The Duchess of Cambridge has arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show where she will unveil a garden she has helped design.
The Duchess of Cambridge will unveil her woodland wilderness garden – which aims to encourage children to spend more time outdoors – at the event in London later today.
The space, which Kate hopes will inspire families ‘to get outside’ and ‘enjoy nature’, features a tree house, waterfall, rustic den and a campfire as well as tree stumps, stepping stones and a hollow log for children to play on.
The Duchess of Cambridge has arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show where she will unveil a garden she has helped design
The Duchess of Cambridge donned a £255 lace blouse from M.i.h for the outing to the Royal Chelsea Flower Show today
Kate, 37, looked casual for the outing in a lightweight white blouse and practical brown culottes
The RHS Back to Nature Garden, designed by Kate with landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White, is a woodland setting for families and communities to connect with nature.
Kate’s garden aims to highlight the benefits the natural world brings to mental and physical well-being.
Kate has made ‘early years’ intervention one of the cornerstones of her work after seeing how so many problems faced by adults she has met – such as mental health issues, addiction and social exclusion – stem from their childhood.
She and her co-designers were keen to recreate memories, such as wild bluebells, from her childhood.
The Duchess of Cambridge with Prince Louis in the Adam White and Andree Davies co-designed ‘Back to Nature’ garden ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during a sneak peek of Kate’s stunning garden at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show
In an interview with gardener Monty Don for the BBC, to be broadcast tonight, Kate says: ‘I really feel that nature and being interactive outdoors has huge benefits on our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for young children.
‘I really hope that this woodland that we have created inspires families, kids and communities to get outside, enjoy nature and the outdoors, and spend quality time together.’
Kate has previously said she has ‘fond memories’ of being outdoors as a child and is passing that passion on to her children.
The duchess has been at the site almost every day in the five days leading up to the opening of the event and has been closely involved in the project from the very beginning.
Kate’s involvement with the 2019 RHS garden at the Chelsea Flower Show was first revealed earlier in the year.
Princess Charlotte swinging on a rope swing during a family visit to The Duchess of Cambridge ‘Back to Nature’ Garden co-designed with Adam White and Andree Davies
An excited Prince Louis ran along a wooden path carrying a branch as the Duke of Cambridge looked on smiling at Kate’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden
A barefoot George and Charlotte were seen dangling their legs over a stream in the pictures released by Kensington Palace
Queen of the swingers: Playful Kate poses in the ‘back to nature’ garden she designed herself for the Chelsea Flower Show that features a touching floral tribute to Princess Diana
By CHARLOTTE WACE FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
The giggling Duchess of Cambridge recaptures her tomboy childhood as she plays on a rope swing slung from a tree – in the garden she’s designed for the Chelsea Flower Show.
The delightful picture was taken by a palace aide last week as Kate took a playful break from putting finishing touches to the garden before the world-famous show opens on Tuesday.
Her plot’s Back To Nature theme is intended to rekindle the magic of childhood, and underlines the work Kate has been doing to promote the benefits of being outdoors for physical and mental health. The mother-of-three wanted her garden to be a playground for children to enjoy, as well as a relaxing space for grown-ups.
The delightful picture was taken by a palace aide last week as Kate took a playful break from putting finishing touches to the garden
She was, according to her co-designers, inspired by forest-bathing, the Japanese practice of walking slowly and thoughtfully in woodland to ‘bathe’ in its peace and beauty and recharge the body’s batteries.
Her garden features a bridge over a burbling brook and a quirky wooden treehouse.
In a touching tribute to Princess Diana, the garden also features bunches of forget-me-nots, her favourite flowers.
And amid the wild foliage and arching trees is a small campfire for toasting snacks and a rustic den thought to be inspired by one she created with her children George, five, Charlotte, four, and Louis, one.
Kate, 37, has spoken fondly of carefree days playing outside as a child and hopes the garden will open a conversation about the effects of nature on mental health and its importance in a child’s formative years.
Spirits lifted: Laughing Kate helps Adam White and Andree Davies create their Back To Nature Garden
Speaking ahead of the show’s official opening, she said: ‘In recent years, I have focused much of my work on the early years and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life.
‘I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults.’
Her comments come ahead of this week’s first anniversary of the creation of an expert steering group on early years development to advise her on what can be done to ensure a better start in life for all children in Britain.