You can now take a virtual tour of Highgrove Gardens, the gardens at Highgrove House, the private residence of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. In honour of National Gardening Week, Google Arts and Culture has launched a comprehensive virtual tour of the property, which was built in a Georgian neoclassical style between 1796 and 1798 and is located in Gloucestershire, England.
Prince Charles has lived there since 1980 and has made extensive changes to both the house and garden, which has been a passionate project for him. Sustainability is a focus of the garden, which uses a rainwater irrigation system and solar panels. All waste materials are recycled and a specially designed reed bed sewage system manages the estate’s waste water. The gardens are maintained to ensure they thrive in complete harmony with nature, and are full of personal touches dreamed up by the Prince.
The Stumpery is a tranquil corner of the garden, and a rich habitat for wildlife. It has a stone water feature, crowned with a canopy of gunera, that's a favourite nesting spot for ducks. It also features Prince Charles's prized collection of large and giant-leaved hostas - one of his favourite plants. The treehouse in this garden was originally built in a holly tree for the young Princes William and Harry, and is now enjoyed by the Prince of Wales's grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Other gardens that can be seen on the virtual tour include the Cottage Garden, the Thyme Walk, the Lily Pool Garden and the Sundial Garden. The Cottage Garden is a garden of two halves, old and new. The new one has a vibrant colour scheme of yellow, pink and blue, inspired by Tibetan silks. The old one has a more classic, quintessentially English feel. The Sundial Garden was originally designed by Lady Salisbury as a rose garden, and now boasts a bold planting scheme, enhanced by the use of willow structures.
To take the virtual tour on Google Arts and Culture, please visit here.
