Organizers describe the 2026 Beth Chatto Symposium as a favorite for the “horterati,” a three-day event held at the University of Colchester every two years. Speakers from around the world gathered to discuss “Connections through time” and the shifting trends of the modern setting. The atmosphere was a mix of serious academic inquiry and practical garden design.
Dr. Jennifer McElwain kicked off the proceedings with a presentation spanning 400 million years of tree evolution. She detailed her work measuring atmospheric carbon levels in deep time and raised questions about the coloration of ancient flora. Olivier Filippi followed with a look at how a changing climate is altering plant and insect interactions. The wildfires around his nursery have become more intense in recent years, with lignotubers that would have previously resprouted being burnt away and seedlings shrivelling in ongoing droughts.
Related: Somerset garden show gains royal attention
This has resulted in the brown, pocked pattern he calls a “leopard-print setting” and a collapse in the pollen and nectar supply. Filippi argued that gardens can act as shelters, but without water for irrigation, more reliable sources of nectar are needed. He suggested that plants from further south could extend the phenology calendar. He gave examples of new relationships developing between native fauna and invasive non-native plants in the South of France, such as gulls with opuntia berries and wild bees with specialized diets. The audience seemed receptive to these observations, though the topic of native versus non-native plants usually sparks heated debate.
Sheila Das, head of gardens with the National Trust, presented her strategy for the charity’s properties, which she calls “slow gardening.” This strategy will see a pivot from “quick fix, big reveal Projects with a capital P” to long-term evolving garden systems. She is advocating for less annual planting and more perennial schemes grown from bare roots, polycultures, and a focus on soil health. Das believes the messaging needs to shift to process-led rather than task-focused work. She also noted that the language we use matters; “maintenance” is something you do to your car, not your garden, she says. Ecological succession needs to be taught on horticulture courses, she added, noting that woodland-edge planting is the perfect solution for most gardens.
Related: Jo Thompson to lead garden design at London college
Kelly Norris took attendees to the prairies with a presentation urging people to view them as a process rather than just an aesthetic form. He suggested there are ways to transport the idea of dynamic systems to other places, though he did not have time to explain this in further detail. Dan Pearson then presented the new masterplan for the Beth Chatto Gardens. He outlined plans for a new seven-acre plot acquired on a long-term lease and changes to the original site. There will be a new meadow and woodland acting as breathing spaces, and minor edits to the existing garden introducing a Mediterranean “spine” of dry gardens. A new entrance is being created to prevent common confusion for visitors upon arrival.
The rest of the program featured a mix of art and advocacy. Monica Feria-Tinta, known as a “barrister for the Earth,” discussed her work defending the planet and garnering rights for nature, including suing Australia to gain legal personhood for rivers. Fergus Garrett closed the event with a humorous romp through Great Dixter, referencing Christo’s memorable shirt and border color palettes. He ended with a rousing call to action that “people matter.”
