Highgrove blooms as Prince seeks growth in craft skills
THE Prince of Wales has been pictured enjoying his country estate ahead of its seasonal opening to the public.
Prince Charles walked among the daffodils at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire and led tour guides on a route around the greenery.
The future King spoke about his favourite flowers and trees and the reasons for including them in the garden’s collection this season.
More than 60 garden guides are employed at the estate by The Prince’s Foundation, and many joined the Prince for an induction ahead of the 2022 tour season, which launches tomorrow. Each year, the estate – which also sports an Orchard Tea Room – typically welcomes around 40,000 visitors.
Highgrove is the private home of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, but the gardens are open to the public between April and October every year. The Prince’s walk around the gardens with new and returning guides is an annual tradition.
The Prince’s Foundation has plans to launch education and training programmes for local school pupils and students from across the UK in sustainable fashion and textiles, heritage building skills and traditional arts.
Part of these plans include opening a new training and education base at his Highgrove Estate to build on the success of the charity’s work at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire and Trinity Buoy Wharf and Charlotte Road in London.
Opportunities for students at the new facilities will include learning furniture skills in preparation for vocational cabinet-making jobs and an introduction in managing and growing trees for timber.
A residential programme for graduate furniture students will also be taught, offering them the opportunity to design and produce furniture sustainably by starting from scratch and
‘The aim has always been to provide access to training in artisanal endeavours that are often under threat’
learning how to optimise timber use.
Constantine Innemée, The Prince’s Foundation director, Highgrove, said: “The aim of The Prince’s Foundation has always been to provide access to training and development in craft skills and other artisanal endeavours that are very often under threat due to lack of knowledge.
“By developing a new base at Highgrove, we will be able to offer new opportunities to keep these valuable skills thriving in a part of the country where there is a great deal of talent but opportunities to harness and develop it are not always readily available.”