That’s too blooming big!
Officials ban floral display ... in Charles’s green village
THIS stunning floral array outside Alexandra Wilson-Jones’s home draws many admiring comments.
It is even becoming something of a visitor attraction in Poundbury, the ‘sustainable’ village in Dorset created by the Prince of Wales.
In fact, she points out that Charles is a keen gardener himself who would almost certainly approve.
But its charms have not won over Duchy of Cornwall officials, who claim the display – described as ‘a masterpiece’ – could be an obstruction and must be ‘significantly reduced’.
Miss Wilson- Jones, 49, must comply in six months or it will be removed. The former landscape gardener said: ‘It is completely contradictory to Charles’s vision to create this vibrant space to live in and enjoy nature.
‘He would be appalled – this is the sort of display he would love.’ She began it after renting her house in February 2021, and says the £30,000 100 potted plants, including ferns, hydrangeas and topiary, as well as a jasmine arch, ‘would not look out of place at Chelsea’.
On social media, Tuc Ahmad said: ‘Amazing! We make a special detour for it.’ David Bradley-Kingman added: ‘Your creation is a masterpiece.’
But the Duchy told her it had received complaints, adding that planting had to be ‘in appropriate places’, and must not affect parking, road safety and accessibility. Miss Wilson- Jones said there had been no complaints from emergency services or delivery drivers in a courtyard ‘big enough for a Boeing 747’.
‘They aren’t causing any obstruction,’ she said. ‘This would be a barren sea of concrete. Just one or two neighbours have complained.’
The Duchy said it welcomed attempts to ‘enhance’ courtyards if ‘appropriate in scale’. Prince Charles’s spokesman declined to comment.