Visit to Highgrove

What a brilliant day we had visiting the gardens of their Majesties at Highgrove on May 1st 2024. The weather was kind to us and we walked round the gardens, without a drop of rain. We had a knowledgeable and brilliant guide who told us so much about how the gardens were created. One is not permitted to take photos of most of the garden at Highgrove but my memory can easily paint pictures of the sumptuous azaleas and rhododendrons, purples, pinks and even yellows - quite stunning.

His Majesty believes in natural gardening and as one would expect, the meadows were rich in colour.  Bluebells have given way to hundreds of Camassia spikes, which are striking.

There are only eleven gardeners who work tirelessly on a variety of what can only be described as garden 'rooms', each with its own character and gate or door leading to the next. At times one felt as though one was stepping into a secret garden. 'Rooms' range from open meadows to a walled vegetable garden, an arboretum, a formal yew topiary and a stunning stumpery, along with many other sections. It is hard to believe that when His Majesty, King Charles, took over the property, much of the garden was open field.

Of particular interest to our Arts Society were the art works, ranging from Indian temple sculptures to classical pieces and modern works of art in bronze, wood, and even wicker. There are water features that add magic, including a pool within a pool with a surface so smooth it is like glass.

Our walk around the gardens was completed with a sumptuous lunch made with produce from the estate itself. The tour was well worth it.

The Arts Society Basingstoke