Friends Of Holy Trinity Church, Meldreth Registered Charity No. 289736
	Diary Past Events Fund Uses JOIN About Us Constitution Committee Links

It was 6.30 am on a beautiful autumn day and little groups of people were collecting in the High Street and in Melbourn. Boarding the coach to cries of "Have you got your photo I. D.?" and with the skills of John from Kenzies we were soon en route to Tetbury via a busy M25. During a 30-minute stop most people found a coffee shop and some even a scone, as well as the necessary facilities.

Five minutes later, using the farm entrance and not the very impressive gates, we were stopped by a couple of very friendly policemen who really did want to see those photo identification documents. Fortunately, we were all on the list! We then met our guide; one of the many volunteers who make the garden visits possible.

We then spent a very enjoyable 2½ hours walking around the beautiful gardens. Our guide explained the organic principles used on the Highgrove Estate as well as the origins of the many fascinating statues and objects we saw. Many of these were gifts to Prince Charles or examples of work by students from the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. The view over the lily fountain, up the thyme walk through the clipped topiary golden yew, to the house was stunning (it once featured in Water Colour Challenge).

The features we saw included the pleached hornbeams, the woodland garden with a national collection of hostas (with a few holes from the royal slugs), the Southern Hemisphere garden with tree ferns, bananas, cannas, cabbage palms - all needing protection in winter, and the organic vegetable garden with its box hedges in the shape of the St. George and St. Andrew crosses. We then toured areas close to the house, including the terrace garden with its collection of lovely terracotta pots, finally emerging via the cottage garden into the award winning Chelsea "Carpet Garden" - a Moorish garden based on rugs the Prince owns at Highgrove.

Some of us found the "germoline" pink paintwork on some of the gates and benches quite "unusual", but our overall impression was of a very personal garden, which it had been a privilege to see.

We were treated to tea and biscuits in the Orchard Room, and after a visit to the shop (staffed by volunteers and all profits to the Prince's charity), it was back on the bus for the journey home. Everyone felt we had had a great day out, with splendid weather.