The Garden has lost a champion

We are very sad to report the death of Ben Smeeden in January; Ben was indeed a great champion of the Garden for over 40 years.

Ben was the Tree and Landscape officer at Uttlesford District Council from the early 1980s to November 2024. He was an early supporter of the Garden and was part of the Uttlesford team that replanted the Maze in 1984. He did a great deal of work in the background to get the restoration underway and was a member of the original Steering Group.

Ben continued to be the Uttlesford officer responsible for the Garden for many years until his retirement in 2024. As the Garden is in a Conservation Area, he was responsible for approving all tree works, and provided a good case was put forward, agreement was usually reached. He had strong views on any changes, however small, and wanted the Garden kept as close to the Victorian design as possible.

Ben was very modest about his involvement. When our website was being prepared he did not want a mention of his involvement in the restoration but he was a huge part of the process. Sadly, the only photo we have of Ben is in our Restoration section. He looks very young and is in the photo with a youthful John Bosworth, pushing a barrow during the restoration of the Maze.

We could not let his death pass without acknowledging his continuing committment and professional concern for the Garden over many years. Thank you Ben.