The lawn at King Charles' Sandringham estate will undergo a climate-friendly makeover starting today, January 23rd.
The formal lawn on the west side of Sandringham House will be dug up and replaced with a 'topiary garden' – a biodiverse alternative that reflects the King's climate-friendly ideologies.
The makeover will mark a major shift for the royal residence that was once a parterre garden since the 1800s. The land was also used to grow vegetables for the Dig for Victory campaign during World War II.
In a statement, Sandringham shared that renovation is a response to the 'changing weather patterns' of recent years, meaning the lawn was impacted by warm weather and significant rainfall.
'The newly developed garden will introduce new species that are more robust, hardy, and better able to withstand the impact of emerging weather patterns,' the estate says. The sustainable garden (plans seen below) will be ready for mid-May, in time for the summer visitors to enjoy.
'Topiary is the art form of turning trees, plants, and shrubs into architectural delights that never go out of style,' says the topiary experts at Sutton Manor Nursery.
'A clever and inventive way of adding interesting dimensions and structure to your garden, the topiary allows those of you with green fingers and an eye for design to be as creative as your heart desires.'
The much-loved country retreat of the British Royal Family, located in Norfolk, England, is often frequented by the King and Camilla, Queen Consort. They hosted the family (including the Prince and Princess of Wales) on Christmas Day – and it was where the late Queen spent most of her Christmasses.
The King and Queen Consort were seen walking to church in Sandringham yesterday, Sunday 22nd, ahead of the garden work today. Their outing marked the first time the couple was spotted at church since releasing details of the King's coronation that will take place on May 6th, 2023.
King Charles is admired for his dedication to sustainability and for carefully ensuring that many of his properties are eco-friendly. Famously, Highgrove House, his official residence in Gloucestershire, South West England, was designed as a wildlife haven – featuring a host of rare heirloom seeds, flowers, and trees.
Sandringham Estate has also partnered with the environmental conservation organization Ecologi to fund tree planting and climate change projects. The estate donates a proportion of its booking and online shop funds to support the planting of trees as it hopes to boost green credentials over the next decade.
-
Sofia Coppola decorates her stairs with garlands, poinsettias, and bows for a Christmas aesthetic that will look just as good in 100 years – it's replicable from $8The filmmaker's entryway perfects an ageless, festive style thanks to its red and green color scheme – and it's so easy to get the look
-
How to protect mulberry trees in winter – gardening advice to keep your fruiting plants safe from the coldYoung mulberry trees or plants grown in pots need winterizing to help keep them protected from frost and snow
-
Inside the Royal Family's Christmas – 5 festive traditions they will follow in 2022Like every family, the Royals have their own way of celebrating the holidays – but will 2022 follow former conventions?
-
Inside Sandringham – where King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will host the royal family this ChristmasThe King will follow a tradition enjoyed by the late Queen – but Prince William and Catherine may not stay long at the country retreat
-
Inside the late Queen Elizabeth's Garden House on Sandringham Estate – available to rentThe home is furnished by the Royal Collection – and is the closest estate property to Sandringham House itself
