About Herons Bonsai - Britain's premier bonsai Nursery

Herons Bonsai, founded by Dawn and Peter Chan in 1986, is Britain's premier Bonsai nursery. On its extensive seven and a half acre landscaped site you can relax and enjoy all aspects of this fascinating hobby. It is literally a Bonsai heaven for anyone interested in the pastime. The sheer scale of the site and the range and selection of trees makes Herons a 'must visit' venue for both Bonsai tree enthusiasts and gardeners alike.
It isn't surprising why we continue to be Britain's Number 1 Bonsai centre! Our website has an extensive selection of stock. Everything to do with Bonsai - a large selection of indoor and outdoor bonsai trees, pots, tools, accessories and workshops. And when you visit us - you will know why we are still simply the best in the UK. 

Aerial views of the Nursery









A view of the pond in the Japanese garden area.



The Herons Centre is a beautiful and tranquil place to hold events such as Yoga, Meditation, Thai Chi and Other Workshops. 

Gardens around the nursery in Spring. We are specialist Acer or Maple growers, so we have thousands of Acers on site for you to choose from.

A view of some of our Acers/Maples in early Spring

Herons is not a Garden Centre. It is a nursery where we actually grow trees for bonsai. Herons was founded by bonsai enthusiasts for bonsai enthusiasts.
We are more interested in sharing with you the love of bonsai than just selling you a tree or pot. In a word, bonsai is a way of life here and it shows when you visit our nursery. There is always a warm welcome awaiting you. We have visitors from all over the world who come here to view our famous bonsai trees and to meet Peter.
And now that Peter has such a huge following on YouTube with over half a million subscribers and over 70 million viewers, YouTube fans from all over the world come regularly to Herons to meet Peter. (If you are planning a visit to meet him please check with our office to make sure Peter will be at the nursery.)



Peter Chan is the doyen of bonsai in the UK and well known for his record tally of 21 Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals, a feat no other bonsai specialist has ever achieved.
Many throughout the world have been inspired to take up bonsai as a hobby after reading one or more of his nine books. His first book 'Bonsai-The Art of Growing and Keeping Miniature Trees', is still in print in eight languages. And just a few years ago, he was commissioned by the Readers Digest to write 'Bonsai Secrets' which is a world best seller and in Sept 2014, 'The Bonsai Bible' was published by Mitchell Beazley. Peter has appeared on British television since the early 1980's to talk and demonstrate bonsai. His most recent appearance was on 21st June 2024 on BBC's Gardeners World.
He was Chairman of the British Bonsai Association from 1980-1987; founder member of the Federation of British Bonsai Societies; honorary chairman of several bonsai societies and the bonsai collection at Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley has been sponsored by Dawn and Peter since 1997.
Peter was awarded The Association of British Bonsai Artists' "Most Prestigious Award" in 2004 for the 'futherance and betterment of British bonsai'. He is also on the Federation of British Bonsai Society's Roll of Honour. In June 2025 he was awarded the MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

Peter's bonsai journey started in 1967 when he began experimenting with ordinary trees and shrubs in his balcony garden in London. By the mid '70s bonsai had become an obsession. While still an amateur, he won his first RHS Gold Medal at his very first one man bonsai show in 1982 - again a feat no one in bonsai has ever achieved. He went on to become the Chairman of the British Bonsai Association in 1980 and by 1985 he quit his nine to five job to start Herons Bonsai Nursery which he still runs today.

Peter with HM the Queen in 1984 when he won his first Chelsea Gold Medal beating all the other bonsai professionals at that Show. Peter no longer shows at Chelsea after winning 21 Chelsea Golds in 2006, but the Herons Bonsai Collection is on permanent display at the RHS Gardens at Wisley.

Peter's professional background
A graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur, Peter worked as a Chartered Electrical Engineer with the UK Electricity Supply Industry before moving to the UK Department of Energy as a senior adminstrator and speech writer. It was while writing speeches on privatisation and entrepreneurship that he was inspired to set up his own business.

In August 2015 IIT - Kharagpur confered on him their 'Distinguished Alumnus Award' along with other famous alumni such as Mr Sundar Pichai - CEO of Google in recognition of his many achievements in various fields.

On 24 Dec 2022 Peter was the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour at the Indian Institute of Technology's 68th Convocation when he awarded degrees and honours to over two thousand awardees. As India's flagship technological institute, this was a great honour normally accorded to dignitaries such as Presidents and Prime Ministers of the country. His visit to India and to IIT is on Peter's YouTube video channel.
Peter went on to teach and demonstrate bonsai in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Karjat on this visit.
At the 69th Convocation the following year, it was the Honourable  President of India who was the Guest of Honour!








Peter's MBE Award
On 14th June 2025, Peter was awarded the prestigious  Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours. This was for Business, Entrepreneurship and Bonsai.

RHS Gardens - Wisley - "HERONS BONSAI WALK"
Dawn and Peter Chan have been sponsoring the Bonsai display at Wisley since 1997. Set up originally in the Garden of the Senses, the Herons Bonsai Garden was completely remade in 2007 and most recently in February 2012, we set up the new 'Herons Bonsai Walk' in the former Monocot border. The new display was opened by Elizabeth Banks, President of the RHS, on 3 May 2012. Here is what the new Herons Bonsai Walk looks like.

Entrance to the 'Herons Bonsai Walk'



Peter with Elizabeth Banks, President of the RHS on 3 May 2012

Guests at the Opening Ceremony enjoying the new display



Peter's YouTube Channel
Peter's latest contribution to the Worldwide bonsai community is his YouTube Channel. Started as an experiment in 2017, Peter's YouTube channel now has a mega following with over 500,000 subscribers and growing, and over 70 million views. This is probably the largest YouTube following in bonsai worldwide.  Peter has been described as a YouTube sensation because of his massive fan base,  with many commenting how much they learn about bonsai from them. YouTube fans from all over the world visit Herons almost daily to visit Herons and to meet Peter. 
He has also been described by international educator Jed Stefannowicz as "one of the more gifted teachers I've ever seen in action, and I continue to learn from his talents as an artist, communicator and teacher regularly!"

Herons Japanese Gardens
Japanese garden construction is also part of Herons' expertise. Many of our beautiful Japanese gardens have been featured in lifestyle magazines the world over.

Peter's most recent project was the prestigious Islington Square communal garden completed in 2018. 

Peter has made many prestigious gardens over the years.

This is one he and his team made in 1999

The pond and waterfall five years later in 2004


Below is a picture of the same pond in June 2011

Islington Square Garden  2018 - a communal garden in an exclusive residential development









Promotional Work and Tree Hire Services

Herons' bonsai trees are hired for film shoots by the famous film studios for their movies. They are also hired out for advertising and other publicity work.

Many top garden designers hire our trees for their displays at prestigious Flower shows such as Chelsea.

Our reputation for high quality trees has always attracted immense media interest. Many of our trees continue to appear in lifestyle magazines and other media. If you see any bonsai in films, they may be ours!