Tracy Snell becomes new Curator of RHS Garden Bridgewater
Tracy Snell is appointed as the new Curator for RHS Garden Bridgewater, the restored historic garden in Salford, Greater Manchester
Both Tracy and Marcus have played a pivotal role in the creation and development of RHS Garden Bridgewater, one of the largest garden restoration projects in Europe, guiding its transformation from a lost historic landscape into a welcoming and inspiring garden steeped in horticultural history.
Tracy trained at the University of Sheffield in Landscape Architecture and Ecology and worked for 15 years as a Landscape Architect consulting on design projects, planting schemes, ecological mitigation schemes, sustainable drainage schemes and large scale planning projects before joining the RHS.
In her role as Garden Manager, Tracy has led on the concept and design for key areas in the garden’s development, including Lower Middle Wood, Ellesmere Lake, Woodland Play and the Chinese Streamside Garden – a seven-acre garden blending Chinese horticulture and classical Chinese garden design into the uniquely British landscape at RHS Bridgewater.
Set to become the garden’s magnificent centrepiece, Tracy has played an important role in the planning and development of the Yangzhou Scholars’ Garden. A classical Chinese courtyard garden, designed and being built by a team of Chinese architects and craftspeople, featuring four pavilions that celebrate the traditional arts associated with self-cultivation; music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is due to open in September 2026.
Artist impression of the Yangzhou Scholars’ Garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater
The biggest of these projects is the transformation of Lower Middle Wood, originally a wooded area in the grounds of the now demolished Worsley New Hall, into a biodiverse woodland that delights visitors and nurtures wildlife.
During the restoration of Ellesmere Lake, Tracy designed marginal planting shelves to aid aquatic invertebrates entering and existing the water and selected vegetation to encourage a diverse aquatic community rich in plant and wildlife species.
About starting her new role, Tracy said: ‘I’m excited to have the opportunity to develop my career at RHS Garden Bridgewater. As a young garden, there is so much still to develop and maintain in terms of the horticulture on offer and how we can better connect the garden spaces to enhance the experience of our visitors, which makes this such an exciting prospect. I’m looking forward to working with a fantastic team to ensure the garden continues to grow from strength to strength. It’s about much more than maintaining a beautiful garden, it’s about creating one that continually evolves and inspires our visitors.”
Richard Green, Director of Visitor Experience & Estates, said: “Tracy’s wealth of experience and passion for horticulture along with her involvement in the design and creation of key areas at RHS Garden Bridgewater makes her the perfect person for the role. Her experience as Garden Manager gives her a unique understanding of RHS Bridgewater’s past, present and future and we are excited to see how she will guide the garden’s continued development. I would also like to thank Marcus for his outstanding leadership as Curator and congratulate him on his new role as Head of Site, where his experience and knowledge will continue to be invaluable.”
