Our annual lecture, in support of the Beth Chatto Education Trust, will be returning later this year, this time with friend and patron of the education trust, Dan Pearson.
Dan will join us to talk about his thoughts on the Gardens and the developments for the future, including the considerations that have to be taken when looking after an historic garden and taking it into the future whilst staying true to Beth's ethos
Dan Pearson is a British landscape designer, horticulturalist, gardener and writer.
His work is characterised by an innate sensitivity to place, an intuitive and light handed approach to design, bold and painterly naturalistic plantings and deep rooted horticultural knowledge.
Dan has designed a number of award-winning show gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. His 2015 show garden for Chatsworth and Laurent Perrier was awarded a Gold Medal and Best in Show.
Dan lectures and broadcasts regularly and has written a number of books.
In 2022 he was awarded an OBE for services to horticulture in the Queen's New Years Honours and was the recipient of the Beatrix Farrand Society Achievement Award.
In 2025 he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers.
Dan has credited Beth Chatto as being one of his early influences and Beth followed his career with interest. She loved his writing and work and they became friends. Dan in turn, at Beth's request, has been a patron of Beth Chatto Education Trust since its inception in 2015. He gave the first BCET annual lecture here at the University of Essex in 2017.
When Beth's family were looking to secure the future of the Gardens and Beth's legacy, it was simply the natural choice to ask Dan Pearson and his studio to help us with the long term vision and help us incorporate an additional 6.5 acres of land adjacent to the garden. Some changes have already been undertaken but there's much more to come.
We hope you will be able to join us for what we're sure will be a wonderful evening.
£40, or £32 for Friends of the Garden and RHS members.