Speakers

Julia is the CEO of Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens and Beth’s eldest grandchild. Growing up in the Midlands Julia would regularly visit her grandparents and spent her childhood summer holidays at the Gardens. With a background in general management at Donington Park (Race Track) she joined the business in 2012, bringing her business acumen, a deep love for the Gardens, a tie to its history and an ambition for the future.  

Julia is not only focused on securing the business for the future; she’s deeply committed to honouring Beth’s legacy by reducing the organisation’s environmental footprint and championing the importance of green public spaces thorough ecological and sustainable planting and thoughtful practices. 

At Chattowood, a local housing development, the Beth Chatto team introduced a drought resistant planting scheme in sand. The Meanwhile Garden, beside Firstsite Art Gallery, and the Albert roundabout in Colchester further showcase how thoughtful, environmentally sensitive planting can enrich public spaces and support biodiversity. 

Julia recently appeared as a speaker on the In the Footsteps of Giants US lecture tour, curated by Garden Masterclass, where she joined a panel exploring the legacy of three iconic British gardens created by extraordinary women. Her contribution highlighted not only Beth’s pioneering work but also the ongoing relevance of sustainable horticulture in a changing world.