Garden fit for a king
A truly special guided tour of the new Botanical Borough in Co Antrim
As I’ve written here previously, I have been working on the idea of a Botanical Borough in Co Antrim, in the North for some time, and the Coronation of King Charles III gave us a chance to launch it.
Since he was young, the then Prince Charles has had a love of gardening and the environment. By developing a space to celebrate his Coronation, we felt it would be fitting to add to what is already a beautiful place, Hazelbank Park on the shore of Belfast Lough in Newtownabbey outside Belfast.
I drew up a list of ingredients, from a native wildflower meadow to humour, a hint of song and dance, along with whimsical features and classical architectural proportions.
We started building and I wrote to the King, explaining the project and the principles behind it. His reply led me to believe that we were on the right track… and just a week before his Coronation he sent his warmest wishes.
As our small team built and planted, we had a visit from the palace. Enchanted and concerned in equal measure, they stood in mud while listening to my dreams for a potential visit.
Soon they were followed by a team of security making their assessment.
We hadn’t made it easy for them – the garden was an island within a public park and we had chambers underground for the mechanical workings.
But news soon came through that a visit to the garden was on their Northern Irish itinerary so we picked up the pace, and opened the garden on schedule on Coronation day for the public to enjoy.
At 5pm we closed it again… I’d had another idea.
I asked permission to add another garden to the main one, a quieter spot in the shade
of some trees, with a stone pavilion and a bubbling pond. The local authorities agreed and we had nine days to build a new garden.
And so, surrounded by security at 1.30am in the morning we finished planting, cleaning and watering, just 11 hours before the royal couple were due.
The day was surreal, we were suited and booted, scrubbed down for the first time in what seemed like months. I got to the garden early to do more watering.
The place was awash with police, crash barriers, and a marquee was erected just outside our site.
And as the morning progressed, visitors started arriving – garden builders looking smarter than I could remember, family, colleagues from the council, elected members distinguished in their red cloaks, a school choir and community groups.
Then, 20 minutes early and direct from the airport came the King and Queen.
I waited nervously on the other side of the just installed ornate gates while the children sang and the mayor welcomed them both, and then it was over to me.
Through the open gates they strode, introductions were made, and I was warmly greeted and recounted the story of the garden and its prominence as part of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Botanical Borough initiative.
I introduced my family to the King and Queen, Barry who created the ornate pavilion, Brendan and John who led the landscape team, Steve Simpson whose whimsical illustrations inspired its decoration, and Paul Smyth who helped me plant. And Anna Mcgovern, a local horticultural student who had been indispensable during the build and who now maintains the plot.
The royal couple were charming, asking about everyone’s involvement, and congratulated us all as a team.
And then the performance began… to the tune of “Bring
Me Sunshine” by Morecambe and Wise, box balls bobbed up and down, topiary trees twirled around, bubbles blew, and a huge mirror ball set underneath the giant crown glistened in the sunshine.
I think they were enchanted, they looked delighted, they called to each other pointing out the surreal movements, and climbed the pavilion to look down on the show.
A wonderful memory for me is that the King started chatting about the Incredible Edible project in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, and how it’s such an inspiration to him.
How a community has come together to plant fruit and vegetables throughout a town leading to real change, hope and people power.
Todmorden is one of our inspirations for the Botanical Borough and the King promised to return to view our progress.
And finally the loveliest gift from the palace... I was granted some time alone in the quiet garden with the royal couple.
It was an unforgettable end to an amazing day.
They were enchanted and climbed the pavilion to look down on the show