Guerrilla Gardeners
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre =
| creator =
| presenter = Dave Lawson
| starring =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 13
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer = Nick Murray
| runtime = 30 minutes (including commercials)
| network = Network Ten
| first_aired = {{start date|2009|2|18|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2011|7|27|df=y}}
}}
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 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[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/gone-guerrilla-gardeners.html Out: Guerrilla Gardeners] 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 was hired primarily for his ability to "spin lies to the councils when they turned up".{{cite news|last1=Knox|first1=David|title=The war on terra australis|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/02/the-war-on-terra-australis.html|access-date=2018-03-23|work=TV Tonight|date=2009-02-18}}
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 laws. Because of this, a finished Guerrilla Gardeners project was threatened with removal by Marrickville Council,[http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/a-garden-not-in-our-backyard--council/2008/11/25/1227491548438.html A garden? Not in our backyard – council] while a project in Sutherland Shire was halted halfway through construction due to council interference, with the unfinished plantings later removed.[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/02/guerillas-demolished-by-council.html Guerillas demolished by council] The producers were also issued with a fine by the council, which they challenged.[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/gurrilla-courtcase.html Guerrilla court case] 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.[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/guerrillas-site-accusations-confusion-and-publicity.html Guerrilla’s site: accusations, confusion and publicity]
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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/home.nsf/Web+Pages/CEE3EA998312BE82CA257562000E3F93?OpenDocument |title=Guerrilla Gardeners at Jannali Roundabout |access-date=6 April 2009 |archive-date=19 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419020337/http://www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/home.nsf/Web+Pages/CEE3EA998312BE82CA257562000E3F93?OpenDocument |url-status=dead }} Producers of the show have stated that they will respect any council decisions regarding what becomes of their work.
Episodes
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; margin:auto; background:#FFFFFF;" |
| width="20"| #
! Title ! Original air date ! RatingsOverall national viewers, numbers in brackets indicate nightly ratings position. |
|---|
| {{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1 | Title= Canterbury | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|2|18|df=y}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=2 | Title= Cleveland Street | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|2|25|df=y}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=3 | Title= St Kilda | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|3|4|df=y}} | Aux4= 702,000 (24th){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 10|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/week-10.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=2 March 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=4 | Title= Annandale | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|3|11|df=y}} | Aux4= 685,000 (23rd){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 11|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/week-11.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=9 March 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=5 | Title= Newtown | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|3|18|df=y}} | Aux4=766,000 (22nd){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 12|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/week-12-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=16 March 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=6 | Title= Jannali | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|3|25|df=y}} | Aux4=750,000 (20th){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 13|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/week-13-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=23 March 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=7 | Title= Randwick | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|4|1|df=y}} | Aux4= 731,000 (21st){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 14|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/week-14-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=30 March 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=8 | Title= Balmain | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|4|8|df=y}} | Aux4= 800,000 (20th){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 15|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/week-15-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=8 April 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=9 | Title= Ashfield | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|4|15|df=y}} | Aux4= 755,000 (21st){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 16|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/week-16-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=13 April 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=10 | Title= Woolloomooloo | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|4|19|df=y}} | Aux4= 396,000 (27th){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 17|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/week-17-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=20 April 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=11 | Title= St Peters | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|4|26|df=y}} | Aux4= 436,000 (27th){{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 18|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/week-18-2.html|publisher=tvtonight.com.au|date=27 April 2009|access-date=7 May 2009}} }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=12 | Title= Parramatta | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2011|7|26|df=y}} (One) | Aux4= – }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=13 | Title= Manly Vale | OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2011|7|27|df=y}} (One) | Aux4= – }} |
| colspan="3" | Average series ratings
! 674,545 |
Notes
{{reflist|1|group="nb"}}
See also
{{Portal|Australia|Gardening|Television}}