Charlie Dimmock, 59, is a famous gardening expert who played a key role in the beloved BBC programme Ground Force, which ran from 1997 to 2005. The television presenter and gardening lover has since featured on many other shows, including The Joy of Gardening and Charlie’s Garden Army, and also worked as a garden designer alongside the Rich brothers on Garden Rescue.
Away from the cameras, Charlie has lived a fascinating life, beginning in the Hampshire village of Wellow near the New Forest. The 59-year-old studied at Wellow Primary School and the Mountbatten School in Romsey, Hampshire. Her love of gardening was sparked at an early age, with gardening lessons forming part of her studies at the Mountbatten School throughout the spring and summer terms.
As she got older, she took on part-time work at a nearby garden centre in Romsey during weekends and school holidays.
She then pursued a career in amenity horticulture in Winchester. Later, in Somerset, she earned a distinction in her BTEC Diploma in Amenity Horticulture and a National Technical Certificate in Turf Culture and Sporting Management.
She also dedicated a year to training at the prestigious Chelsea Physic Garden in London. After her studies, Charlie took up a position at Romsey Garden Centre, where she encountered TV producer John Thornicroft, who would later go on to produce Ground Force.
Charlie remains faithful to her roots and currently lives in the New Forest with her horse, as reported by MyLondon. In 2011, her property underwent a renovation which included a new kitchen and a £9,000 Aga, according to MailOnline.
The New Forest is an exceptionally sought-after location, resulting in very high property prices.
Rightmove data shows that the average house price across the region over the previous 12 months stood at £467,956.
The majority of properties sold in New Forest during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £642,424. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £395,774, with terraced properties fetching £331,487.
Overall, the historical sold prices in New Forest over the last year were similar to the previous year and 8% down on the 2022 peak of £507,968.
