The gardens at the Prince of Wales’s Highgrove estate are world-renowned, and with spring in full bloom now you can enjoy his beloved gardens in Tetbury for yourself.
The public opening for the private gardens of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall has started, with all proceeds from ticket sales and purchases in the shop going to The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Since 1980, Prince Charles has made the Highgrove gardens his passion project and transformed the previously-neglected gardens of the house into “a series of highly personal and inspiring tableaux, each one reflecting the Prince’s interests and enthusiasms.”
As one of the early adopters of the organic movement, the Prince integrates sustainable and ethical principles throughout the gardens, so they are as environmentally-friendly as they are beautiful.
“One of my great joys is to see the pleasure that the garden can bring to many of the visitors and that everybody seems to find some part of it that is special to them,” said The Prince of Wales.
Highlights of the garden include The Stumpery, “an atmospheric garden that draws inspiration from the Victorian concept of growing ferns amongst upturned tree stumps;” the colourful Cottage Garden, comprised of the New Cottage Garden and Old Cottage Garden; The Sundial Garden, featuring a sundial given to Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales as a wedding gift in 1981; Thyme Walk, an “avenue planted with 20 different varieties of thyme, interspersed with marjoram and primroses;” and Wildflower Meadow, a four-acre plot with a seasonally-changing landscape of blooms.
The property is filled with personal touches, including a thatched tree house named Holyrood House where the young princes, William and Harry used to play, and the “Wall of Gifts,” a display of architectural stone which includes items collected by the prince and created by students from the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.
With such beautiful floral displays, you’ll surely want to show your friends, but sadly, visitors must keep the mobiles and cameras at home. As Highgrove is a private home, the use of phones, cameras, binoculars, or any type of recording equipment is prohibited.
After your tour, you’ll have the chance to browse the Highgrove shop featuring a range of home and gardenware; artwork by The Prince of Wales; royal souvenirs; and Highgrove wine, coffee, tea, and speciality food items like preserves, honey, and organic chocolates.
Hungry? Grab a bite at the Orchard Restaurant, offering the finest organic ingredients, some taken right from the estate’s own kitchen garden. You also can book a special garden tour that includes a two-course supper, or a champagne tea tour.
Tickets must be pre-booked and are available for tours until 11th October with prices from £27.50; book at www.highgrovegardens.com. Securing your date early is advisable as tickets for the public opening at Highgrove sell out quickly.
