Biography

A warm welcome extends to you from Darren Rudge who has spent over Thirty years in the horticultural industry. He has run his own garden design, build and maintenance company, and worked in education for many years. Darren now heads a consultancy with exacting standards in landscape, planting and garden design. His proven experience and sound practical knowledge has inspired many to create their dream garden space.

Darren's qualifications include:

• BSc (Hons) Amenity Horticulture and Garden Design
• Staffordshire County Certificate for Horticulture (Distinction).
• National Certificate Horticulture (Distinction).
• NVQ Level 4 Amenity horticulture and design practice.
• Higher National Certificate Horticulture.
• Certificate in education.
• City and Guilds Medal of Excellence - for outstanding performance as a horticultural lecturer.

Darren was awarded the Beatrice Eckstein Award for best newcomer to the horticultural industry, and was initially employed as head gardener being responsible for a large private garden in Wolverhampton. Over the following ten years he also operated a garden maintenance, design and build practice, working chiefly with his younger brother.

Moving into education Darren managed a horticultural centre where he operated and lectured on a range of amenity horticultural and garden design subjects; these included Royal Horticultural Society qualifications. Many have been inspired by the centre to move into the horticultural and design professions. He also undertakes private talks and lectures for garden societies, institutions and professionals that need to update their knowledge. 

Darren has spent his career creating garden spaces which have included front gardens, rear gardens plus garden spaces for colleges, outdoor classrooms, community gardens and working areas for schools, and sensory areas. His career has continued as an assistant director based at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a professional associate with the Royal Horticultural Society, judge and garden expert seen at national horticultural shows and president of The Tettenhall and District Horticultural Society.

Darren is the permanent gardening expert for BBC West Midlands and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and continues to write gardening articles for local and national press; currently teaching RHS programmes at Winterbourne House and Gardens (The University of Birmingham Botanical Garden) and acting as quality assurance coordinator for a number of educational institutions.

Darren Rudge has co-designed a number of show gardens which have won him Royal Horticultural Society accreditation (RHS). His RHS credits include gold and best in show, silver gilt, two silver and bronze medals. Added to this are show exhibits requested by the RHS for example ‘Spice’ a garden that explored the origins of the spice trade and their uses for health and wellbeing.

With an open and friendly manner Darren uses his broad knowledge to give advice and help others create their ideal garden space. He is happy to deal with private or corporate clients; individuals or groups. Darren believes that making a difference is what counts plus listening to your clients and communicating their ideas into a space that is usable for them is his ultimate goal.

Taking a friendly, enthusiastic but professional approach to his work, Darren uses his design and horticultural expertise to create imaginative areas that surprise and delight. He fully enjoys the challenges that come with landscape and garden design, and freely collaborates with others to provide the perfect package for his clients.

‘Plants and design are a life long passion for me; if my passion can influence and help others to create living spaces then I have achieved my goal’.

Examples of the range of work Darren Rudge has produced can be viewed in the portfolio area of this website.