Monty Don fans were lost for words as the presenter revealed he was greeted with an unexpected visitor. The Gardeners' World host, 69, is admired for his extensive horticultural expertise and often shares glimpses of his own cottage garden nestled in the stunning Herefordshire countryside. But his latest update wasn't related to his garden as the broadcaster revealed he came up close and personal with a sparrow hawk.

Alongside two snaps of the bird, he wrote: "An unexpected visitor today - this male sparrow hawk chased a blackbird indoors, the blackbird flew out but it took the sparhawk another hour to work the exit out." Monty's followers were stunned by the rare sighting of the bird, noting how lucky the horticulturist was to encounter something they deemed "beautiful". One commented: "Wow that is some encounter !! Beautiful bird but I have a love hate relationship when they target our garden birds …. Ain’t nature wonderful!!"

A second agreed: "How wonderful to have such a close encounter and witness its beauty. A lucky day and close call for the blackbird too!"

"Wow, that first photo looks like something out of an Audubon book!," echoed a third as another added: "What an absolute privilege. A magnificent bird and superb photos too."

Despite inspiring millions with his gardening expertise over the years, caring for plants wasn't always his passion.

As a child, Monty recalled how he was "dragooned" into helping out in the large garden of the house he grew up in in Hampshire.

"You were expected to go and work in the garden and that would earn you the right to go and play, and of course I deeply resented this," he told The Telegraph. "I hated bloody gardening, because it stopped me doing what I wanted to do."

He added: "However, I'm extremely grateful, because, along the way, grudgingly, I did learn about it."

Monty has been the presenter of Gardeners' World since 2003, taking over from Alan Titchmarsh.

Despite concerns he might depart the BBC programme, Monty confirmed he will remain the presenter for at least two more years.

"I never make plans beyond two years, but I’ve agreed to do another two (from January 2025)," he told the Radio Times.

He added: "Every time I think, 'Am I really going to do this?' But the truth is that I do enjoy it. I’m lucky because it’s in my own garden. If the programme is made well, I’ll continue."