Duchess of Cambridge opens garden for children at RHS Wisley

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge opened a new garden for children at RHS Wisley this week, accompanied by Mary Berry.

The Duchess planted a weeping blue cedar tree to mark the opening of the Back to Nature Garden, which is inspired by the gardens co-designed by The Duchess at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

Back to Nature Garden is design to encourage children and families to have fun in nature whilst also igniting an enjoyment of gardening and growing plants.

Elements of the garden include a bouncing forest, where visitors can jump on trampolines surrounded by trees, two treehouses and a living willow pod.

A festival, Back to Nature Garden Festival, is taking place at Wisley to celebrate the new play garden until 15 September and includes gardening activities, maypole dancing, circus acts and a coconut shy. There is also a chance to use pressed flowers and leaves and to make origami seed packets.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: “RHS Garden Wisley is our flagship garden, welcoming over a million visitors a year, many of whom are families with young children, who we want to become the next generation of gardeners.

“How magical for these children to play somewhere that has been inspired by gardens co-designed by The Duchess.”

The garden was designed by landscape architects Davies White and the RHS horticultural teams. It was built by Gerald Davies contractors.