Our work
John Dawber Garden
John Dawber Garden Restoration, Lincoln: Reviving a Lost Garden Through Community and Heritage
- Sector
- Small Scale
- Services
- Landscape Design
- Location
- Lincoln, Lincolnshire
- Year
- 2024
The project
John Dawber Garden Restoration, Lincoln: Reviving a Lost Garden Through Community and Heritage
Influence provided pro bono landscape advice and design support for the restoration of the John Dawber Garden in Lincoln, working alongside the Lincolnshire Gardens Trust and a newly formed community group. Originally created in the 1980s as a themed garden celebrating Lincoln’s international links and the legacy of botanist Sir Joseph Banks, the site had fallen into decline due to limited maintenance resources.
Drawing on the garden’s strong historic framework, Influence prepared an initial assessment and set of recommendations to guide its long-term restoration and management. The proposals focused on revitalising planting, restoring key features such as the pond, improving accessibility and re-establishing the distinct character areas of the garden.
Since 2023, a volunteer-led trust has taken on stewardship, delivering significant improvements through community effort. The project has successfully transformed the garden into a vibrant, wildlife-rich and educational space, supporting biodiversity while reconnecting local people with a unique and much-loved green asset.
