11:23am UK, Tuesday May 27, 2008

Presenter and writer Monty Don says he intends to make a full recovery after suffering a minor stroke six weeks ago.

Monty Don and Sky's Adam Boulton

The 52-year-old made his first public appearance at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye since stepping down from Gardeners' World last week.

Speaking in front of an audience of several hundred, Don said he was "very happy" to have relieved himself of the 12-hour day filming schedules of the programme while he recovers.

When asked about his health, he said: "I'm fine actually. I'm fine and recovering well.

"I can't do regular....you know what TV is like with 12 hour days. I'm very happy to take that burden off me."

The popular gardener said he was enjoying "pottering around" since taking a break and commented on the number of people who said he was looking better lately.

To heartfelt applause, he added: "I intend to make a full recovery and do what I can when I can."

Before news of his stroke was revealed, the horticulturist had been missing from the long-running BBC2 programme's line-up for more than a month as a result of his minor stroke.

He has been in television for years.

Before fronting Gardeners' World, he had done a five-year stint as the resident horticulturist on TV's This Morning.

Other roles included presenting the Channel 4 series Don Roaming and Real Gardens.

He lives in Herefordshire with his wife and three children.