Kate Middleton hitches tractor ride with Mary Berry at opening of her Back to Nature play garden

The Duchess of Cambridge looked pretty in a floral-patterned dress as she arrived to unveil a playground paradise inspired by her Chelsea Flower Show garden.

Kate, 37, will formally open the ‘Back To Nature’ garden at RHS Wisley in Surrey, the centrepiece of which is a giant wooden treehouse for youngsters to enjoy. 

The mother-of-three wasn’t put off my the chilly weather conditions and opted for a pale blue dress by designer Emelia Wickstead, featuring belt detail which cinched her in at the waist.

Keeping her makeup minimum, the natural beauty paired her outfit with beige wedges and wore her glossy brown locks loose.

She was joined by celebrity chef Mary Berry – an RHS ambassador – who similarly opted for a flowery dress, which she paired with bright pink heels and a matching cardigan.

The unlikely duo looked in high spirits as they were photographed sharing a joke while hitching a ride on a tractor, alongside several other children.  

Kate’s co-created gardens were previously exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, with the aim of highlighting how time outdoors can enrich a child’s early development.

The final Back to Nature space includes elements like the hollow log from Chelsea and the wildflower meadow and rolling hill showcased at Hampton Court.

Kate (pictured), 37, looked elegant in a blue floral patterned dress by Emilia Wickstead as she arrived to open the Back to Nature play garden at Wisley today

The mother-of-three (pictured) paired her outfit, which featured a belt to cinch her in at the waist, with beige wedges and wore her glossy brown locks loose

The mother-of-three (pictured) paired her outfit, which featured a belt to cinch her in at the waist, with beige wedges and wore her glossy brown locks loose

The royal was joined by Mary Berry, who is an RHS ambassador (pictured together). The celebrity cook similarly opted for a floral dress, which she paired with pink shoes and a matching cardigan

The royal was joined by Mary Berry, who is an RHS ambassador (pictured together). The celebrity cook similarly opted for a floral dress, which she paired with pink shoes and a matching cardigan 

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a young well-wisher as she attends the 'Back to Nature' festival at RHS Garden Wisley in Woking today

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a young well-wisher as she attends the ‘Back to Nature’ festival at RHS Garden Wisley in Woking today

New features include two connected treehouses and slides, which encourage families and friends to have fun together in a natural environment.

It is larger and even more child-friendly than before with a sandpit, water feature and a set of swings and a hut made to look like a hedgehog. 

The garden was designed by a team from the Royal Horticultural Society with input from Davies White Landscape Architects, who collaborated with Kate earlier this year.

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: ‘We are grateful to the duchess for the incredible impact that this Back to Nature collaboration has had. 

‘There is no doubt that this project, through her passion and vision, has highlighted that access to natural environments and green spaces isn’t just a nice to have, it’s vital to have.

‘This is something that the RHS also strongly believes in and will continue to champion through our Greening Great Britain Campaign and charitable work.’ 

Kate crouches down to engage in conversation with a youngster who could be seen having fun playing with the sandpit - one of the many features in the garden

Kate crouches down to engage in conversation with a youngster who could be seen having fun playing with the sandpit – one of the many features in the garden

The mother-of-three kept her make up minimal for the occasion, with just a subtle layer of blush to accentuate her cheekbones

The mother-of-three kept her make up minimal for the occasion, with just a subtle layer of blush to accentuate her cheekbones 

The royal kept her accessories to a minimum and added just a pair of dangling earrings to complete her look. Pictured, Kate walking through the garden as children play with balloons in the background

The royal kept her accessories to a minimum and added just a pair of dangling earrings to complete her look. Pictured, Kate walking through the garden as children play with balloons in the background

The mother-of-three clutched a black folder in her hands as Mary Berry read over notes she had written down on a piece of papers (pictured together)

The mother-of-three clutched a black folder in her hands as Mary Berry read over notes she had written down on a piece of papers (pictured together)

Kate looked pleased as she took a tour of the garden, which was designed by a team from the Royal Horticultural Society with input from Davies White Landscape Architects, who collaborated with Duchess earlier this year

The Duchess (pictured) was all smiles as she took a walk around the garden - which features two connected treehouses and slides, which encourage families and friends to have fun together in a natural environment

Kate (pictured left and right) looked pleased as she took a tour of the garden, which was designed by a team from the Royal Horticultural Society with input from Davies White Landscape Architects, who collaborated with Duchess earlier this year

Kate and Mary Berry looked in high spirits as they joined a whole host of children in the back of a tractor, which was lined with flags

Kate and Mary Berry looked in high spirits as they joined a whole host of children in the back of a tractor, which was lined with flags

The Duchess, pictured sitting next to Mary Berry, will open the Back to Nature play garden at Wisley and attend a Back to Nature festival, which celebrates the value of communities to our wellbeing and marks the culmination of the RHS garden project

The Duchess, pictured sitting next to Mary Berry, will open the Back to Nature play garden at Wisley and attend a Back to Nature festival, which celebrates the value of communities to our wellbeing and marks the culmination of the RHS garden project

The Duchess of Cambridge decided to help create a special Chelsea show garden as part of her ‘early years’ project, which is exploring how childhood experiences have a direct link with the issues some face as adults such as addiction and social exclusion.

Kate believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime – and is keen to find ways to encourage this. 

She got all her children – Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one – involved in the project, collecting sticks and fir cones, and the three of them came down to Chelsea in May with their father, Prince William, 37, to help unveil it. 

Speaking to teachers who visited the site with their pupils, Kate was heard to say: ‘It’s really important the kids start to understand nature, and care for it, so they can protect it as well.

‘With Instagram everything is so visual. It’s nice to sit and feel.’ 

The royal took to the microphone today (pictured)

The Duchess of Cambridge delivered a speech before joining in the fun activities

Kate invited schoolchildren, charities and organisations who have helped her work in the early years field to enjoy the fun – and made a short speech (pictured left and right) before joining guests in the festival activities

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured right) believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children's future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured right) believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime

Kate was pictured putting a gentle arm on much-loved chef Mary Berry as the two shared a joke ahead of taking to the stand and giving a speech

Kate was pictured putting a gentle arm on much-loved chef Mary Berry as the two shared a joke ahead of taking to the stand and giving a speech

The mother-of-three engaged in conversation with youngsters who attended, and could be seen laughing as she stroked this young boy's head

The mother-of-three engaged in conversation with youngsters who attended, and could be seen laughing as she stroked this young boy’s head

Kate flashed a smile at the event and tucked her hair behind her ears to show off her silver dangling earrings (pictured)

Kate flashed a smile at the event and tucked her hair behind her ears to show off her silver dangling earrings (pictured)

The garden was re-designed for the Hampton Court Flower show and now takes up a permanent home at Wisley.

Kate hasn’t been involved in the designing of the new play garden but has taken a keen interest in its creation.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘As part of her longstanding work on Early Years, The Duchess of Cambridge believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime.

Through her Back to Nature gardens, which were displayed earlier this year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Her Royal Highness has aimed to highlight how spending time outdoors can enrich a child’s early development by providing an environment that encourages active exploration and the opportunity to form and strengthen positive relationships. 

She has spent much of the last eight years meeting charities and organisations who work every day to make our families and communities stronger. 

To mark the opening of the garden, RHS Wisley is holding a Back to Nature festival, which celebrates the value of communities to our wellbeing and marks the culmination of the RHS garden project.

Kate has invited schoolchildren, charities and organisations who have helped her work in the early years field to enjoy the fun, which includes a maypole and coconut shy – and she will make a short speech before joining guests in the festival activities.     

Mary Berry joined Kate for the event - and both opted for floral patterned dresses which were apt for the opening of the garden

Mary Berry joined Kate for the event – and both opted for floral patterned dresses which were apt for the opening of the garden 

The garden is child-friendly than before with a sandpit, water feature and a set of swings and a hut made to look like a hedgehog. Pictured, kids jumped aboard the tractor at the fun-filled day

The garden is child-friendly than before with a sandpit, water feature and a set of swings and a hut made to look like a hedgehog. Pictured, kids jumped aboard the tractor at the fun-filled day

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