“I did my gnomework!” Brian May introduced Billy Bad-Axe, a character designed to help raise money for the Royal Horticultural Society charity, while also revealing that safety concerns have prevented him from planting daffodils in his home village.
By Website Content Manager
“We are reluctantly cancelling my orders for bulbs,” Brian May said while discussing the decision to halt plans for planting daffodils in his home village.
The music industry has long been known for its unpredictability, with aspiring rock stars often warned to prepare for an emotional and uncertain journey. But the creative world of horticulture can prove just as dramatic.
Recently, Brian May has experienced both disappointment and triumph through his gardening-related community projects.
Last month, the Brian May guitarist saw his plans to brighten his home village of Elstead blocked by the local Parish Council. The musician had previously donated 3,000 daffodil bulbs for planting near the village church, and hoped to expand the project onto the main village green. However, authorities rejected the proposal over concerns that the flowers could affect traffic sight lines.
In an Instagram post shared on April 21, May expressed disbelief at the decision, questioning how 18-inch daffodil stalks could obstruct visibility, particularly when the area is often lined with parked vehicles and even a tall ice cream van.
Despite the setback, the 78-year-old musician has remained determined to support charitable causes. Earlier this week, he introduced Billy Bad-Axe, a custom-made garden gnome featuring a miniature Red Special guitar, created to help raise funds for the Royal Horticultural Society.
Sharing the project online, May explained that the initiative supports efforts to inspire children through gardening while jokingly celebrating the organization’s decision to temporarily lift its ban on garden gnomes for the charity auction.
The unveiling of Billy Bad-Axe showed that, despite recent frustrations, May’s enthusiasm for community projects and gardening remains very much alive.