Charlie Dimmock, 58, is a renowned gardening expert and was a key member of the team on the popular BBC show Ground Force, which aired from 1997 to 2005. The TV presenter and gardening aficionado has since appeared on a host of other shows, including The Joy of Gardening and Charlie’s Garden Army, and is currently a garden designer alongside the Rich brothers on Garden Rescue.

Off-screen, Charlie has led an intriguing life, starting in the Hampshire village of Wellow near the New Forest. The 58-year-old attended Wellow Primary School and the Mountbatten School in Romsey, Hampshire. Her passion for gardening was ignited at a young age, and gardening lessons were part of her curriculum at the Mountbatten School during the spring and summer terms.

As she grew older, she worked part-time at a local garden centre in Romsey during weekends and holidays.

She then pursued a career in amenity horticulture at Winchester. Later, in Somerset, she achieved a distinction in her BTEC Diploma in Amenity Horticulture and a National Technical Certificate in Turf Culture and Sporting Management.

She also spent a year training at the esteemed Chelsea Physic Garden in London. After college, Charlie worked at Romsey Garden Centre, where she met TV producer John Thornicroft, who later produced Ground Force, reports the Express.

Charlie remains true to her roots and currently lives in the New Forest with her horse, as reported by MyLondon. In 2011, her home underwent renovations which included a new kitchen and a £9,000 Aga, according to MailOnline.

The New Forest is a highly desirable location, resulting in high property prices.

According to Rightmove, the overall average price of homes over the past year was £467,700.

Detached properties made up the majority of sales in the New Forest last year, selling for an average price of £649,929.

In general, the historical sold prices in the New Forest over the last year were 4% down on the previous year and 8% down on the 2022 peak of £507,510.