Nigel Dunnett Sheffield, ENG Death and Obituary – Sheffield Mourns the Loss of Professor Nigel Dunnett, Renowned Planting Designer

The University of Sheffield and the wider community are mourning the passing of Professor Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design and Vegetation Technology in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, who passed away peacefully on 26 April 2026.

Professor Dunnett’s 30-year career left an indelible mark on Sheffield, the UK, and international design communities. He was celebrated for his visionary and sustainable planting schemes, transforming public spaces including the Barbican, Stratford’s Olympic Park, the streets of Sheffield, Bergamo Square in Italy, the Tower of London moat, and the Diamond Garden at Buckingham Palace.

His innovative work reshaped how designers, institutions, and gardeners think about planting in public spaces, earning recognition and admiration worldwide. Tributes have poured in from across the gardening and design community, with his influence highlighted on platforms such as BBC News.

At the University, Nigel was a cherished colleague and mentor. For decades, he inspired countless students with his engaging teaching, fostering creativity, knowledge, and a passion for sustainable planting design. He was also a supportive and respected colleague, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working with him.

Professor Dunnett’s legacy will continue to thrive through the spaces he transformed, the students he inspired, and the ideas he championed. Sheffield and the wider landscape design community have lost a visionary, a teacher, and a kind-hearted friend.