Look no further if you’re seeking a spot to unwind and appreciate nature. The Royal Garden at Highgrove is a must-see for every wildlife enthusiast.
The Royal Garden at Highgrove is an organic garden run by HRH The Prince of Wales. It’s filled with over 30 different varieties of native plants creating a rich tapestry of color and diversity. You can explore the meadow, woodland area, or even take a stroll through the formal gardens to see what you find.
You can walk through over 100 acres of land filled with wildflowers, trees, ponds, and more! There are plenty of places where you can sit down on a bench or even picnic in the grass. And if you want an up-close look at some of your favorite flowers, there are several glasshouses which house rare species from all around the world!
What is the Royal Garden at Highgrove
Royal Garden at Highgrove is a site that Prince Charles has been working on for many years. In 1980, Prince Charles bought the property and the surrounding 44 acres. He then created his own private estate from scratch. One of the main inspirations for this was gardens in Japan, and he also uses plants and species which would not survive in England because of climate.
After the gutting of Kensington Palace, which used to be occupied by Princess Diana, Prince Charles needed somewhere to stay. He bought the 42-room Highgrove House in Tetbury, Gloucestershire for £578 000 on 6th June 1980. A new house was under construction on top of the original structure and it was completed in 1983. Over the next two decades, he created a magnificent garden with 13,000 different kinds of plants from all over the world.
In 1993, Prince Charles received the Royal Horticultural Society Gold award for his work on Highgrove’s gardens. In 2002, Prince Charles was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Garden Media Guild and in 2003, he accepted the Prince of Wales Trophy for his horticultural excellence.
Charles worked closely with landscape architect Graham Stuart Thomas to create what has become dubbed “one of the finest gardens in England”. It’s now open to visitors as part of the National Gardens Scheme every year, where every ticket sold provides support to His Royal Highness’ The Prince’s Trust.
What to bring
You must have an e-ticket or a pre-booked physical ticket. You will not be admitted if you don’t.
Please bring two utility invoices in your name if you cannot show photo identification.
Tickets are not refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-replaceable. Reselling tickets is strictly prohibited.
How to go there?
It is recommended that you leave at least 15 minutes before the start of your tour or event so that you can go through security.
The best way to get to Highgrove Gardens is by car, but for groups, you may want to use a coach. Make sure you go directly to the entrance though because it is not signposted.
The closest train station is Stroud, which is about 20 minutes away. If you’re coming by bus, you can get one at the Stroud Greenway stop #1 or #5 on Stroud High Street.
There are also two pay and display car parks in Tetbury with spaces for more than 1 800 vehicles. You can use these for the duration of your visit.
If you’re coming by bicycle, there are facilities for parking them up at Tetbury Greenway on The Square.
Accessibility
Unmade garden walks with lumpy and uneven surfaces might be found. Wearing sturdy shoes or wellington boots, as well as appropriate outdoor clothes, is recommended, especially in damp weather. If you have disability, contacting the customer in advance is a must. But it must be remembered that only assistance and guide dogs are allowed on the Estate.
Where to park?
Public car parks are available near Highgrove House or visitors may choose to make use of private parking facilities which are available nearby (charges apply). Please note that Highbridge Farm Car Park will be closed for resurfacing works from 1st August until the end of October.
Visitors should note that there is no parking available at Highgrove House and any vehicles left on site after 4 pm will be removed, with a charge made to recover the cost of this operation.
Does Prince Charles still go to Highgrove?
Prince Charles still goes to Highgrove but he doesn’t stay there too often. He now spends most of his time at Clarence House in London because that is where he works from. The Queen still uses it as her country home when she isn’t at Buckingham Palace.
HRH Prince William also lives at Kensington Palace with his wife Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte.
Camilla stays there too sometimes but her home is still Ray Mill House in Gloucestershire. She divides her time between that place and Clarence House.
The Duchess spends most of her time at Highgrove House though, especially when she is at home.
She and Prince Charles have been spending time improving the gardens of Highgrove but they also spend some quality family time there with their two sons from previous marriages, Princes William and Harry.
What to expect there
There are different things to see and do at Highgrove Gardens. There is the Garden Centre, cafe, exhibition, orchid house, potting shed, picnic area, wildflower meadow, sundial garden, and the yew avenue.
Things to expect there is a diverse selection of landscapes that highlight the horticultural excellence of Prince Charles. Visitors can also expect unstructured beauty found in the wildflowers meadow with long grasses blowing in the wind. Those gardens capture the distinct atmosphere of the estate and provide access to quality services for young mothers in Uttar Pradesh.
The Arboretum
The Arboretum is a magical place for all ages with lots to see and do. The Arboretum environment is fascinating – including creeping buttercup, sweet woodruff, and dog’s mercury contributing to biodiversity by growing in the shade under the trees. These plants not only offer color and cover to the ground, but they also attract bees and insects for pollination. Creeping buttercup, sweet woodruff, and dog mercury contribute to the biodiversity of the region by growing in the shade under the trees. These plants not only offer color and cover to the ground, but they also attract bees and insects for pollination while creeping buttercup adds yellow patches of color to large expanses of lawns while sweet woodruff smells wonderful.
As well as the flowers, visitors can view sculptures and statues throughout the Arboretum. There are works that range from modern art to historical representations of figures such as Sancho Panza. The gardens also house an orchid collection which is open to visitors on some days during the year. There are more than 300 different species in the collection and over 1000 plants in total.
The Stumpery
The Stumpery is an amazing place that’s part of the Kettle Creek Natural Area in Northern California. It’s a serene, otherworldly landscape that was inspired by the Victorian practice of cultivating ferns amid overturned tree stumps. The Stumpery showcases the sculptural aspects of wood and includes unique natural structures, making it a great home for animals. Classical temples made of green wood are among them, with David Wynne’s Goddess of the Woods sculpture sandwiched in between.
What makes the Stumpery so special is how its creators have preserved and protected this little piece of nature through conservation and restoration work, while also ensuring that visitors can enjoy it in its unspoiled state. One key detail to note is that they’ve left the area in a state that is entirely natural. Its sculptures are not fenced off but rather set into the landscape, leaving them vulnerable to damage by humans and animals alike.
This is a common misconception about the Stumpery: it’s not a park with carefully manicured grounds or formal gardens. It’s more like an English garden, which evolved naturally over time. As Stumpery’s creators describe it, this place is “noble not because of what was created but rather because of what has survived.”
Cottage Garden
The Old Cottage Garden (often abbreviated to OCG) is situated on the Highgrove Estate. The garden was created by the late Rosemary Verey CH CBE in her lifetime and has been maintained by former Royal Horticulturist, Katie Clark, since her death in 1998. The design of the garden is traditional English in style with an emphasis on both flowers and vegetables. The garden of approximately one acre is planted with year-round color provided by a blend of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs. The garden is divided into four terraces which slope gently down towards the south and west. The boundaries were planted with a hedge of lavender, box, and yew set against a wall topped with catmint. The yew hedge provides a backdrop to the herbaceous border and vegetable garden. The lavender, box, and roses were planted between the yews.
Sundial Garden
The Sundial Garden is a perennial garden in the city of Salisbury, England. The garden was originally created by Lady Salisbury to be a rose garden, but over time, it has become a dramatic planting scheme that comes to life in the summer. Delphiniums are particularly show-stopping in June and July. The introduction of willow structures enhances the formal design of the garden by supporting the plants and providing a focal point in the winter.
The Sundial Garden is located in the heart of the city, near Lord Mayor’s Walk. The garden can also be seen from Lady Salisbury’s Gallery, which is across the street next to the Market Cross Shopping Centre. You’ll find it on Queen Elizabeth Road or by looking for signage in front of King Edward Court, which faces onto Queen Elizabeth Road.
The Sundial Garden is free and open to the public almost every day of the year. The garden cannot be reserved, but there are signs at the entrance that mark specific times for guided tours during certain seasons. There are also themed days throughout the year when you can find special activities, such as lectures or concerts, taking place in the garden.
Thyme Walk
The Thyme Walk is an oasis of peace and tranquility where you can come to find peace after a busy day. It is often used as a shortcut from the house to the terrace garden. It is lined with mature golden yew trees that have been cut into odd forms by the landscaping crew, giving it a whimsical feel. The route is bordered on two sides by a pleached hornbeam hedge, which is planted with thyme variety and sprinkled with golden marjoram and primroses.
The attention is drawn to the home and Terrace Garden by this beautiful avenue. The Lily Pool and bronze ‘Borghese Gladiator’ monument, which was gifted to HRH The Prince of Wales by Lord Cholmondeley, is located at the other end of the Thyme Walk.
Wildflower Meadow
It is a wildlife sanctuary and a natural beauty.
Miriam Rothschild created it in 1982 with a 32-species seed mix, and each year more seed-rich green hay is added to introduce new species.
The meadow is kept in the typical hay meadow style. It is cut for hay in the summer and grazed by sheep in the autumn, which helps to return seeds to the ground. More than seven varieties of orchid flourish in the soil, while yellow rattle keeps grasses trimmed. The appearance of the ‘Lent Lily’ and ‘Ice Follies’ daffodils in the spring makes this place an even more beautiful spectacle.
To create a hay meadow, more features must be implemented to keep the ecosystem alive. Recently, due to an increase in insect population, an ecological pest management program has been put into place. They have also started using wildflower seeds from the Forest of Dean, England. The seeds are packed with nutrients needed for plant growth and will introduce a variety of new species. Overall, the creation of this meadow increases biodiversity and will contribute to an increased number of native species found in the area.
Can you take photos at Highgrove?
At Highgrove, no photographs are permitted.
Conclusion
The Royal Garden is a beautiful and tranquil oasis that is perfect for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s one thing to admire it from afar, but going there in person will have you feeling relaxed just moments after stepping foot on its grounds. The various features within this garden are all meant to bring people closer together; whether they’re enjoying some time alone or spending quality time with family members, everyone can find something that suits them here. So if you haven’t been by yet, what are you waiting for? There’s no better place than the Royal Garden at Highgrove!
Highgrove Royal Garden