The sad news of Nigel Dunnett’s death on April 26, 2026, has prompted many tributes from across the world, as someone who had a major impact on landscapes, horticulture and planting design.
Nigel Dunnett was Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield and was one of the world’s leading voices on innovative approaches to planting design. Nigel had published several papers and books on planting design, ecology and landscape management, including ‘Naturalistic Planting Design: The Essential Guide’ and co-authored ‘The Dynamic Landscape: ecology, design and management of urban naturalistic planting’ with James Hitchmough.
Nigel Dunnett was passionate about plants, planting design, horticulture and ecological landscapes, and his design work included Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (2008-2014 and more recently), Bergamo Green Square (2021), Tower of London Superbloom 2022; The Barbican, Beech Gardens and High Walk (Phase 1 2013, Phase 2 commencing 2022-2024); and several gardens at Chelsea Flower. He was also part of the design teams for Laak Boorndap in Melbourne, and his last instagram post was “Deeply honoured to be the Planting Design/Horticultiural/ Ecology consultant” for the planned Queen Elizabeth II memorial.
Many tributes for Nigel have been posted on social media, including:
Arit Anderson (TV Presenter, Garden Designer) – But for those that knew him well, you know we have just lost one of our dear talented friends and our beautiful world of plants and design will miss him sorely.
Cannon Ivers (LDA Design – Director) Rest in peace, Nigel. Your life’s work will be enjoyed by generations to come (human and more-than-human alike)
Sophie Thomson (LDA Design – Director) – Having studied under Nigel at Sheffield I remember with fondness early days of pictorial meadow trials transforming mown grass around the uni. Then watching him apply that thinking over the years to so many remarkable projects, some indeed with LDA Design. Many others will have learnt and been inspired.
Andrew Grant (Director – Grant Associates) – Nigel was an ally and champion for change. His voice and influence was global. His passion and tenacity to deliver real change in how we think about and deliver planted landscapes was notorious.
Noel Farrer (Director – Farrer Huxley) – I never met Nigel yet he has influenced mine and I’m sure many others who work on the public realm. He has solely moved the professions focus from hard to soft such that we all now know the value and use of plants is where the largest differences are made and endure.
I met Nigel and his wife Marta briefly at the Landscape Festival in Bergamo in 2024. He had a passion for plants, and he shared his knowledge with many at the event, on stage and off. His passion shone through his design work, social media, and writing. My condolences go out to Marta, his family and friends. His legacy will live on. Damian Holmes – Editor of World Landscape Architecture.
Cover/Feature Image Credits: Nigel Dunnett profile (left) | Credit: Nigel Dunnett website; Superbloom 2022 (middle) | Image Credit: Grant Associates; Test Garden at Federation Square (right) | Image Credit: Damian Holmes;