TV presenter Jim McColl, who fronted the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 89.

The horticulturist had hosted the show since its inception in 1978 and continued until his retirement in 2019.

Mr McColl’s death was announced by his family via the BBC, with tributes to the expert gardener flooding in.

In a statement, the McColl family said: ‘It’s with a heavy heart we share the passing of Jim McColl, husband, dad and grandad who passed peacefully yesterday.

‘He will be hugely missed not only by us but by his friends, colleagues and a nation who he shared his passion for gardening with over four decades at The Beechgrove Garden.’

The original garden, which was planned, tended and managed throughout the year, was based at the BBC’s studios on Beechgrove Terrace, Aberdeen.

Mr McColl and co-presenter George Barron fronted the first TV show for gardeners in Scotland, taking into account the differences in the growing season north of the Border.

Originally from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire – where his father worked as a gardening supervisor for the region’s parks – Mr McColl studied horticulture at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, now part of the Scottish Agricultural College.

He later worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, where he was based in Leicester advising commercial growers.

He married Billie in 1959 and with their son, Douglas, and daughter, Jennifer, later moved to Aberdeen where he taught at what was called North College.

He also worked on setting up a waste energy project at Glen Garioch distillery in Aberdeenshire, before taking the television role that made him famous.

In recent years, Mr McColl had been living with neuropathy – a condition that affected his ability to grasp items properly.

Harry Bell, managing director of Tern TV, which produces the show on behalf of the BBC, said: ‘Here’s to “our” lovely Jim, who for four decades presented The Beechgrove Garden for us with a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for all folk.

‘You’ll be fair missed. You were a local hero first and a Scottish national treasure next. 

‘Thank you for your immense contribution to gardening, broadcasting and steering so many of us on life’s muddy paths.’

Mr McColl’s life and achievements were celebrated in a BBC Scotland documentary, Jim McColl at 80, in 2015 and he was given the Royal Television Society Scotland award in 2016.

As part of the documentary, he had said: ‘You are much influenced by your environment and that was part of mine.’

The Beechgrove Garden was an enormous success, leading to live shows, a radio spin-off, and made Mr McColl a household name.

For his services and devotion to horticulture and gardening, Mr McColl was awarded the Scottish Horticultural Medal in 1982, and then the MBE in 1996.

First Minister John Swinney paid tribute, writing: ‘Very sorry to read this news. Jim McColl was renowned for his role in the Beechgrove Garden and so greatly admired.’

Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden said: ‘Sad to hear that Beechgrove’s Jim McColl has died. I remember as a wee kid going to the Beechgrove open day and chatting to Jim.’

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland’s acting director Geraldine McCartney said: ‘His expert gardening advice and wisdom on The Beechgrove Garden was invaluable to green-fingered viewers over the decades and he will be greatly missed by all.’