It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Matthew Biggs, who died on Thursday, 21st May, at the age of 65. Matthew gave so much to horticulture, and his influence will continue to bloom in gardens, greenhouses, and in the imaginations of gardeners for many years to come.
There are people who write about gardens, and then there are people who seem to be of the garden — rooted in its rhythms, flowering with curiosity, ever returning with something new to share. Matthew Biggs was unmistakably the latter.
For over two decades, Matthew was a constant presence here at Hartley Botanic. Since 2005, he has written more than 200 articles, each an invitation to slow down, look closer, and fall a little more in love with the natural world.
We mourn his loss while celebrating the remarkable career that grew from his studies at Pershore College to being presented with the most prestigious RHS People Award, the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to horticulture. Over the course of his career, he became a respected writer, panellist (notably on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time), presenter, director, teacher and author of works like the award-winning Garden: Exploring the Horticultural World.
Matthew became one of the most prominent and sought-after names in the gardening world, with unparalleled knowledge and an approachable and friendly persona that made talking to him easy and relatable, like an old friend or neighbour sharing wisdom over the fence.
Here at Hartley, we knew him through his writing, where genuine passion met deep knowledge in every blog. Matthew had a remarkable gift for making gardening feel both richly knowledgeable and wonderfully accessible. Never distant, never forbidding, always welcoming. He opened the garden gate for so many, encouraging curiosity and confidence in equal measure.
We are deeply saddened by this loss, both personally and as part of the wider horticultural community. But alongside that sorrow is enormous thankfulness. We will remember Matthew not only for all that he achieved, but for the spirit in which he achieved it, with generosity, curiosity, humour, and grace.
His legacy lives on in the words he wrote, the gardeners he inspired, and the countless lives he brightened through his passion for the natural world. At Hartley Botanic, we will remember him with affection and admiration, and we will continue to celebrate the extraordinary contribution he made to horticulture.
Thank you, Matthew, for all you gave. Your words will keep flowering.
Happy Gardening.