A few weeks ago we went on our last college trip to Highgrove home of HRH Prince Charles. We were very lucky to go as one of the people on my course works there and used one of his allocated two visits a year for a mini-bus full of us students!  I hear that there is a two year waiting list for a two hour tour so we were very lucky to get access.  Our guide, our fellow student, took us around the grounds after we had got through security and ensured our cameras were left on the mini-bus.  I was disappointed that I couldn't take photos, it's something that you can look back on and remember your own personal experience. Instead we can buy his book or look at the official website (that link is at the end for you if this has whetted your appetite!).

The two hours was spent being taken from garden room to garden room hearing about the inspriation behind their themes.  There are lots of gifts from quirky figurines and plants to sections of walls that the Prince has received from various people, institutions and charities and I'm told that they have all been used in the garden.  You would think with the diverse range of gifts that it could look a little odd and almost bitty but it doesn't, it all hangs together very well - clearly his team are skilled.  You can tell as you walk around that the Prince really does like his terracotta urns as there are many dotted around, not the usual size but some really huge ones almost 5 or 6ft tall!!  There are a few national collections at Highgrove too namely Hostas, Ferns and Beech trees and it's interesting to see how diverse plants are within the national collection.

Some Favourite Areas of Highgrove

Some of my favourite areas were the Sundial Garden where I understand when the Prince is home he often sits out for breakfast or to relax, or in the informal courtyard area next to it where you see Alchemilla mollis self-seeding freely, this has a really informal feel with views, of course, to die for.  The productive area was within a walled garden and was amazing especially if you like your fruit and veg, it was laid out practially but aesthetically it looks great too.  Lots of flowers to attract beneficial insects and soften the formality of the lines.  It seems a few years ago the Box edging suffered from Box blight, it had to be removed and burnt. Now edging the beds is Teucrium, not sure which variety but it flowers in July/August time and we're told that it looks beautiful but the Prince has never seen it as he isn't there during those months which is a shame.  The aboretum is packed full of a huge variety of native and non native trees and walking around you can hear so many birds.  I'm sure in autumn the colour display is just beautiful.  The Rose walk, which has a pergola with wooden cross beams and circular stone pillars where the roses clamber up and over, was lovely to look at and the scent was delicious too.  This leads to an area designed by Rosemary Verey, a very talented lady, that did a lot for garden design and horticulture in her time. She spent some time with Prince Charles advising him about different areas of the garden when he first bought the property and grounds.

There are so many interesting areas to see like the Stumpery, which is filled with upturned tree stumps - some planted with ferns and they are in and amongst the collection of Hostas so it is quite a shady area. I'm not too keen on the idea of a stumpery but I did like this area - it was quite weird and different to the norm but felt relaxing and calm too.  We also saw a thatched tree house built on slate struts in an area where you can imagine the young Princes having a great time whether it was playing hide and seek or just imaginary games - a fab setting.  My most favourite area was the Thyme walkway, which may sound a little strange but it must have something to do with the amazing surrounding vistas.  The walkway has many varieties of Thyme planted and I understand Prince Charles loves to walk along it and as he walks on or knocks the Thyme its scent is released.  We had the opportunity of walking on a small section of it and I have to agree it was something else.

Highgrove Recommended?

All in all it was a great few hours, lovely to see how the other half live!   Would I go again?  Yes, I would. What struck me was how natural everywhere felt, not contrived although there are some formal areas or elements too like clipped Yew hedging but, generally it was a great visit; one that I will definitely remember.  It is good to know too that the Prince does take an active role in how his garden develops; the organic methods that the team utilises; decisions about how the garden is managed for both aesthetic, environmental and wildlife reasons and I understand that he does get out there and work alongside some of his gardening team too.

Here is the link to Highgrove if you would like to find out a little more or see some images.

A few plants that can be found in and around Highgrove are:

• Buxus sempervirens
• Tulipa 'Black Parrot'
• Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'
• Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles'
• Alchemilla mollis
• Tulipa 'White Dream'
• Jasminum officinale
• Choisya 'Aztec Pearl'
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Vitis coignetiae
• Rosa 'Felicia'
• Rosa 'Pearl Drift'
• Verbena bonariensis
• Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon'
• Sarcococca confusa
• Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata'
• Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'