6 Marian Thompson

The work of Marian Thompson (Grierson), 1936-1999 was driven by a love of plants and nature. She is fondly remembered not only for her professional achievements but also for her great sense of humour, infectious smile, enthusiasm, and ability to teach and inspire others. There was never a dull moment in her company. She was born in Budapest to a Hungarian father and an English mother (both sculptors) who moved to England at the outset of World War II. Gardening was an integral part of her early family life providing food for the table and making beautiful settings for the odd sculpture. With an aptitude for the sciences and interest in plants, she studied Horticulture and later Landscape Architecture - wanting to use her knowledge of plants to create better places. Marian began her career at Timothy Cochrane Associates before undertaking many commissions ranging from landscape restoration, new gardens, planting for public spaces, to habitat creation. Notably, she was commissioned by Stanley Seeger to work on his Sutton Place estate and gardens of The Deanery. For many years she was also a part time lecturer at Thames Polytechnic (now Greenwich University). In retirement, she combined her passion for plants and watercolour painting, joining a plant-hunting group at Jardin Botanica in Brazil, where she explored and painted the coastal rainforest. Uniquely for FOLAR, we were able to invite Marian's Thompson's son to talk about his mother's work and life in landscape architecture. The insight he shares with us about her personality, character and achievements makes this talk very special. BRUCE THOMPSON was exposed to Marian’s interest from an early age, ie he studied landscape architecture and worked for Land Use Consultants. With more of an interest creating built places, he spent two years working in California, where he shifted towards property development. He now heads Development and Regeneration at Dorrington PLC. MIKE WESTLEY studied landscape architecture at the University of Greenwich where Marian Thompson taught planting design; he is a chartered landscape architect, designer & senior university academic with 30 years practice experience in the U.K, Europe, U.S.A & Australia. PREVIOUS 5 Marjory Allen    • 5 Lady Marjory Allen of Hurtwood (1897-1976)   ABOUT THIS SERIES OF TALKS Although perhaps uniquely the profession of landscape architecture has enjoyed an equal balance of male and female members, however, the lives, work and records of women members has been less well represented. FOLAR's ongoing talk series has endeavoured to correct this imbalance. This group of six comprises some of the earliest pioneers in the profession who contributed to the expertise, development and awareness of the landscape profession in many different ways. It also includes two women from later generations, inspired by the work of earlier designers and who went on to find their own paths. MORE INFORMATION Marian Thompson archive at The MERL https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collection... The Landscape Institute collection at MERL: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/collection... More information about FOLAR and joining: https://www.folar.uk Speakers Bruce Thompson and Mike Westley 30 April 2025