John Ravenscroft VMH, the renowned horticulturist, nurseryman, garden centre pioneer, celebrity TV gardener has sadly died.

Johns family have announced that he passed away peacefully at home, Cherry Tree Park on Tuesday 26th May 2026, where he and his wife Liz created a 50 acre arboretum, continuing his life long passion for plants and establishing an exceptional collection in a quiet corner of north Shropshire. 

The funeral will be at St Luke’s Hodnet Shropshire on Monday 29th June. 

John was awarded the VMH medal by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2008 and was appointed RHS Vice President in 2010 with the RHS citing him as “ a celebrated nurseryman and co-founder of Bridgemere Show Gardens. A recipient of the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour and RHS Vice President, he is widely recognised for his outstanding contribution to British horticulture. With a career spanning more than 70 years, he has played a pivotal role in mentoring the next generation of horticulturists. His expertise and dedication continue to have a lasting impact on the horticultural community.”

Bridgemere Garden World, the nursery and the Show Gardens were purchased from Wyevale by Blue Diamond in 2019, and Alan Roper, Blue Diamond CEO has told GTN Xtra: “John was forthright with a can-do attitude; he was for me one of the great founding fathers of garden centres but he above all others went one step further in creating Bridgemere Show Gardens, which became a national attraction. His passion for plants drove his success. Selling the business all those years ago was a hard decision but as he said he did it for his children. Witnessing its decline over 20 years was not easy for him. I am pleased he lived to see his business and gardens restored and his legacy continuing. We will arrange a memorial event and create a memorial garden in the show gardens honouring his achievements. The John Ravenscroft memorial garden.”

Using the show gardens at Bridgemere, John regularly presented Gardener’s Diary on ITV through the 80’s and 90’s. Taking up that mantle now is David Domoney with the Step-by-Step gardening series.  David told GTN Xtra: "John was one of horticulture’s true pioneers, man whose passion, courage, and extraordinary knowledge inspired generations to see the beauty and value of ornamental plants. His influence helped shape our industry, touched countless gardeners, growers, and friends along the way. This week, horticulture has not simply lost an expert, it has lost one of its champions."

Most widely known for creating Bridgemere Garden World garden centre and its Show Gardens, John was also a long-time contributor to Garden Trade News writing a regular column about making the most of nursery stock.  In GTN December 1991 he signed off is column as follows: “A final word: remember that people visit you all year round and if your nursery stock is non-existent in the winter and this was your customer’s first visit to your premises, you will be judged on the showing that day. A degree of risk with plants has to be taken and accepted if your garden centre is to look impressive all year.” 35 years on John’s advice rings true and reminds us that plants really are the heart of our business.

The team at GTN, present and old thank John for his wisdom and vision.  We send our heartfelt condolences to Johns family.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chair of Greenfingers Charity and the Environmental Horticulture Group says that knowing John was to know one of the greatest plantsmen ever.

“I first met him when selling plants in 1991 for Webbs. On starting in the role I was told to go to see the team at Bridgemere. John strode into the meeting I was having with the Plant Manager, and told me that I was wasting my time as Bridgemere didn't buy from anyone else and only sold home-grown plants. Slightly battered, I stood my ground and reminded him that he did actually buy from us occasionally. Whilst he took me on a tour of the gardens he did place an order for 1,800 plants!

“Since that first encounter, I have had many a tour of Bridgemere, and more recently the arboretum, with John. On every visit I learnt so much as he was always generous with his time and knowledge. RIP John"

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Geoff Hodge comments: "I was also one of the presenters on Gardener's Diary and worked alongside John for several years. His wealth of knowledge about plants and how to grow them to show off their best was astounding. Another sad loss to the horticultural world, following soon after Matt Biggs."