Professor Nigel Dunnett passes away

Nigel Dunnett Changed the Way We See Planting Forever

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Nigel Dunnett when I got the phone call on Sunday morning.

I first met Nigel in 1999 when I was a guest speaker at the University of Sheffield. Even then, it was clear he was thinking differently. There was a depth to his work, a quiet confidence, and a way of connecting plants, people and place that stayed with me. As a Fellow of the Landscape Institute, Nigel was one of the most influential voices in planting design and urban horticulture of his generation. But for me, he was more than that. He was a colleague, a collaborator and a friend.

I had the privilege of working closely with Nigel during my time as President of the Landscape Institute. He gave his support generously and helped shape initiatives such as the Excellence in Horticulture Award and the #ChooseLandscape careers campaign.

I was also honoured to nominate him and see him made a Fellow of the Landscape Institute, a recognition that was richly deserved.

We later served together as founding Trustees of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation, alongside Arit Anderson, Marian Boswall, Andrée Davies, Lisa Anderson and Simon Heppner, and most recently collaborated on projects including a new garden at Wimpole House for the National Trust and the redesign of Grosvenor Square in London.

Nigel led by example. Through his work and teaching, he showed us that planting could be both beautiful and resilient, grounded in his principle of low input, high impact. It wasn’t just a phrase, it was a way of thinking that has influenced an entire generation of designers.

He was also a committed member of the College of Fellows, always generous with his time. He led tours, shared knowledge and encouraged others. His passion for plants, people and place came through in everything he did.

For over 30 years at the University of Sheffield, Nigel inspired students, practitioners and collaborators across the UK and internationally. What set him apart was the depth behind the work. His approach was rooted in decades of research, exploring how planting could be more dynamic, more resilient and more closely aligned with natural systems.

He helped shift the profession’s thinking. Away from planting as something decorative, towards something fundamental. Something that shapes how places perform, how they feel and how they endure.

What was Nigel's favourite plant?

"If I had to choose a favourite plant then this would be up there in the running. Euphorbia characias ssp wulfenii - it has something to offer every day of the year. I know there are some negatives - it does seed around and you need gloves to cut it back, but there are few other plants that give such great value, structure and change over the year."

The Mediterranean spurge certainly is a show-stopper, especially during the late winter to early spring when the winter rains provide moisture for  growth and flowering. The combination of blue-green foliage and chartreuse flower bracts achieve the appearance of giant puff-balls in the garden. No other plant achieves this unique color and character combination, no wonder it was a Dunnett favourite.

His influence wasn’t just through projects, it was through what he shared. His books, particularly Naturalistic Planting Design and The Dynamic Landscape, have become foundational texts. They didn’t just describe a way of working, they helped shift the profession’s thinking, giving designers the confidence to create planting that is ecological, resilient and alive. That thinking became embedded in practice.

Through his writing, through his teaching and through projects that demonstrated what was possible. From the Barbican to Grey to Green. From the Olympic Park to the Tower of London Superbloom. And now Grosvenor Square. These projects showed that even the hardest urban environments could be transformed into places that are rich, biodiverse and alive.

The Barbican, in particular, stands as a powerful example. A challenging, exposed podium landscape reimagined through planting that responds to microclimate, reduces water use and brings year-round texture and change.

It set a new precedent for how we adapt and retrofit post-war urban environments, not just for visual impact, but for wellbeing.

In 2015 Nigel designed the RHS Greening Grey Britain Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. As an RHS Ambassador, Nigel promoted the work of the RHS in the field of urban greening and representing the RHS Greening Grey Britain campaign at a national and international level. In this short film he talks to Chris Young about his career, passion for plants and why trees are so important in urban environments.

Nigel also had a particular love for the California superbloom and the way it could transform entire landscapes into vast fields of colour. He often spoke about places such as Death Valley and the Mojave Desert, where, after winter rains, the ground would come alive with goldfields, lupines and mariposa lilies. That sense of wonder, scale and seasonal change stayed with him and influenced so much of his work. I fondly recall Nigel telling me how excited he was when Sir David Attenborough invited him for coffee in his garden to talk about the important role planting plays in connecting people, place and nature, and how it would feature in his 2021 BBC series Green Planet.

On a personal level, we shared the same birthday, 23 January, and a lifelong love of Depeche Mode. We would often swap tracks and messages. Small moments, but the kind that stay with you.

Those with a keen eye may have noticed that many of Nigel’s Instagram Stories featured Depeche Mode as the soundtrack, most recently tracks from their album Memento Mori. The title, Latin for “remember you must die”, is something we discussed last year. As Nigel said, it isn’t meant to be morbid, but a reminder to embrace life and recognise how precious it is.

Nigel’s influence extended far beyond individual projects. He changed how planting is understood and valued, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape landscapes for generations to come. This is a significant loss. To the profession, yes, but above all to his wife Marta, sister Jude and his family, and to those of us who knew him personally. 

Nigel didn’t just design landscapes, he changed how we think about them. He raised expectations and showed what was possible. The best tribute we can offer is to continue that work, to keep pushing, to keep questioning, and to keep designing landscapes that are richer, more resilient and more alive. That is his legacy, and it’s one we carry forward.

Nigel Dunnett's Landmark Projects

The Barbican Estate, London (2015)
Redesign of the podium landscapes, including Beech Gardens and the High Walk, transforming a Brutalist icon into a climate-resilient, biodiverse environment.

Grey to Green, Sheffield (2016–2020)
The UK’s longest green street, replacing dual carriageways with biodiverse planting, bioswales and rain gardens to reduce flood risk and improve urban ecology.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (2012)
Principal planting consultant for the Olympic “Gold Meadows”, delivering large-scale, seasonal planting with lasting ecological value.

Tower of London Superbloom (2022)
Transformation of the historic moat into an immersive wildflower landscape using millions of seeds.

Grosvenor Square, London (completion 2026)
A major heritage park regeneration project, significantly increasing planting and biodiversity in the heart of the city.