AFTER a blossoming 11 years as Normanby Hall's head gardener, Sue Hoy has hung up her trowel.

Sue, 61, from Brigg, began her job as head gardener for the Victorian Walled Garden at Normanby in 1999.

She has since nurtured it year after year to the beautiful site it is today.

Sue has enjoyed many career changes in the past including working in the civil service, running a day care centre, being a barmaid and part-time lecturer at Bishop Burton College.

However, none of these compared to her dream job as head gardener.

Sue said: "A vacancy came up and I applied for it straight away.

"I have always had a passion for gardening and lectured in garden history and garden design."

As a young girl Sue had a small patch of garden at home which she used to look after. She would love to grow primroses, violets and a few vegetables.

She added: "My mother was a keen gardener and so were my grandparents so it just rubbed off. I think if you grow up with pretty gardens around you then you are more likely to want one when you're older."

Sue began her job at Normanby Hall working in the one acre Victorian Walled Garden. After a few months she was asked to take care of the other gardens within the grounds and the woodland area.

A year later and Sue took on the gardens at Normanby and Kingsway golf courses.

Alongside her busy gardening expertise, Sue travels across the country giving lectures about gardening and the Victorian Walled Garden.

She said: "I travel out to groups in the evenings giving lectures on any aspect of gardening.

"I also come in on weekends at Normanby Hall to give tours of the gardens to visitors from all over the country.

"Many say how we have the best Victorian Walled Garden."

Normanby Hall has been the winner in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition three times.

Sue said: "In summer time it can be manic looking after the gardens then giving up to three talks a week. The nicest part of the job is meeting visitors and answering their questions based upon Normanby Hall – it is something I shall miss the most."

Sue will continue to help out part-time with the gardens until a new head gardener is recruited.

She added: "I will still continue with talks that I have coming up and I am a committee member of the Royal Horticultural Society.

"It will be hard to give up the gardening. Normanby Hall is such a special place and to have been given the opportunity to develop it has been fantastic."