Celebrating Highgrove
When the Prince of Wales moved into Highgrove House in 1980 the garden largely consisted of lawn and thorn bushes. In the 35 years which have followed, the Prince has sustained the idealism of his early 30s and has created, from this somewhat bleak landscape, a series of exquisite gardens, each one noted for its unique character and style and reflecting his different interests, enthusiasms and tastes.
But these gardens are not only a triumph of aesthetic creativity and individuality – they have, with the advice of notable individuals and the dedicated assistance of garden staff, been consistently managed according to the principles of organic and sustainable horticulture which the Prince has so long championed. Thus all the waste water from the house is collected via a specially constructed reed-bed sewage system; all green waste is recycled for mulch and compost; natural predators are used for pest control, and only natural fertilisers are deployed.
Clockwise from left: Highgrove House is a panoply of initiatives and stunning features, including the Thyme Walk. The Summer House in the Cottage Garden is a serene spot amid Highgrove’s horticultural splendour. The Sundial Garden is a rainbow of colourful flowers and, like all the property’s surrounding land, is testament to the Prince of Wales’s organic principles and gardening ideals
Of a piece with the Prince’s passion for natural methods and sustainability is his passionate desire to protect and enhance our native flora and fauna, which have been in such serious decline on account of modern intensive farming methods. Biodiversity at Highgrove has been fostered through a panoply of initiatives: a wild flower meadow has been re-established, which now boasts more than 30 varieties of native plants, including ox-eye daisies, yellow rattle, meadow crane’s bill, common spotted orchid and ragged robin. The Kitchen Garden, meanwhile, plays its full part nurturing rare and endangered species of fruit and vegetables, alongside the more commonplace Charlotte potatoes, spring cabbages and brussels sprouts. A wide variety of apples are grown, including Nonpareil, Golden Knob, Cornish Aromatic and Lady’s Delight, and there are examples of some very rare, indeed virtually extinct, cooking apples. The gardens are also home to part of the national collection of beech trees and largeleaved hostas, playing a further part in conserving our plant heritage. Needless to say, wildlife thrives in this environment: from English songbirds, such as the Chiffchaff, Dunnock and Song Thrush, to dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, newts and rare bumble bees, all contributing to the ‘virtuous circle’ of nature at Highgrove.
The Prince is rightly proud of his gardens, which are open to the public from April to October. This year, for the first time, the Prince has gone a step further and Highgrove will be hosting a festival in celebration of one of the most creatively inspired gardens of our time. Highgrove: The Garden Celebrated, takes place over six days in April and will bring together the nation’s best-loved gardeners and horticultural experts – including Alan Titchmarsh, Bob Flowerdew and Sarah Raven – in a jubilee of events and presentations. Royal floral designer Shane Connolly, interviewed overleaf, will be appearing on 15 April. The festival, which includes a spring plant fair, will shine a light on the essence and ethos of Highgrove and the horticultural ideals and enthusiasms of the heir to the throne.
Highgrove: The Garden Celebrated runs from 11-16 April at Highgrove, Gloucestershire. To enjoy 20% off speaker events (speakers include Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein, and Raymond Blanc, call 0333-222 4555 and quote HGFLady or go to www.highgroveshop.com/festival
But these gardens are not only a triumph of aesthetic creativity and individuality – they have, with the advice of notable individuals and the dedicated assistance of garden staff, been consistently managed according to the principles of organic and sustainable horticulture which the Prince has so long championed. Thus all the waste water from the house is collected via a specially constructed reed-bed sewage system; all green waste is recycled for mulch and compost; natural predators are used for pest control, and only natural fertilisers are deployed.
Clockwise from left: Highgrove House is a panoply of initiatives and stunning features, including the Thyme Walk. The Summer House in the Cottage Garden is a serene spot amid Highgrove’s horticultural splendour. The Sundial Garden is a rainbow of colourful flowers and, like all the property’s surrounding land, is testament to the Prince of Wales’s organic principles and gardening idealsOf a piece with the Prince’s passion for natural methods and sustainability is his passionate desire to protect and enhance our native flora and fauna, which have been in such serious decline on account of modern intensive farming methods. Biodiversity at Highgrove has been fostered through a panoply of initiatives: a wild flower meadow has been re-established, which now boasts more than 30 varieties of native plants, including ox-eye daisies, yellow rattle, meadow crane’s bill, common spotted orchid and ragged robin. The Kitchen Garden, meanwhile, plays its full part nurturing rare and endangered species of fruit and vegetables, alongside the more commonplace Charlotte potatoes, spring cabbages and brussels sprouts. A wide variety of apples are grown, including Nonpareil, Golden Knob, Cornish Aromatic and Lady’s Delight, and there are examples of some very rare, indeed virtually extinct, cooking apples. The gardens are also home to part of the national collection of beech trees and largeleaved hostas, playing a further part in conserving our plant heritage. Needless to say, wildlife thrives in this environment: from English songbirds, such as the Chiffchaff, Dunnock and Song Thrush, to dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, newts and rare bumble bees, all contributing to the ‘virtuous circle’ of nature at Highgrove.
The Prince is rightly proud of his gardens, which are open to the public from April to October. This year, for the first time, the Prince has gone a step further and Highgrove will be hosting a festival in celebration of one of the most creatively inspired gardens of our time. Highgrove: The Garden Celebrated, takes place over six days in April and will bring together the nation’s best-loved gardeners and horticultural experts – including Alan Titchmarsh, Bob Flowerdew and Sarah Raven – in a jubilee of events and presentations. Royal floral designer Shane Connolly, interviewed overleaf, will be appearing on 15 April. The festival, which includes a spring plant fair, will shine a light on the essence and ethos of Highgrove and the horticultural ideals and enthusiasms of the heir to the throne.
Highgrove: The Garden Celebrated runs from 11-16 April at Highgrove, Gloucestershire. To enjoy 20% off speaker events (speakers include Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein, and Raymond Blanc, call 0333-222 4555 and quote HGFLady or go to www.highgroveshop.com/festival