Fergus Garrett - Winter Lecture Series

Raised in the United Kingdom and in Turkey, Fergus studied horticulture at Wye College, graduating in 1989. He has held the position of Head Gardener for the internationally acclaimed Great Dixter Garden in Northiam, East Sussex, UK since 1993. 

In 2006, Fergus took over the position of CEO of The Great Dixter Charitable Trust, before being awarded the awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Associate of Honour in 2008. Other notable accolades that Fergus has been awarded include: 

• International Contributor Award from the Perennial Plant Association (2012). 

• Longhouse Landscape Award, and the Garden Media Guild Golden Nisse Award (2013)

• Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to the practice of horticulture (2015)

• Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH): the highest accolade that the Royal Horticultural Society can give (2019). 

Fergus believes in passing on his knowledge and expertise through the national and international student and volunteer programmes at Great Dixter and via the many worldwide lectures he gives each year. He is a hands-on gardener and plantsman who has a keen interest in working practices. He is interested in ecology and how an ornamental garden and biodiversity interact.

Today, Fergus continues with his role as CEO and Head Gardener at Great Dixter as well as spearheading several projects including the greening up of urban and suburban communities, biodiversity related projects in towns and villages, and training students from all over the world in the Dixter style of flower gardening.