Highgrove, part 3

Hanging from its branches are several intricate bird feeders, gifts to The Prince, and proving popular with a variety of Highgrove’s feathered residents! On we went to find The Pergola, constructed with fat Cotswold stone columns smothered with roses, clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle. Beside the swimming pool the former sunbathing lawn has been transformed into a Box Garden set around an enormous terracotta pot, lying on its side and surrounded by ‘waves’ of sea green Box. A winding, grassy path took us through The Cottage Garden with its beds burgeoning with herbaceous plants and cottage garden favourites, many planted by Prince Charles and the Princes William and Harry. A circular seat, a fortieth birthday present, surrounds a sorbus tree making a cool place to sit to enjoy the exuberance of this area. The last garden of our tour came as quite a surprise with its contrasting style, The Carpet Garden. The Prince’s inspiration for this garden for The Chelsea Flower Show came from a Persian Carpet. It contains the essential elements – water to purify and soothe, roses to provide scent, pink walls to give privacy, and square tiles for uniformity and order. Olive trees, grapes and figs grow amongst marble chairs. The intricate patterns of the tiles surrounding the raised fountain add drama to this ‘show garden’. Despite the huge contrast to the rest of the English country garden, somewhere from within, a robin sang.

Our tour ended in The Orchard Room, which displays some of the paintings of Prince Charles. Tea was served in bone china ‘Topiary Garden’ cups along with Duchy of Cornwall biscuits. Photographs displayed ‘before’ and ‘after’ scenes in the garden, but like any other garden it is constantly evolving within the inspiration of His Royal Highness.

‘I knew I wanted to take care of the place in a very personal way, and to leave it one day in a far better condition than I found it’

Clutching precious, exclusive mementoes from the Highgrove Shop, we reflected on what The Prince has achieved during his time at Highgrove. How honoured we all felt to have witnessed for ourselves this ‘Prince’s Legacy’

return to walk report list.