Dan Pearson OBE honoured

Dan Pearson OBE honoured: The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) is delighted to announce that acclaimed garden and landscape designer Dan Pearson OBE FSGD has been awarded the SGD Lifetime Achievement Award 2025.

The prestigious accolade, presented at the SGD Awards ceremony in London last night, celebrates Dan’s extraordinary career and enduring contributions to the world of garden and landscape design.

Renowned for his deeply intuitive approach to design and his ability to harmonise landscapes with their natural surroundings, Dan Pearson has been a transformative figure in the industry. His work, spanning private gardens, public spaces, and large-scale landscapes, is characterised by an unparalleled sensitivity to site, ecology, and the interplay of light, texture, and planting.

Among his many iconic projects are the breathtaking Tokachi Millennium Forest in Japan, the pioneering Maggie’s Centre in London, and the celebrated Delos at Sissinghurst. Each project exemplifies his commitment to sustainable, timeless design that connects people to nature.

Presenting the Award, SGD Chair Andrew Duff MSGD said:

“Dan Pearson’s contribution to garden and landscape design is nothing short of extraordinary. His intuitive approach to working with the natural environment has not only transformed countless landscapes but also redefined the way we think about the relationship between design and nature.

From his early work to globally celebrated projects like the Tokachi Millennium Forest in Japan and his Best in Show garden at RHS Chelsea in 2015, Dan has continually demonstrated a rare ability to create spaces that are as ecologically significant as they are visually stunning.

“This Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges not just his incredible portfolio but also his enduring influence on the profession as well as his significant contributions to the Society of Garden Designers.

As a long-standing member, he has inspired countless designers through his talks at SGD conferences, generously sharing his knowledge and showing us all the value of working sensitively with the land and embracing a sustainable, thoughtful approach to design.

His work is a powerful reminder of the role our profession plays in connecting people to the natural world, and his legacy will continue to shape the future of garden and landscape design for many years to come.”

The Award was announced at The SGD Awards 2025 Ceremony at the Landmark Hotel in London where a short film, made to mark the occasion, was shown to the audience.

Watch the film here 

“To be awarded the SGD Lifetime Achievement Award is a huge privilege. I feel like I’ve only just got started and with all the knowledge I now have behind me, I’d like to think I have another lifetime to play with.”  Dan Pearson OBE FSGD

The Lifetime Achievement Award is gifted by the Council of the Society of Garden Designers and granted to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the landscape and garden design profession.

Previous recipients have included Penelope Hobhouse, Piet Oudolf, Beth Chatto, Christopher Bradley-Hole FSGD, Andrew Lawson, Fernando Caruncho, Robin Williams FSGD, David Stevens FSGD, Charles Jencks and Sarah Eberle FSGD. Last year’s award went to to James Hitchmough.

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