This panel explores our fascination with landscapes, gardening and the control of nature throughout history - their prominence in the artistic and literary imagination, and their place in the hopes and dreams of the ordinary person.
Anna Pavord is gardening columnist in the Independent. She writes and presents programmes for BBC Radio 3 and 4 and served for ten years on the Gardens Panel of the National Trust, the last five as Chairman. Her books include the bestseller, The Tulip, The Naming of Names, The Curious Gardener and most recently Landskipping: painters, ploughmen and places.
Dan Pearson (@thedanpearson) is an award-winning garden designer and gardening columnist. Dan has designed five award-winning Chelsea Flower Show gardens, the most recent of which was awarded a Gold Medal and the award for Best In Show in 2015. His books include Spirit: Garden Inspiration and Home Ground: Sanctuary in the City. He is currently working on the planting of the proposed Garden Bridge over the Thames.
Margaret Willes is an enthusiastic gardener and the former publisher at the National Trust. Her books include The Making of the English Gardener and The Gardens of the British Working Class.
Richard Bronk is a Visiting Fellow at LSE and author of The Romantic Economist.
This event forms part of the LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival 2016, taking place from Monday 22 - Saturday 27 February 2016, with the theme 'Utopias'.
Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #LSELitFest
Podcast
A podcast of this event is available to download from Utopian Gardening, Landscapes and the Imagination.
Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.