''Guerrilla Gardeners'' was an Australian television show that was broadcast on
Network Ten. The show takes its name and basic premise from the
guerrilla gardening
Guerrilla gardening is the act of gardening – raising food, plants, or flowers – on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, areas that are not being cared for, or private property. It enco ...
environmental movement. Premiering on 18 February 2009, it was axed in April 2009 due to struggling viewership figures and an unsuccessful timeslot change, with a number of episodes still to be aired but was picked up by Network Ten's digital channel
One on 26 July 2011. The show caused controversy due to the activities portrayed in the program.
Overview
The show involves a group of six "guerrilla gardeners" attempting to covertly
beautify urban eyesores such as abandoned lots or bleak public spaces without being caught by the authorities. Five of the guerrilla gardeners are experienced in landscape and horticulture, while sixth member and host
Dave Lawson
Dave Lawson (born 25 September 1978) is an Australian comedian, actor, and TV and radio personality. He is a regular performer on the stand up comedy circuit, and at one time participated in a talk back radio segment on the commercial radio st ...
was hired primarily for his ability to "spin lies to the councils when they turned up".
Controversy
The gardeners' work is done without seeking consent from the owners of the land, and is often completed through subterfuge and by defying
trespass
Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels, and trespass to land.
Trespass to the person historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, woundi ...
laws. Because of this, a finished ''Guerrilla Gardeners'' project was threatened with removal by
Marrickville Council
Marrickville Council was a local government area located in the inner west region of Sydney, Australia. It was originally created on 1 November 1861 as the "Municipality of Marrickville". On 12 May 2016, Marrickville Council was forcibly merged ...
,
[A garden? Not in our backyard – council]
/ref> while a project in Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire is a local government area in the southern region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland Shire comprises an area of and as at the had an estimated population of . Sutherland Shire is colloquially ...
was halted halfway through construction due to council interference, with the unfinished plantings later removed. The producers were also issued with a fine by the council, which they challenged. Ten also accused Canterbury Council of preparing to destroy work featured in the series' first episode, though these claims were later found to be premature and incorrect.
Sutherland Shire asserted that its removal of a ''Guerrilla Gardeners'' project was due to factors such as the team's failure to take into account soil quality, and the unauthorised installation of plants and decorations which might create a distraction for motorists. The council also claimed that the gardeners failed to comply with traffic and workplace safety rules during construction.[
]
Episodes
Notes
References
{{reflist
Network 10 original programming
2009 Australian television series debuts
2009 Australian television series endings
Australian non-fiction television series
Gardening television
Guerrilla gardening