An outpouring of condolences and tributes have been pouring in from the industry after it was confirmed yesterday (Sunday 26 April) that Nigel Dunnett passed away on Sunday morning.

Dunnett is renowned for his work behind the planting design at Tower of London Superbloom, the Barbican, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

He joined the University of Sheffield in 1994 as Professor of Planting Design and Vegetation Technology.

Dunnett has designed six Main Avenue gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and is a gold medal winner. Most recently he designed The Hospitalfield Arts Garden in 2025 where he stated at the time he wanted to “turn traditional horticulture on its neck”. 

Pro Landscaper announced Dunnett as one of the industry’s most influential figures in 2022 for his work in “transforming urban greening”. 

Arit Anderson announced the news on Instagram, with permission from Dunnett’s wife Marta. She wrote: “I’m too upset to say more. 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.” 

Tributes pour in

Since the announcement tributes have been pouring in on social media. 

The SGLD said, “We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Nigel Dunnett, a designer, plantsman, and academic whose influence on contemporary planting design has been profound.

“Nigel’s work combined ecological sensitivity with a bold, painterly approach to planting, helping to reshape how we think about public landscapes and urban green spaces. Through projects, teaching, and writing, he inspired a generation of designers to embrace naturalistic planting and to see beauty and biodiversity as intrinsically linked.

“His contribution to landscape and garden design will endure in the spaces he created, the ideas he championed, and the many people he taught and inspired.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”

Adam White said, “As Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture at the University of Sheffield, Nigel was one of the leading voices in ecological and naturalistic planting. His work changed how planting is understood and valued, showing how it can be both beautiful and resilient.

“We also served together as Trustees of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation. Nigel brought clarity, integrity, and a deep belief in what landscape and planting can do for people and the planet. He never needed to say much, but when he did, it carried real weight.”

Lewis Normand said, “Sad to hear of the passing of Professor Nigel Dunnett, who contributed so much to the concepts of urban greening, nature-lead design, and flora-rich urban planting for biodiversity (among others). 

“His teaching and research The University of Sheffield has brought superb landscape practitioners and internationally significant landscape concepts to the UK horticulture and landscape and garden design industries.

“An extremely worthy and impactful career; I am sure he will be long-remembered and the legacy of his work will be improving our urban and lived environment indefinitely.”

Pictorial Meadows said: “We are deeply saddened by the news that our longtime collaborator and friend Nigel Dunnett has passed away.

“Our sincere condolences to Nigel’s family and loved ones. He was a horticultural genius and will be sorely missed.

“For more than 20 years he has taught and inspired so many of our team with his visionary approach to planting and landscape design.

“We worked with Nigel to bring some of his amazing innovations to life, including Pictorial Meadows, and applying them to urban landscapes here in the Manor Castle ward in Sheffield, then the Olympic Park, and later at the Tower of London Superbloom and beyond.

“We will miss Nigel popping up to our site with a group of students or international visitors, sometimes for a chat and lunch at the Rhubarb Shed Café.

“Looking back, it feels very poignant to have been able to host the launch of the second edition of ‘The Dynamic Landscape’ last year with his close friend James Hitchmough, colleague Helen Hoyle and upcoming horticulturalist Owen Hayman. He talked then of handing over the baton to the next generation.

“Nigel was a pioneer, leading the way in designing beautiful and resilient urban landscapes which are good for people, nature and the economy. We were privileged to have worked alongside him. Without Nigel, we would not be the organisation we are today, and for this we are truly grateful.

“Rest in peace Nigel. Your legacy will live on in our hearts, our work and our landscapes.”

Jon Hazelwood said: “I just wanted to take this opportunity to remember Professor Nigel Dunnett who sadly passed away at the weekend. Nigel was incredibly influential, globally in the landscape and gardening world. He was a pioneering figure in ecological planting and naturalistic design, and personally I loved working with him for his ability to combine rigorous science with beauty, creativity and a deep respect for nature.

“He was instrumental in our work at the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, the new garden – Laak Boorndap and instrumental in transforming the direction I personally have taken in my work and way of practicing as a Landscape Architect.

“He was one of the original collaborators, along with James Hitchmough that we invited on board for the Melbourne Arts Precinct, and his approach to nature, the wonder and beauty and possibilities in landscape, the artistic expression of it, is evident in the work to date.

“He was a quiet thoughtful collaborator, but utterly fearless in his pursuit of beauty in cities, I will greatly miss my conversations with Nigel, and we will aim to continue to realise his vision as a legacy in Melbourne and I will personally spend more time in the garden and in nature.

“Here is Nigel’s poetic description of the Melbourne Arts Precinct garden which sums up all of his work in the beauty of nature in the city: “It’s exuberant and overwhelming in its beauty, provoking a deep, uplifting, joyful and sublime emotional response. It’s immersive, engaging all the senses, and drawing people in as actors and participants, rather than merely as observers. It has the power to speak forcefully to people, reaching deep inside, and tugging at innate connections to the natural world. As such it is profoundly artful, going far beyond usual decorative or visual pleasure, resonating intensely with basic, primeval instincts. It’s an enhanced natural experience, deploying design triggers to unlock and liberate feelings of elation and delight.””

Green Roof Organisation said: “We are sad to hear of the passing of Nigel Dunnett who was a key figure in UK Green Roof research and teaching.

“In 2000 Nigel established the first experimental trials with green roof plants in the UK. The aim was to select plant species suitable for the UK climate and this led to an extensive programme of plant-based research. 

“Nigel went on to publish the first English language book devoted solely to extensive green roofs with Noel Kingsbury (Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls, Timber Press) and, in 2006, Nigel secured EU funding to establish the Green Roof Research and Demonstration Centre at the University of Sheffield.

“Our thoughts are with Nigel’s family, colleagues, friends and many followers and admirers of him and his work.”

Camlins said, “A true pioneer in landscape design and horticulture, Nigel was one of those rare generational talents whose influence extended far beyond the projects he helped create.

“Through his work, teaching and writing, he changed the way many of us think about planting design, biodiversity and urban landscapes.

“His approach brought together deep horticultural knowledge, ecological intelligence and a remarkable eye for colour, texture and seasonal change. From major public landscapes to smaller urban interventions, his work redefined the role beautiful, living places can play in everyday life.

“For landscape architects, designers, horticulturists and so many others working in the built environment, his legacy is immense. He helped move planting from the edges of the conversation to the centre of how we think about public space.

“His influence will undoubtedly continue to be felt in the landscapes he created, the people he taught and the ideas he so generously shared.”