{{Short description|British horticulturalist and academic (1963–2026)}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}{{ref expand|date=January 2026}} '''Nigel Paul Dunnett''' (23 January 1963 – 26 April 2026) was a British horticulturalist and academic who was a professor of planting design and urban horticulture at the University of Sheffield.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Professor Nigel Dunnett awarded Royal Designer for Industry 2023 |url=https://sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape/news/professor-nigel-dunnett-awarded-royal-designer-industry-2023 |access-date=September 12, 2025 |website=sheffield.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2025 |title=Dunnett, Nigel, Professor |url=https://sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape/people/academic/nigel-dunnett |access-date=September 12, 2025 |website=sheffield.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> He worked on naturalistic planting design, sustainable urban drainage landscapes, and green infrastructure projects working with landscape architects.
== Life and career == Nigel Dunnett was born in Ipswich on 23 January 1963.<ref name="tele">{{cite news |title=Nigel Dunnett, leading landscape designer who brought colourful meadows into inner cities |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/05/20/nigel-dunnett-landscape-sheffield-olympics-barbican-garden/ |access-date=20 May 2026 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=20 May 2026}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Slessor |first=Catherine |date=29 May 2026 |title=Nigel Dunnett Obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/29/nigel-dunnett-obituary |access-date=30 May 2026 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In 1984, he completed his degree in Botany at the University of Bristol and following the completion of his PhD, joined the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield in 1994. He became Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in 2011.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Dunnett, Nigel (P.) 1962(?)– {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/dunnett-nigel-p-1962? |access-date=September 12, 2025 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> His teaching and research focus on ecological planting design, green roofs, rain gardens, and large-scale urban meadows.
He founded the social enterprise Pictorial Meadows in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk/pages/about-us |access-date=September 12, 2025 |website=www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk}}</ref> It developed a seed-based approach to colourful, low-maintenance urban meadows that has since been widely adopted in public landscapes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Dan |date=August 13, 2011 |title=Pastoral care |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/14/dan-pearson-pictorial-meadowns |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Perrone |first=Jane |date=July 24, 2014 |title=Poppy fields forever: meadows take root amid Britain's urban sprawl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/24/meadows-britain-urban-sprawl |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Dan |date=April 15, 2007 |title=Full seed ahead |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/apr/15/shopping.gardens |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Dunnett collaborated widely with other designers and ecologists, notably James Hitchmough, and contributed to projects in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benton |first=Carlos Sanchez and Tom |date=2024-09-16 |title=Contacts Book: Sanchez Benton's most valued collaborators |url=https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/contacts-book-sanchez-benton-biodiversity-timber-oak-joinery-placemaking |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=www.ribaj.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Espinoza |first=Javier |date=2011-04-28 |title=Friday Night, Saturday Morning: British Planting Designer and Academic Nigel Dunnett Relaxes Outdoors |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704489604576282933452168182 |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Clare |date=2022-07-14 |title=Olympic Park designer Nigel Dunnett on how to plant in tough urban environments |url=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/nigel-dunnett-urban-planting-advice |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=House & Garden |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-16 |title=Biodiverse planting from Olympic Park garden designer Nigel Dunnett |url=https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/country/biodiverse-planting-nigel-dunnett-olympic |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Gardens Illustrated |language=en}}</ref>
Dunnett died from cancer on 26 April 2026, at the age of 63.<ref>{{cite news |title=Landscape designer Nigel Dunnett dies |url=https://thedirt.news/landscape-designer-nigel-dunnett-dies/ |access-date=26 April 2026 |publisher=The Dirt |date=26 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="tele"/>
== Works ==
=== Olympic Gold Meadows === At the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London (2012), Dunnett co-designed large wildflower meadows and naturalistic planting schemes with James Hitchmough and garden designer Sarah Price''.<ref name=":6" /> The Guardian'' noted their role in transforming perceptions of ecological planting in public landscapes and described them as "a blaze of colour and biodiversity, timed to perfection for the opening ceremony".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Appleby |first=Matthew |date=2012-07-20 |title=Gardens: wildflowers at the Olympic Park |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/20/gardens-wildflowers-olympic-park |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
The project received international coverage; ''TIME'' magazine emphasised visual impact, positive public response and ecological significance. Sonia van Gilder Cooke stated, "Olympic spectators can't stop taking pictures of them. Passersby point when they see them. They've even generated fan mail. They're British wildflowers, and they are earning golden reviews at Olympic Park."<ref name=":7">{{Cite magazine |last=Cooke |first=Sonia van Gilder |date=7 August 2012 |title=London in Full Bloom: Wildflowers Are Breakout Stars at Olympic Park |url=https://olympics.time.com/2012/08/07/london-in-full-bloom-wildflowers-are-breakout-stars-at-olympic-park/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011130003/https://olympics.time.com/2012/08/07/london-in-full-bloom-wildflowers-are-breakout-stars-at-olympic-park/ |archive-date=11 October 2025 |magazine=Time |access-date=2025-09-12 |issn=0040-781X |language=en-US}}</ref>
The scheme has since been credited with influencing approaches to urban planting in Britain<ref name=":6" /> and elsewhere.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-27 |title=This star British gardener has big plans for Melbourne |url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/design/this-star-british-gardener-has-big-plans-for-melbourne-20241108-p5kp35 |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref>
=== Grey to Green Project === The Grey to Green EU-funded project<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=Grey to Green Street Design |url=https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/mission/solutions/mission-stories/grey-to-green-street-design-story21 |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> in Sheffield (2016–2020) was developed after the city's 2007 floods, converting 1.6 km of former highways into Europe’s largest retrofitted sustainable drainage scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dan |date=2022-11-28 |title=Grey to Green: Sheffield's transformational flood defence scheme |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/grey-to-green-sheffields-transformational-flood-defence-scheme |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=The Architects’ Journal |language=en}}</ref> The planting design, by Nigel Dunnett working with Zac Tudor of Sheffield City Council<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greener cities |url=https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/inspires/greener-cities/? |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=Welcome To Sheffield |language=en}}</ref> and Robert Bray Associates as adviser on the sustainable urban drainage,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Grey to Green: Flood risk and regenerating Sheffield Urban {{!}} UK100 |url=https://www.uk100.org/projects/knowledgehub/grey-green-mitigating-flood-risk-and-regenerating-sheffields-city-centre |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.uk100.org |language=en}}</ref> combines flood mitigation with biodiversity and public realm improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-09-06 |title=The Greening of Sheffield: A Grey to Green SuDs Success Story |url=https://greenestate.org.uk/pictorial-meadows-and-the-greening-of-sheffield-a-grey-to-green-suds-success-story/ |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Green Estate |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
The project was awarded the ''CIRIA'' ''Inaugural Awards overall winner.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=SuDS success celebrated at inaugural Awards 2018 |url=https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/news/CIRIA_news2/SuDS%20success%20celebrated%20at%20inaugural%20Awards.aspx? |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=CIRIA |publisher=Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA )}}</ref> It was praised as a "national green champion" at the Green Apple Awards and cited by the EU Climate-ADAPT as "a climate adaptation exemplar".<ref name=":0" /> and the CEEQUAL's "Most Outstanding Achievement" in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grey to Green scheme brings 'active travel' to Sheffield |url=https://environment-analyst.com/77882/grey-to-green-scheme-brings-active-travel-to-sheffield |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Environment Analyst UK |language=en}}</ref>
=== Barbican Estate, Beech Gardens and The High Walk === At the Barbican Estate, Beech Gardens and The High Walk in London (2015), he led the redesign of the podium landscapes with the Landscape Agency,<ref name=":8" /> introducing climate-resilient planting to address chronic waterproofing and maintenance problems. The scheme has since been recognised with awards from the Landscape Institute for its innovation in planting design.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2018 |title=Winners announced in prestigious Landscape Institute Awards - Landscape Institute |url=https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/news/li-awards-2018-winners-announced/ |access-date=September 12, 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Tower of London Superbloom === At the Tower of London Superbloom community project in 2022, Dunnett designed the planting for the moat as part of Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Working with Grant Associates for Historic Royal Palaces, the scheme involved sowing about 20 million seeds across {{convert|14,000|m2}} to produce seasonal displays that changed in colour and form through the summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tower of London 'superbloom' struggling to blossom ahead of Queen's Platinum Jubilee |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/05/28/tower-london-superbloom-struggling-blossom-ahead-queens-platinum/ |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=The Telegraph|last=Furness|first=Hannah|date=28 May 2022}}</ref> Described as a transformation to "a spectacular river of flowers" filling the moat,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Matt |date=2022-05-06 |title='A once in a century experience' – all rise for the Tower of London's Jubilee Superbloom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/may/06/tower-of-london-jubilee-superbloom |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> it was intended as the first stage in a long-term plan to create a permanent naturalistic landscape in the heart of the City of London.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-30 |title=Tower of London's moat to be filled with wildflower meadow |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-60931091 |access-date=2025-09-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Grosvenor Square === At Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London, Dunnett collaborated on the planting design<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://grosvenorsquare.org/who-we-are/ |access-date=30 May 2026 |website=Grosvenor Square}}</ref> for a major transformation of the square, which {{As of|2026|May|alt=as of May 2026|pre=}} was due for completion in summer 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://grosvenorsquare.org/ |access-date=30 May 2026 |website=Grosvenor Square.}}</ref> Working with Tonkin Liu,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Twinch |first=Emily |title=Tonkin Liu submits plans for Grosvenor Square |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/tonkin-liu-submits-plans-for-grosvenor-square/5115370.article |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Building Design |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Youde |first=Kate |date=2022-06-16 |title=Tonkin Liu gets green light for 'radical' overhaul of Grosvenor Square |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/tonkin-liu-gets-green-light-for-radical-overhaul-of-grosvenor-square |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=The Architects’ Journal |language=en}}</ref> BDP, Davies White and the Grosvenor Group,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prynn |first=Jonathan |date=2025-06-05 |title=Mayfair's Grosvenor Square to close for more than a year for 'radical' makeover |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/mayfair-grosvenor-square-makeover-lawns-embassy-b1230771.html |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> the scheme will expand planting areas from about {{convert|140|m2}} {{convert|8,000|m2}}, with over 70,000 plants, 44 new trees and 80,000 bulbs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-03 |title=Grosvenor Square in Mayfair to become wildlife haven |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9jen2xq4go |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Grosvenor has described the project as creating "an extraordinary urban garden" designed for climate resilience, stormwater capture, and biodiversity gain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plans to transform Grosvenor Square into extraordinary urban garden submitted |url=https://www.grosvenor.com/news-insights/plans-to-transform-grosvenor-square-into-extraordinary-urban-garden-submitted |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=www.grosvenor.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Publications == * ''Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls'' (with Noel Kingsbury, Timber Press, 2004/2008). * ''The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting'' (with James Hitchmough, Routledge, 2004). * ''Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape'' (with Andy Clayden, Timber Press, 2007). * ''Naturalistic Planting Design: The Essential Guide'' (Filbert Press, 2019).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keen |first=Mary |date=March 16, 2019 |title=Naturalistic perennial planting: the low-effort, high impact gardening technique we should all be trying |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/how-to-grow/naturalistic-perennial-planting-low-effort-high-impact-gardening/ |access-date=September 12, 2025 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
== Research papers == * {{Cite journal |last1=Nagase |first1=Ayako |last2=Dunnett |first2=Nigel |date=2011-11-30 |title=The relationship between percentage of organic matter in substrate and plant growth in extensive green roofs |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611002441 |journal=Landscape and Urban Planning |volume=103 |issue=2 |pages=230–236 |doi=10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.07.012 |issn=0169-2046|url-access=subscription }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Hoyle |first1=Helen |last2=Jorgensen |first2=Anna |last3=Warren |first3=Philip |last4=Dunnett |first4=Nigel |last5=Evans |first5=Karl |date=2017-07-01 |title="Not in their front yard" The opportunities and challenges of introducing perennial urban meadows: A local authority stakeholder perspective |journal=Urban Forestry & Urban Greening |volume=25 |pages=139–149 |doi=10.1016/j.ufug.2017.05.009 |issn=1618-8667|doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Southon |first1=Georgina E |last2=Jorgensen |first2=Anna |last3=Dunnett |first3=Nigel |last4=Hoyle |first4=Helen |last5=Evans |first5=Karl L |date=2018-04-01 |title=Perceived species-richness in urban green spaces: Cues, accuracy and well-being impacts |journal=Landscape and Urban Planning |volume=172 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.12.002 |issn=0169-2046|doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Yuan |first1=Jia |last2=Dunnett |first2=Nigel |date=2018-10-01 |title=Plant selection for rain gardens: Response to simulated cyclical flooding of 15 perennial species |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866718300700 |journal=Urban Forestry & Urban Greening |volume=35 |pages=57–65 |doi=10.1016/j.ufug.2018.08.005 |issn=1618-8667|url-access=subscription }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Hoyle |first1=Helen |last2=Norton |first2=Briony |last3=Dunnett |first3=Nigel |last4=Richards |first4=J. Paul |last5=Russell |first5=Jean M. |last6=Warren |first6=Philip |date=2018-12-01 |title=Plant species or flower colour diversity? Identifying the drivers of public and invertebrate response to designed annual meadows |journal=Landscape and Urban Planning |volume=180 |pages=103–113 |doi=10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.08.017 |issn=0169-2046|doi-access=free }} * {{Cite journal |last1=Norton |first1=Briony A. |last2=Bending |first2=Gary D. |last3=Clark |first3=Rachel |last4=Corstanje |first4=Ron |last5=Dunnett |first5=Nigel |last6=Evans |first6=Karl L. |last7=Grafius |first7=Darren R. |last8=Gravestock |first8=Emily |last9=Grice |first9=Samuel M. |last10=Harris |first10=Jim A. |last11=Hilton |first11=Sally |last12=Hoyle |first12=Helen |last13=Lim |first13=Edward |last14=Mercer |first14=Theresa G. |last15=Pawlett |first15=Mark |date=2019 |title=Urban meadows as an alternative to short mown grassland: effects of composition and height on biodiversity |journal=Ecological Applications |language=en |volume=29 |issue=6 |doi=10.1002/eap.1946 |issn=1051-0761 |pmc=6851864 |pmid=31173423 |article-number=e01946}} * {{Cite journal |last1=Thuring |first1=Christine E. |last2=Dunnett |first2=Nigel P. |date=2019-05-01 |title=Persistence, loss and gain: Characterising mature green roof vegetation by functional composition |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204619302154 |journal=Landscape and Urban Planning |volume=185 |pages=228–236 |doi=10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.10.026 |issn=0169-2046|url-access=subscription }}
== Awards and accolades == * '''Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show medals''' – including recognition in 2025 for naturalistic planting schemes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Meet the designer of the Hospitalfields Arts Garden in the Show category at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 / RHS |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/misc-shows/designer-biogs/nigel-dunnett |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=A sneak preview of the gardens shaking up the Chelsea Flower Show |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f1bb385-f9a5-4d46-aad5-8be3426a533f |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=www.ft.com |publisher=The Financial Times}}</ref> ** '''2009''' – ''The Future Nature Garden'' with Adrian Hallam and Chris Arrowsmith – Silver-Gilt<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Ciaran |title=BBC - Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - RBC New Wild Garden - Nigel Dunnett |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/show-gardens/2011/rbc-new-wild-garden-nigel-dunnett.shtml |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> ** '''2011''' – ''RBC New Wild Garden'' – Silver-Gilt<ref name=":9" /> ** '''2012''' – ''RBS Blue Water Garden'' – Silver-Gilt<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=A look back over the Royal Bank of Canada's past five years at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 / RHS |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/history/2016/gardens/royal-bank-of-canada-garden/enhancedcontent/rbc-at-chelsea |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> ** '''2013''' – ''RBC Blue Water Roof Garden'' – Gold<ref name=":10" /> ** '''2017''' – ''Greening Grey Britain Garden'' (RHS Feature Garden – medal type not specified)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greening Grey Britain Garden |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/history/2017/gardens/greening-grey-britain-garden |access-date=2025-09-13 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> ** '''2025''' – ''The Hospitalfield Arts Garden'' – Silver-Gilt<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-19 |title=At the Chelsea Flower Show 2025, an innovative coastal garden makes waves |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/architecture-events/chelsea-flower-show-2025-nigel-dunnett |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Wallpaper* |language=en}}</ref> * '''Landscape Institute Awards''' – shortlisted and awarded in several categories across public realm and planting design project for the Barbican Estates.<ref name=":8" /> * Fellow of the Landscape Institute 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-20 |title=Welcome to the LI's newest Fellows - Landscape Institute |url=https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/news/new-fellows-2020/ |access-date=2025-09-13 |language=en-GB}}</ref> * RHS Ambassador in 2023<ref name=":2" /> * Royal Designer of Industry in 2023.<ref name=":1"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.greytogreen.org.uk/ Grey to Green Website] project website * [https://sheffield.ac.uk/architecture-landscape/people/academic/nigel-dunnett Professor Nigel Dunnett] profile at the University of Sheffield * [https://www.nigeldunnett.com/ Nigel Dunnett] website * [https://www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk/ Pictional Meadows] website * {{IMDb name|12602049}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunnett, Nigel}} Category:1963 births Category:2026 deaths Category:British horticulturists Category:Academics of the University of Sheffield Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol Category:People associated with Sheffield Category:British landscape architects