The Royal Gardens at Highgrove to hold first festival

A week-long festival of inspiring gardening events featuring some of the most applauded names in horticulture will be celebrated at The Royal Gardens at Highgrove, Gloucestershire, from 11th to 16th April 2016.

Held in the grounds of Their Royal Highnesses’ The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s private residence, Highgrove: The Garden Celebrated, will bear testimony to the Prince of Wales’ ethos on organic and sustainable gardening with a number of highly applauded guest speakers presenting on everything from wildlife and organic food growing, to plant care, garden history and design.

Familiar faces at the festival will include Alan Titchmarsh, who interviewed His Royal Highness for a documentary on Highgrove in 2011, Raymond Blanc who has run an organic kitchen garden at his two Michelin star restaurant Belmond Le Manoir for 32 years, Rachel de Thame, best known for presenting BBC2’s Gardeners’ World and many other acclaimed names such as Carol Klein, Chris Beardshaw, Jekka McVicar, Val Bourne, Andy Sturgeon and David Domoney.

(Pictured above) The Thyme Walk

All profits from the event will go to The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation, which supports a wide range of causes with primary interests in the built environment, responsible business and enterprise, young people and education and global sustainability.

Chris Prescott, Chief Executive at Highgrove Enterprises explains that Highgrove’s first garden festival is an opportunity to share the expertise of some of the most renowned horticulturists, garden designers and wildlife experts from across the UK:  “Along with exclusive talks and guided tours throughout the week, visitors will be able to enjoy a beautiful Spring plant fair inspired by the garden’s plant collections, as well as a retail pavilion with exhibitors hand-picked by Highgrove,” he says.

Chris adds: “The festival truly captures the essence of Highgrove and will be aunique insight into the ethos and sustainable approach behind the gardens, as well as a reflection of the horticultural interests and enthusiasms of HRH The Prince of Wales.”

Ticket options vary for exclusive talks, garden tours, and afternoon tea, lunch and supper packages. Prices start from £15 to £75 and will be available on sale from 18th February, 2016. For more information please visit: www.highgroveshop.com/festival

All photographs ©The Royal Gardens at Highgrove.