five hour round trip.

Hannah, Perrywood’s communications and HR director, also spoke to Mr Seabrook for his podcast in February 2019.

She said she was “so grateful” for his memories of Cramphorn’s which “will help us to keep the heritage and history of the Sudbury site alive”.

The spokesman for Perrywood added: “We will miss his dedication to the industry, his support for Perrywood, his floral fantasia displays at RHS Hyde Hall, his ties, his notebook always brimming with ideas and his smile. 

“Our thoughts are with his family and close friends he leaves behind.”

Perrywood said it plans to plant a special tree in Mr Seabrook’s memory.