King Charles III gives ‘green’ light to plans for The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden

The team behind The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden have gathered at Highgrove to rubber stamp the designs for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden that will celebrate and encourage the public’s curiosity in gardening and spending time in nature.

His Majesty The King, Royal Founding President of The King’s Foundation, was joined by King’s Foundation ambassador Sir David Beckham, King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh CBE and Frances Tophill, garden designer and broadcaster, for a special meeting at Highgrove to put the finishing touches to the design for the garden. The group are united by a love for gardening and the outdoors, and the hope that a new generation of young people will consider careers in horticulture in their future.

“Both The King’s Foundation and the RHS do such great work in protecting and promoting green spaces across the UK. I want to help encourage a new generation to appreciate the benefits of nature and get involved in gardening. It’s been fun to be a part of creating the Curious Garden and I’m excited for people to see it at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.”

Sir David Beckham, King’s Foundation Ambassador

Garden trainees and apprentices from both RHS Wisley and Highgrove Gardens have been involved in the Curious Garden project and will assist with building the garden on site at the Royal Hospital Chelsea – a hugely exciting and important milestone for any gardener. As part of the meeting at Highgrove, The King heard from the garden trainees about their excitement around the project, who are also taking part in exchanges to each other’s gardens.

“As a long-time supporter of both the RHS and The King’s Foundation, I am delighted to lend my horticultural expertise to the Curious Garden. Curiosity is really the beginning of any gardening journey – and certainly that’s how I began my career – so I hope this work inspires a new generation of gardeners to explore their talents through the incredible training and work experience schemes available via the RHS and The King’s Foundation.”

Alan Titchmarsh CBE, King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador

At last week’s meeting, it was agreed that the Curious Garden will host a beehive, inspired by The King and Sir David’s enthusiasm for beekeeping and producing natural honey. Other design elements already announced for the garden include an easel created by Snowdon School of Furniture Graduate Eleanor Pickin, who met those involved in the garden design at the Highgrove furniture workshops, seven raised beds to nod to Sir David’s iconic football shirt number, as well as roses by David Austin Roses for The King, Sir David and Alan Titchmarsh.

“As my first Chelsea Garden for the RHS, I am thrilled to be working on such a special design. It has been inspiring to spend time at Highgrove and learn more about His Majesty’s approach to gardening and how he incorporates his Harmony philosophy into all of the work that takes place there – which we have brought to the designs for the garden. I can’t wait to share the Curious Garden with the world!”

Frances Tophill, garden design for The Curious Garden