For the garden you’ve already got, not the one you’re starting from scratch. Seven checklists and video lessons from BBC Garden Rescue’s Lee Burkhill, built to help you work out what’s worth keeping before you spend a penny.
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About Lee Burkhill – The Garden Ninja
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
The Garden Ninja Lee Burkhill
Lee Burkhill is the Garden Ninja!
Garden Ninja Garden Design is based in the North West of England covering Manchester, Liverpool, Southport and Cheshire providing spectacular garden design services. Lee Burkhill is an award-winning Garden blogger, a presenter on Garden Rescue and runs his popular gardening YouTube channel.
Awards & RHS Medals
- Vuelo Top 10 Garden Blogger Award 2019
- Chelsea Flower Show Director Generals Trade Stand Award 2018
- 5 Star Trade Stand Hampton Court 2018
- Garden Media Guild New Talent 2017 Finalist
- RHS & BBC Feel Good Gardens Winner 2016
Hi, I’m Lee Burkhill — the Garden Ninja. Award-winning garden designer, BBC1’s Garden Rescue presenter, RHS-qualified horticulturist, beekeeper, Type 1 diabetic, and proud owner of what I’d argue is the finest mohawk in professional garden design.
I’m based in Liverpool & Manchester, and I’ve been getting my hands dirty in gardens for over 30 years.
For the past 15 of those, I’ve done it professionally, designing gardens across the North West and beyond, appearing on BBC1’s Garden Rescue, running online courses for gardeners at every level, and building one of the UK’s most visited independent gardening blogs and YouTube channels.
Before all of that, I spent 12 years as a senior IT project manager. It was a good career. It was also slowly killing my soul, one slow-moving corporate project at a time.
In 2015, I did what everyone quietly thinks about doing…I binned the spreadsheets, let the mohawk out properly, and went full-time as a garden designer. It was the best decision I ever made.
All of my online gardening resources exist because I genuinely believe gardening should be accessible to everyone, not just people who grew up with a garden or went to horticultural college at 18. Whether you’re a complete beginner, a frustrated new build owner staring at a patch of builder’s rubble, or someone who’s been gardening for years but wants to take their design up a level, you’re in the right place.
What Can Lee Burkhill Help You With?
People find their way to Garden Ninja for all sorts of reasons. Here’s a quick guide to what’s available depending on where you are with your garden:
What Ninjas Say About Working With Me
Don’t take my word for it, here’s what people who’ve booked a consultation or taken one of my courses have to say:
“Lee is as warm, inspirational, knowledgeable, and funny as he is on the TV. We left with a really clear plan of what to do. Lee followed up the next day with lots of resources and the sketched out plan of our garden that he drew when we were online. I can’t recommend Lee or the one-hour consultation enough.
— Sarah Howling, Garden Consultation Client ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I had a fantastic 1-hour garden consultation with Lee. By the end of the call, I felt fully equipped with a clear vision and ready to dive into my garden project. I know I would have made a lot of mistakes without his guidance. Save the money and invest in this consultation.”
— Nicola Cockram, Garden Consultation Client ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a useful consultation we had with Lee. In no time he was able to spark a whole host of new ideas and get us started on our journey to create our new garden. Lee printed the photos I had sent him and annotated them with a basic plan.”
— French Fry2, Garden Consultation Client ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Rosemary
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lee has been very helpful and patient to help me with my courgette problem
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Rosie Masters
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As a complete beginner gardener who moved house last year and inherited a tiered blank canvas garden I decided to sign up for Lee’s Garden Ninja Beginner Design Course. I’ve learnt such a lot and I love how Lee breaks down information into bite size sections with videos and tips on all of the basic guidelines that you need to understand. Each topic was easily digestible and you can move to particular section. You can also download images and designs for each of the aspects, with multiple examples which means that you can build a very valuable source of information as reference material for the future. I’d recommend purchasing the course bundle so that you have access to around 30 different designs and then work your way through the courses as and when you have time. After completing the courses last week I booked a 1 hour on-line consultation call with Lee which has given me the confidence to proceed with the design ideas I’ve been floating but wasn’t sure if they’d work. Lee reviewed my draft plan and photos before we spoke, and because I’d done my homework by completing the course, we discussed my gardening experience, the high level brief of how I want to use my garden and the effect I’m trying to achieve, so we went straight into full design mode! It was amazing, I thought I was a client on Garden Rescue! Within 30 minutes Lee had sketched out my basic design on copies of the photos I’d sent leaving us time to talk about plants/trees which would complement the design and how to resolve some of the issues with a neighbours fence, the tiers, tree stumps etc. Lee was so warm and friendly, just like you see him on the TV, it was such a great call and I got so much out of it. Lee sent me scanned copies of the sketches he made, re-capped each area that we discussed as well as links to planting suggestions, the colour wheel etc, so I’m now all set now to put my design together. I can’t thank Lee enough for all of the advice and encouragement, what he offers is truly fantastic so if you’re wanting work done in your garden and need independent professional advice on your project, however small or large I would 100% recommend booking in an on-line consultation with the chief garden ninja!
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Helen Harper
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. New build and a very overlooked garden After living in a secluded and private plot with land in Norfolk we decided to go for a new build but with an overlooked garden. We were aware about it from the start so as soon as we settled we took on the project of improving the privacy of our back garden. That's how we found Lee, his website and YouTube channel. We were happy with what we saw and learnt from his site and immediately booked a consultation with him. And we are so happy we did !! Even friends and with garden experience would come up with some ideas for us which wouldn't work or wouldn't do us any favours to the issues we needed to deal with. That's why we wanted to have a specialist who can highlight different points to us. The structure of the consultation was brilliant: you send the required info/pics beforehand with your concerns and at the beginning of the consultation there's a short introduction from you, and then lots and lots of information with drawings on your sketches/photos from Lee with all the tips, explanations and reasons why and how, followed by links to the mentioned info by email the next day. We genuinely believe that we will save ourselves money by starting the process with this consultation from lee.
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Paul Tippett
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Love the video's and all the helpful advice on his website, it really helps especially being new to gardening, definitely one of the best sites for information and guidance. It's been a massive help, especially the way in which lee explains/walks you through certain topics.
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Syed Ali
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lee is great. I reached out to him as I was having issues with my new turf. Lee responded straight away an explained to me what the problem was and also provided me with a solution. He's also asked to follow up with him in a week which is great 👍
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Mark Hett
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely brilliant advice.
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gail easton
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lost of useful advice on the blogs and you can ask questions in the members forum, where you get a comprehensive rely.
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Heidi Karino
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lee's consultation took me from completely confused and stressed about my garden, to really excited about what it could become. I'm a complete novice with a new build garden. I had a basic turf & patio arrangement, but after living there a few years I realized the patio was all wrong. As well as giving me a draft design, Lee helped me understand some basic garden design principles that let me go away and come up with a design that would work for me and my family. We've finally got the landscaping done and I am so happy with how it's turned out. There is no way I could have come up with this design on my own. The consulation was the best money every spent and I highly recommend it to anyone with a garden dillema.
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Mr P Stanton
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks Lee - a very detailed and helpful reply to my post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 5 stars!
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Anne Wilson
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We thoroughly enjoyed our 1 hour consultancy with Lee. Before the meeting we had some ideas but were worried if they'd work. After speaking to Lee we now have a clear idea of what we can do in our garden and the confidence to do it (and go bold!). I am not sure why we hesitated in contacting the Garden Ninja as he is an expert in both plants and garden design and his shared knowledge will prevent us from making some costly mistakes. Many Thanks Lee
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Lee Burkhill’s Qualifications, Awards and Media
I studied Horticulture with the RHS at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which gave me the formal horticultural grounding to complement the 30+ years I’d already been gardening practically. I’ve been designing gardens professionally for 15 years, working across the North West and further afield on projects ranging from small urban courtyards to large family garden redesigns.
On the TV side, I’ve presented on BBC1’s Garden Rescue since Series 6, regularly teaming up with Charlie Dimmock to makeover unloved gardens across the UK. I’ve also appeared on BBC Radio Manchester’s Saturday morning garden show as an expert panellist, and I’ve given talks on garden design for the RHS, including their school gardening projects. I’ve been featured in the RHS Garden Magazine, Landscaper Magazine, and Lancashire Life.
Awards and Recognition
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2016 | RHS & BBC Feel Good Gardens Winner — Garden showcased at Hampton Court Flower Show |
| 2017 | Garden Media Guild Alan Titchmarsh New Talent Award — Runner-Up |
| 2018 | Chelsea Flower Show — 5 Star Trade Stand Award & Director General’s Trade Stand Award |
| 2018 | Hampton Court Flower Show — 5 Star Trade Stand Award |
| 2019 | Vuelio Top 10 UK Gardening Blogger Award |
| 2019 | BBC Sunshine Show Garden — RHS Tatton Park |
| 2021 | BBC Community Garden — RHS Tatton Park |
How the Garden Ninja Actually Started
The honest version of this story is that I spent 12 years being pretty good at something I didn’t really love. IT project management paid well, kept me intellectually occupied, and gave me transferable skills I still use every day in running Garden Ninja Ltd.
But by 2015, I’d had enough of managing systems and processes that felt a long way from anything real, and my creative yearning got the better of me.
Gardening had been my escape throughout that entire period. Weekends, evenings, any spare moment, I’d be out in the garden or reading about plants. It had been that way since childhood, which meant that when I finally made the jump professionally, I wasn’t starting from scratch as I had decades of genuine hands-on experience, RHS qualifications, and a project management mindset that turned out to be rather handy when you’re running a design business, managing clients, and keeping build projects on time and on budget.
What I didn’t have was the traditional upper-middle-class gardening persona. I didn’t go to horticultural college at 18. I haven’t come from a long line of botanists or horticultural socialites. I’ve started at zero and worked my way up.
I have a mohawk. I’m openly gay, openly Type 1 diabetic, and I have zero interest in making gardening feel intimidating or exclusive. That’s the whole point of Garden Ninja. It’s to make proper horticultural knowledge and good garden design genuinely accessible to anyone who wants it, regardless of budget, background or experience.
My Design Philosophy
I design gardens that work for the people who live in them and the wildlife that visits them. That sounds obvious, but it’s surprising how often garden design prioritises aesthetics over function, or creates something that looks incredible in a show garden but is completely impractical to maintain in real life.
My approach starts with how you actually use your garden, or how you want to use it. Then I work backwards from that into the design. I use a plant-rich palette of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees that earn their place across multiple seasons, attract pollinators and wildlife, and reduce the need for high-maintenance interventions that put people off gardening in the first place.
I’m a passionate advocate for ditching fake grass, reducing hard landscaping to what’s genuinely necessary, and designing spaces that age beautifully rather than looking tired within a few years. I’m also known for my hand-drawn watercolour design plans, which I still produce for every design client — each one unique and never repeated.
You can see examples of my design work across my Garden Ninja design portfolio.
Media, Press and Brand Partnerships with Lee Burkhill
I’m available for TV appearances, radio programmes, podcast interviews, brand partnerships, magazine articles, and social media collaborations. If you’re a producer, commissioning editor, journalist, or brand looking to work with someone who brings genuine horticultural expertise, a distinctive voice, and an existing engaged audience, I’d love to hear from you.
My current media credits include multiple series of BBC1’s Garden Rescue, BBC Radio Manchester, RHS publications, Landscaper Magazine, and Lancashire Life. My YouTube channel has over 100,000 subscribers and 8 million views, and my blog reaches hundreds of thousands of UK gardeners each year.
Ready to Become a Garden Ninja?
Whether you’re here because you’ve watched Garden Rescue, stumbled across one of my YouTube guides, or you’re staring at a garden that’s defeating you and need some help, welcome. You’re in good company. There are tens of thousands of Ninjas all over the world who started exactly where you are.
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Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans: In this online gardening course, I’ll walk you through 30 fantastic garden designs, explaining the logic behind the layout, the plant choices, and take-home tips for applying them in your own garden.
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Weekend Garden Makeover: A Crash Course in Design for Beginners
Learn how to transform and design your own garden with Lee Burkhills crash course in garden design. Over 5 hours Lee will teach you how to design your own dream garden. Featuring practical design examples, planting ideas and video guides. Learn how to design your garden in one weekend!
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Garden Design for Beginners: Create Your Dream Garden in Just 4 Weeks
Garden Design for Beginners Online Course: If you want to make the career jump to becoming a garden designer or to learn how to design your own garden, this is the beginner course for you. Join me, Lee Burkhill, an award-winning garden designer, as I train you in the art of beautiful garden design.
The best place to start depends on what you need right now. If you want free guides and advice, the blog and forum are free and will always be. If you want to learn garden design properly at your own pace, my online courses start at £29. And if you want me to look at your specific garden and give you a clear plan, a one-hour consultation is the fastest way to get there — book yours here.
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Lee Burkhill
Lee Burkhill, known as the Garden Ninja, is an award-winning garden designer and horticulturist with over 30 years of gardening experience and 15 years as a professional garden designer. A qualified RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) professional, Lee specialises in sustainable garden design and practical horticultural advice. He designs and presents on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and in leading gardening publications. Lee combines three decades of hands-on gardening knowledge with professional design qualifications to help gardeners create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces.
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Categories
Publications by Garden Ninja
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June 2017 RHS Garden Magazine A healthy sense of competition
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May 2017 Landscaper Magazine North West England: Embracing Diversity
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June 2018 Lancashire Life Meet the Ninja Gardener
