Inspirational Sue is a big hit on TV gardening show
BBC series Gardeners’ World has been Sue Kent’s favourite TV show since she was a young child and she’s always wanted to feature on the popular gardening programme.
During the pandemic, Gardeners’ World asked viewers to send in videos of their gardens – and Sue, from Caswell in Gower, leapt at the opportunity.
Sue’s video was a big hit with the BBC and her dreams came true when she was offered the role as a presenter on the show. And she’s proved to be so popular with viewers that she’s just won a major award named after gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh.
Sue said: “I’ve watched it since I was knee-high – I always wanted to just be on it. I was always thinking I’d write to them and say, ‘Would you like to come and visit my garden?’ but I never felt it was good enough.
“And then when the pandemic came I had a lot of time to work on it and then when they asked people to send in stuff, I thought, ‘Well, it’s now or never’. I had no idea it would lead to this.”
Sue has always been a keen gardener – and, remarkably, she tends to her beautiful array of plants almost entirely with her feet due to her upper-limb disability.
Sue was born with arms eight inches long, no thumbs and seven fingers – three on one hand, four on the other – after her mother took Thalidomide for morning sickness during pregnancy.
Sue said: “Over the years we’ve turned it around so I could work in the garden. It used to be me standing on one foot trying to weed on a slope. Just like people who use their hands and prefer one to the other, I am the same with my feet.”
But despite Sue’s disability, she has never let it stop her, and her hard work was recognised when she was recently awarded the Alan Titchmarsh New Talent of the Year award at the prestigious Garden Media Guild Awards.
The GMG Awards are one of the biggest events of the year for those who write, blog, photograph, Instagram and broadcast about gardening.
Sue was recognised for her work with BBC Gardener’s World. The BBC says her pieces are instantly engaging, interesting, fun and informative, as Sue approaches gardening from a perspective which is new to many but also completely relatable.
The award ceremony was held on Zoom and the host for the evening was garden designer and horticulture expert Lee Burkhill.
On winning the award, Sue said: “I was delighted to be shortlisted, stunned to win. This is a lovely rewarding first for me – I have never won an award.
“Becoming a presenter has been a steep learning curve that is interesting and much harder work than it looks, but totally rewarding and fun.
“BBC Gardeners’ World have encouraged me all the way, it is very much a team effort.
“The reaction from the audience has been embracing and so positive. To be recognised with this award is an unexpected joy.”
Sue says winning the award and having the opportunity to present Gardeners’ World has truly changed her life – and has also changed the way people view her and her disability.
She says: “In the past I have been walking around and people have been just staring at me because I look different and now they are coming up to me and telling me how much they love my work. It’s a real positive change for me when I’m out and about.
“When they come up to me to say ‘hello’ and how much they enjoy it, it’s such a change around because we’re talking about gardening and not disability.
“Gardeners love talking about gardening, it’s a lovely support environment.”