Lee Burkhill is a British garden designer and television personality who gained recognition as the Garden Ninja. Known for his role as a BBC Garden Rescue presenter, Lee Burkhill’s life story reflects a remarkable journey from IT professional to UK gardening expert. His connection with the gardening world brought him into the spotlight as a horticulture influencer and modern garden design specialist. Lee Burkhill biography showcases someone who transformed his passion into a successful career, becoming a prominent figure in sustainable gardening UK.
Lee has maintained an authentic public profile as both a television gardening host and gardening blogger and vlogger. He openly shares his garden design philosophy while keeping certain aspects of his personal life private. Lee Burkhill early life and family background reveal a childhood deeply connected to nature. Lee Burkhill career change from IT to horticulture career represents one of the most inspiring transformations in British gardening, demonstrating that it’s never too late to follow your passion.
Profile Summary : Lee Burkhill
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Lee Burkhill |
| Profession | Garden Designer, BBC Presenter |
| Nationality | British |
| Known For | Garden Ninja, BBC Garden Rescue |
| Social Media Presence | YouTube, Instagram, Blog |
| Family Details | Married to husband Ryan |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Children | Two Border Terriers (Barry & Percy) |
| Hobbies & Interests | Gardening, snowboarding, tarot reading, beekeeping |
| Charitable Work | LGBTQ+ advocacy, diabetes awareness |
| Personality Traits | Private, humble, loyal, down-to-earth, passionate |
| Public Appearances | BBC Garden Rescue, RHS events |
| Residence | Lancashire, England |
Lee Burkhill: Early Years
Lee Burkhill early years shaped who he would become as both a person and professional. Lee Burkhill childhood was filled with simple joys and hard lessons spent in his grandfather’s garden. Lee Burkhill grandfather gardener played a pivotal role in nurturing his love for plants and outdoor spaces. Family and friends played important roles in his growth. These formative experiences built his character from the ground up and planted the seeds for his future career in horticulture.
The young Lee learned values that stayed with him for life through Lee Burkhill allotment gardening experiences. He faced challenges that tested his spirit early on, including bullying at school. Every experience taught him something new about the world and deepened Lee Burkhill early interest in plants. These early days laid the foundation for his future path as a garden designer and television personality.
Lee Burkhill as a Child
Lee Burkhill childhood shaped who he became later as the Garden Ninja. Lee Burkhill as a child learned important lessons during those early years spent helping his grandfather with his allotment garden and rose garden. His experiences helped him grow stronger despite facing bullying for Lee Burkhill sexuality. Those memories stayed with him forever and became the foundation of his gardening philosophy.
The young Lee faced many challenges growing up, particularly regarding his identity. He worked hard to overcome each obstacle by finding refuge in gardening. His family supported him through difficult times, especially his grandfather who introduced him to the therapeutic world of plants. These experiences taught him valuable life skills that would later inform his approach to garden design and education.
As a child, Lee showed great determination and a natural curiosity about how plants grow. He never gave up on his dreams despite the difficulties he faced. His positive attitude helped him succeed in creating a sanctuary through gardening. Those early traits defined his character throughout life and shaped his mission to make gardening accessible to everyone.
Education and Early Interests
Lee Burkhill grew up with a natural curiosity about how things work and showed strong interest in science and technology from a young age. As a student, he spent hours reading books, experimenting with projects, and participating in science fairs and technology clubs. Math and computer classes became his favorite subjects, and his teachers encouraged him to pursue his passions further. These early experiences helped shape his future career path by combining technical knowledge with practical problem-solving skills that would later serve him well in both IT and garden design.
Education and the Path Away From IT
Lee Burkhill education journey began at Manchester Metropolitan University. He earned his degree there many years ago, studying information technology and business management. The university gave him a strong foundation for his Lee Burkhill IT career background. His education helped shape his professional journey in important ways, providing project management skills that he would later apply to his gardening business.
After working in IT for some time, why Lee Burkhill left IT became a question many would ask. He decided to move away from the technology sector after a particularly stressful period at work. He wanted to explore different career opportunities instead, specifically pursuing his childhood passion for horticulture. This shift led him to new and exciting professional paths, including Lee Burkhill RHS training and formal Lee Burkhill horticulture education at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Personal Life of Lee Burkhill
Lee Burkhill personal life reflects a balance between openness and privacy. He does not share extensive details about Lee Burkhill family on social media, though he is open about his identity. Lee values his privacy while being authentic about who he is. He enjoys spending quality time with close friends and family when not working, including his husband Ryan and their two Border Terriers.
Lee Burkhill health includes living with Type 1 diabetes, a condition he was diagnosed with at age 16. Lee Burkhill diabetes management is something he actively advocates for, promoting diabetes awareness and healthy lifestyle choices. Despite this challenge, he maintains an incredibly active lifestyle that includes gardening, snowboarding, and traveling in his motorhome.
Lee Burkhill Husband
Is Lee Burkhill married? Yes, Lee Burkhill is married to a man named Ryan. Lee Burkhill husband Ryan has been instrumental in his career transformation. Lee keeps his personal life very private and doesn’t share much about his husband on social media. Lee Burkhill partner played an important role in encouraging Lee to leave his IT career and pursue his passion for garden design. Lee Burkhill husband support gave Lee the confidence he needed during a difficult time at work, which helped Lee make the big decision to change careers after ten years in IT.
Lee Burkhill Partner
Lee Burkhill, known as “The Garden Ninja,” is married to his husband Ryan, who encouraged him to leave his IT career and pursue garden design. Lee Burkhill marriage represents a partnership built on mutual support and encouragement. After completing his Royal Horticultural Society training at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Lee launched his successful garden design business in 2014 and now appears on BBC’s Garden Rescue. The couple lives in Lancashire with their two border terriers, creating a home filled with love and surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Lee Burkhill Wife
Lee Burkhill, the BBC Garden Rescue presenter known as “The Garden Ninja,” is married to his husband Ryan. Those searching “Lee Burkhill wife” should note that Lee is gay and married to a male partner. The couple maintains a private life together in Lancashire with their two Border Terriers named Barry and Percy. Ryan played a pivotal role in Lee’s career transformation, encouraging him to leave his stressful IT job and pursue his passion for garden design during a particularly challenging period at work.
Lee keeps details about Lee Burkhill personal relationships largely out of the public eye, though he is open about being gay and has been vocal in supporting the LGBTQ+ community through Lee Burkhill LGBTQ representation. He rarely shares photos or information about Ryan on social media, choosing instead to focus on his gardening work and professional accomplishments while maintaining the privacy of his relationship.
Television Breakthrough With Garden Rescue
Lee Burkhill television career breakthrough came when he joined BBC’s Garden Rescue in 2021, marking a significant milestone in his journey. Lee Burkhill role on Garden Rescue followed the departure of previous presenters and brought fresh energy to the popular daytime makeover show. Working alongside veteran presenter Charlie Dimmock and fellow designers Flo Headlam and Chris Hull, Lee quickly became a fan favorite with his innovative plant-first design approach and warm, engaging personality that made complex gardening concepts accessible to viewers nationwide.
The show elevated Lee from an award-winning blogger to a household name across Britain, allowing him to showcase Lee Burkhill design style and sustainable design philosophy to a massive audience. His success on Garden Rescue built upon earlier recognition, including winning Lee Burkhill awards such as the RHS & BBC Feel Good Gardens competition in 2016, which had initially propelled him into the spotlight. Lee’s television work demonstrates his ability to connect with diverse audiences while maintaining his signature style of creating gardens as living ecosystems rather than just decorative spaces.
Design Philosophy and Approach
Lee Burkhill garden design approach centers on a distinctive plant-first philosophy that prioritizes vegetation over hardscaping and structures. Lee Burkhill design philosophy emphasizes starting with plants rather than beginning with patios, paths, or garden features. He carefully considers the plants themselves, evaluating soil conditions, light exposure, and local ecosystems to create harmonious outdoor spaces. This botanical foundation allows him to craft gardens that are both visually stunning and ecologically sustainable, ensuring each design works with nature rather than against it.
Lee Burkhill functional garden design approach emphasizes wildlife-friendly practices and environmental consciousness through Lee Burkhill sustainability focus. He creates Lee Burkhill pollinator friendly gardens that benefit pollinators, birds, and local biodiversity while remaining beautiful and functional for homeowners. Lee advocates for using multiples of the same plant species in groups of three, five, or seven to create visual rhythm and modern cohesion throughout a garden. He limits plant varieties to maintain a consistent theme, drifting repeated species through the space like punctuation marks that guide the eye and create a polished, professional aesthetic.
Building a Career as the Garden Ninja
Lee Burkhill, known professionally as “The Garden Ninja,” built his gardening career through an unconventional path after spending 12 years working as a senior project manager in IT. The IT to horticulture career transition wasn’t immediate—while working full time, he pursued his passion through late nights of studying, volunteering, and weekend design projects. After qualifying in horticulture through Royal Horticultural Society training at RHS Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, he officially made the career switch in 2016, establishing Garden Ninja Ltd along with Lee Burkhill Garden Ninja website and Lee Burkhill YouTube channel.
His rise in the gardening world has been remarkably swift, described by Lee himself as being “strapped to a rocket.” Starting with competition entries and RHS shows, he quickly gained recognition through his accessible, knowledge-focused approach to garden design. Since joining BBC’s Garden Rescue in 2021 as a full-time presenter alongside Charlie Dimmock, he has amassed over 73,000 YouTube subscribers through Lee Burkhill online gardening content and 42,000 Instagram followers. His expertise in wildlife-friendly, small urban gardens and his commitment to demystifying gardening for younger generations has earned him multiple awards, including the Chelsea Flower Show Director General’s Trade Standard Award.
Career and Achievements
Lee Burkhill spent over a decade working as a senior project manager in IT before making a dramatic career shift to garden design in 2016. After his husband encouraged him during a particularly stressful period at work, Lee pursued his childhood passion by studying horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh while working full-time. He launched Garden Ninja Ltd in 2014 alongside his popular blog and YouTube channel, quickly establishing himself as an accessible voice in modern garden design. His breakthrough came when he won the RHS and BBC Feel Good Garden competition in 2016, which propelled him into the spotlight and validated his bold career change.
Key Achievements:
• Television Career: Joined BBC’s Garden Rescue as a full-time presenter from Series 7 onwards in 2022, working alongside Charlie Dimmock to transform gardens across the UK
• Award-Winning Designer: Won the Chelsea Flower Show Director General’s Trade Stand Award (2018), Garden Media Guild Alan Titchmarsh New Talent Award Runner-Up (2017), and Vuelio Top 10 Garden Blogger Award (2019)
• Digital Influence: Built a thriving online community with over 73,000 YouTube subscribers and 42,000 Instagram followers under the Garden Ninja brand, earning a nomination for Garden Media Guild’s Social Media Influencer of the Year (2023)
• RHS Recognition: Designed showcase gardens including the BBC Sunshine Show Garden at RHS Tatton (2019) and the BBC Community Garden at RHS Tatton (2021), while also serving as a public speaker for the RHS
• Educational Impact: Created an award-winning blog and YouTube channel focused on making gardening accessible to younger generations and urban gardeners, emphasizing wildlife-friendly, plant-rich design approaches
Public Profile and Wikipedia Facts
Who is Lee Burkhill? Lee Burkhill Garden Ninja is a prominent BBC presenter on Garden Rescue alongside Charlie Dimmock. Born February 15, 1983, in Lancashire, England, he transformed his career from IT project management to professional garden design after working 12 years in technology. He launched his Garden Ninja brand in 2014, building a successful YouTube channel and award-winning blog that educates gardeners worldwide with practical tips and innovative designs. Does Lee Burkhill have Wikipedia? While Lee Burkhill Wikipedia page doesn’t currently exist as an official entry, Lee Burkhill public profile is well-documented across multiple platforms.
Wikipedia Facts
• Career Transition: Left IT in 2016 after winning the RHS and BBC Feel Good Garden competition, which showcased his design at Hampton Court Flower Show
• Professional Qualifications: Trained in horticulture at RHS Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, specializing in wildlife-friendly and sustainable garden design
• Media Recognition: Won multiple awards including Chelsea Flower Show Director General’s Trade Stand Award (2018) and Garden Media Guild’s Alan Titchmarsh New Talent Award Runner-Up (2017)
• Health Advocacy: Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 16, actively promotes diabetes awareness and healthy lifestyle management
• Personal Life: Married to husband Ryan, lives in Lancashire with two Border Terriers named Barry and Percy, openly gay and vocal LGBTQ+ ally
Legacy and Influence
Lee Burkhill influence on UK gardening has transformed British horticulture by making it accessible, inclusive, and modern for a new generation. His “Garden Ninja” brand combines expert horticultural knowledge with approachable digital content, demystifying design through his award-winning blog and YouTube channel with over 69,000 subscribers. His plant-first philosophy and sustainable practices have inspired thousands of gardeners, from beginners to experienced enthusiasts, to create wildlife-friendly outdoor spaces that benefit both people and the planet.
Beyond design innovation, Burkhill’s greatest legacy lies in his advocacy for authenticity and representation in horticulture. As an openly gay presenter on BBC’s Garden Rescue and a vocal LGBTQ+ ally, he has redefined what it means to be a garden designer in the modern era. His willingness to share personal struggles, including childhood bullying and his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, has shown others that success comes from embracing who you are. Through his work, he continues to prove that gardens are more than landscapes—they are personal expressions of hope, connection, and resilience.
Lesser known facts about Lee Burkhill
Lee Burkhill, known as “The Garden Ninja,” has built a remarkable career that extends far beyond his BBC Garden Rescue appearances. Born on February 15, 1983, in Lancashire, Lee worked as a senior IT project manager for over a decade before his husband Ryan encouraged him to pursue his gardening passion during a particularly stressful period. His unique nickname came from one of his earliest clients who described his transformative garden work as ninja-like, and the name stuck as he built a thriving design business in 2014.
• Lee is an avid traveler who owns a motorhome and explores off-the-beaten-track locations with his husband and Border Terriers for design inspiration
• He is passionate about tarot card reading and frequently shares tarot spreads and interpretations on his social media platforms
• Lee keeps bees as a beekeeper, combining his love for wildlife-friendly gardening with practical pollinator conservation efforts
• He caused minor controversy among Garden Rescue viewers in 2023 simply for wearing a sleeveless vest top on the program
• Lee serves as a public speaker for the Royal Horticultural Society and appears as a panellist on BBC Radio Manchester
• He specializes in creating wildlife-friendly, plant-rich garden designs that prioritize ecological sustainability and functional outdoor spaces
• Lee maintains a YouTube channel with over seventy-three thousand subscribers where he shares accessible gardening tutorials and tips for beginners
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Lee Burkhill born and raised?
Lee Burkhill was born on February 15, 1983, in Lancashire, England, where he still resides today.
What was Lee Burkhill’s childhood like?
Lee Burkhill childhood and family were deeply connected to gardening. Lee grew up helping his grandfather with his allotment garden and rose garden, which sparked his lifelong passion for horticulture and outdoor spaces.
Did Lee Burkhill face challenges growing up?
Yes, Lee was bullied at school for being gay and found gardening to be his sanctuary and escape during those difficult teenage years.
Is Lee Burkhill married or does he have a partner?
Lee Burkhill is married to his husband Ryan, and they live together in Lancashire with their two Border Terriers named Barry and Percy.
Who is Lee Burkhill’s husband?
Lee’s husband is Ryan, who encouraged him to leave his stressful IT career and pursue his passion for garden design.
Does Lee Burkhill have a Wikipedia page?
While Lee doesn’t have an official Wikipedia page, his public profile highlights his journey from IT professional to award-winning garden designer and BBC presenter.
What was Lee Burkhill’s career before gardening?
Lee worked as a senior IT project manager for over 10 years before making a complete career change to pursue horticulture.
What health condition does Lee Burkhill live with?
Lee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 16 and actively advocates for diabetes awareness while maintaining an active lifestyle.
How did Lee Burkhill get the nickname “Garden Ninja”?
An early client described his transformative garden work as ninja-like, and the nickname stuck as he built his business in 2014.
What are Lee Burkhill’s hobbies outside of gardening?
Lee is an avid snowboarder who spends three to four weeks each winter on the slopes, and he also enjoys tarot card reading and beekeeping.
Final Words
Lee Burkhill life story—from a closeted teenager finding solace in his grandfather’s garden to becoming the beloved “Garden Ninja” on BBC’s Garden Rescue—exemplifies the transformative power of pursuing one’s passion. His decision to leave a stable IT career, supported by his husband Ryan, has blossomed into a multifaceted career as an award-winning designer, educator, and advocate. Through his work, Lee not only creates beautiful, wildlife-friendly outdoor spaces but also inspires others to embrace authenticity and follow their dreams despite obstacles.
Beyond his professional achievements, Lee’s openness about living with Type 1 diabetes and his experiences as a gay man in the gardening industry has made him a relatable and important voice for inclusivity. His commitment to sharing knowledge through his popular YouTube channel, blog, and public speaking engagements demonstrates his genuine desire to make gardening accessible to everyone. Lee Burkhill continues to prove that success comes from combining passion, resilience, and the courage to be unapologetically yourself.
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