About Sue Bradbury
Profile
An award-winning garden designer,
based in the cotswolds
Garden designer Sue Bradbury's profession in horticulture began in 2005, when her application to create a courtyard garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2006 was accepted and subsequently awarded a Silver Medal.
Following the whirlwind of her success at Chelsea, Sue was inundated with requests to design gardens, which led to the establishment of Bradbury Designs. Sue subsequently studied horticulture at Waterperry, Oxfordshire, where she attained the RHS level 2 qualification.
Since then, her commissions have been constant and varied and included creating designs for both cottage and country house gardens, with traditional and contemporary styles.
A countrywoman, passionate conservationist and avid Keeper of Chickens, Sue is one of the few garden designers that actually garden themselves. Accordingly she offers expert consultancy services in addition to welcoming new enquiries about her bespoke Cotswolds garden designs.
Background
Raised in rural Oxfordshire, Sue returned to Waterperry, near Oxford, from where her family originated, to gain her RHS Level 2 Qualification at Waterperry Gardens, formerly the Waterperry School of Horticulture for Ladies run by the formidable Beatrix Havergal from 1932 until 1971.
Sue fondly recollects Miss Havergal, a friend of Sue’s grandmother, popping in for afternoon tea, along with Valerie Finnis and Mary Spiller, little realising she was amongst the horticultural greats of the day.
Born with a keen eye for detail, Sue started her career as a photographer, until marriage led her to several different office-based occupatons and her desire to be outside in all weathers again drew her to professional garden design.
A Passion for COnservation
A passionate conservationist, with huge respect for the work and responsibility of gamekeepers, Sue has an immense love of Scotland, the countryside and it’s pursuits.
Hence, in 2005, when a likeminded friend asked if she would like to design a garden for the 2006 Chelsea Flower Show, Sue accepte.
Drawing on her love of Scotland, Sue drew inspiration for her RHS Chelsea award-winning Highland Retreat garden design from the naturally craggy beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
An instant attraction, admired by celebrities and the public alike, Sue found herself at the forefront of attention and her beautiful, environmentally-aware garden designs have continued to delight the fortunate clients she designs for ever since.
