It’s the biggest flower show in the world – and arguably the most prestigious – and this year the Chelsea Flower Show had an added touch of glamour, courtesy of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William.
The queues were almost out the door for people lining up to see the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Back to Nature Garden, co-designed by the Duchess. The RHS is the organisation behind the Flower Show and this display was considered to be the headliner of the show.
A charming blend of wilderness, cubby houses and hidey holes, the Duchess (also known as Kate Middleton) showed her creative side with this pretty garden. Planned specifically for children and inspired by childhood memories, it included lots of hideouts, nooks and crannies for young kids that aim to stimulate active play.
Co-designed with landscape architects David White, the garden was designed to highlight the benefits of the outdoors on physical and mental wellbeing and inspire children, families and communities to connect with and enjoy nature.
The Duchess was even on hand to show the Queen around her garden on her annual visit to the show, and explain the garden’s special features, which included a hollow log for children to climb through, a den, waterfall, stream and treehouse as well as places to relax.
Both the Duke and Duchess are well known for their passion for improving mental health and by developing this garden, the Duchess hopes to encourage kids to spend more time in the fresh air and away from their computers.
Director General of the RHS, Sue Biggs, was thrilled with the Duchess’s contribution to the show and she hoped the garden – and the resulting publicity – would “further highlight the powerful benefit that access to gardens, nature and growing plans can have on our health and happiness”.
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