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Duchess of Cambridge enters Chelsea Flower Show as she designs woodland wonderland for families

The Duchess of Cambridge has entered Chelsea Flower Show for the time time, as she creates a woodland wonderland for families based on her own childhood memories.

The Duchess has worked on a show garden on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society for the annual event in May, hoping to create "special moments" for generations to share.

It was partly inspired by the Japanese idea of "forest bathing", and a parenting book which aims to combat the idea of "nature deficit disorder" in children.

The announcement was made ahead of the Duchess' visit to King Henry’s Walk Garden in Islington, London, where she met young children learning to love the outdoors at a project run by community volunteers.

Speaking about the benefits of learning to garden, the Duchess advocated outdoor life to tell children: "There’s so much to discover isn’t there? It’s really fun. If you haven’t tried it you don’t know how cool it is. ‘

In return, she was interrogated by the children on all things royal, from whether the Queen likes pizza to where Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were.

Called the "RHS Back to Nature Garden", the Duchess's Chelsea entry has been designed in collaboration with award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White, of Davies White Landscape Architects.

The Duchess Of Cambridge meets a baby during an Islington Community Garden garden tour - Credit: WPA pool
The Duchess Of Cambridge meets a baby during an Islington Community Garden garden tour Credit: WPA pool

Although the garden will not be judged, instead showcasing the power of gardening in the RHS's official contribution to the show, it will not doubt be carefully inspected by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family during their annual trip to Chelsea.

Prince Harry has previously contributed to the show, with his charity Sentebale entering a design based on the flowers of Lesotho that won the silver gilt and People's Choice awards in 2015.

The Duchess' garden will be a woodland setting for families and communities, and aims to encourage all generations, from all backgrounds, to connect with nature and enjoy growing plants for their health and wellbeing.

The RHS said the Duchess's garden "has been inspired by childhood memories that are triggered by the natural world, as well as special moments that will be created and treasured by families now and in the future".

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "The garden seeks to recapture for adults the sense of wonder and magic that they enjoyed as children, in addition to kindling excitement and a passion for nature in future generations.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge helps make winter bird feed as she visits Islington Community Garden on January 15, 2019 in London, England.  - Credit: WPA pool
Primary school children make bird feeders Credit: WPA pool

"Wild planting and natural materials will be used to recreate a woodland wilderness where children and adults alike can feel closer to the great outdoors."

RHS director general Sue Biggs said: "For over 200 years the RHS has been championing the power of gardening and growing plants for the environment, for health and wellbeing and to help people of all ages, from all backgrounds, to learn and grow.

"So, to have the Duchess advocating this with us, and to be continuing our partnership with NHS England will, we're sure, further highlight the powerful benefit that access to gardens, nature and growing plants can have for all our health and happiness."

The Duchess will also co-design two further RHS Gardens with the same team, maintaining many of elements from the garden at Chelsea, for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in July and the RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey in the autumn.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speaks with children and helps makes pizza as she visits Islington Community Garden on January 15, 2019 in London, England.  - Credit: WPA pool
Activities included pizza making in an outdoor oven Credit: WPA pool

Appearing at the King Henry's Walk Garden this morning, she was accompanied by landscape  Andrée Davies, 55, and Adam White, 45, who revealed afterwards that they had been secretly working with the Duchess on the Chelsea garden for three months, emailing and speaking almost every day.

They said the project to create the woodland-themed garden was a "passion" for Kate, who had been "incredibly hands-on" in terms on inspiration and practical ideas for the garden.

"We all spoke about our childhood memories, being outdoors and exploring nature. She was very open and has been hugely collaborative," Mr White said.

Miss Davies added: "She is very hands on, model making, emailing images, coming up with all the ideas that we want to capture. She would often bring a folder of cuttings with her full of ideas.

The Duchess of Cambridge helps make bird boxes as she visits the Islington community garden in north London - Credit: AFP pool
The Duchess of Cambridge helps make bird boxes as she visits the Islington community garden in north London Credit: AFP pool

"The duchess was very keen to use natural materials, has a clear idea of the colour palate she wants and her desire to incorporate the natural elements."

Mr White revealed that the Duchess had brought with her the Japanese idea of ‘forest bathing’ whereby even office workers go out in their lunch break into the woods to relax, suggesting incorporating it into the garden design.

He said during their discussions it emerged that all three of them had read the same book, Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, which raises the idea of a ‘nature deficit disorder’.

"This will be a garden where people can remember their childhood and maybe re-create it for their own," he added. "Go out and play in the woods or make dams in the stream. There is a really serious message to connect families and communities with nature."

Speaking to children at the Islington project, the Duchess emphasised her personal belief in the power of the natural world, as she joined in activities to make pizza and bird boxes.

Year 4 children present gifts to the Duchess of Cambridge - Credit: Reuters
Year 4 children present gifts to the Duchess of Cambridge Credit: Reuters

"Do you all like learning outside?" she asked Year 4 pupils from St Jude’s and St Paul’s Primary School.  "You can learn all the time.

"There’s so much to discover isn’t there? It’s really fun. If you haven’t tried it you don’t know how cool it is."

As the engagement unfolded, however, it was not all about the serious message. The Duchess was also quizzed by the children about life in the royal family as she helped to make pizzas in an outdoor over.

Nadirah, eight, asked her: "Has the Queen ever eaten pizza?"

"That’s such a good question, I don’t know," smiled the Duchess. "Maybe next time I see her shall I ask?"

Emboldened, Patrick, eight, said; "Here’s my ideal question. Can I see your children?"

 Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge talks to children as she visits the Islington community garden in north London on January 15, 2019. - Credit: AFP
The Duchess of Cambridge convinces children that gardening is "cool" Credit: AFP

Disclosing Prince George had been learning about space at Thomas' school, she replied: "They would love to come and do this with you. They will be very sad that I’ve been out here making pizzas with all of you and they haven’t been here. They are in school."

"Why would you ever put bacon next to tomato sauce?" Patrick wondered, later.

"Don’t you think that sounds good?" said Kate. "I quite like that. It’s like having pepperoni but not so spicy."

The Duchess was visiting the King Henry’s Walk Garden, which has 67 plots for locals, to see how it brings members of the local community together through gardening and growing food.

The garden has been run for more than a decade by community volunteers with support from Islington Council.  It contains allotments and a ‘from plot to plate’ area for children, which enables them to grow ingredients to put on their own pizzas.

It has also been praised for improving community cohesion and reducing problems such as anti-social behaviour and vandalism, winning London in Bloom’s Best Community Garden three times and receiving a RHS National Certificate of Distinction.