Tonight:
5°c
Queen invites everyone to garden party
Rashid Razaq17 Oct 2008
THE Queen is opening the entire 40-acre garden at Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time next spring.
Visitors will be permitted to walk the 1,500-metre path around the largest private garden in London, described as a "walled oasis" by insiders and boasting unparalleled views.
Guided tours are to be introduced from next April, which will include hidden treasures such as the giant Waterloo Vase, presented to George IV after the defeat of Napoleon and the tennis court where George VI played against Fred Perry in the Thirties.
The public has had limited access to the gardens, which are the venue for parties every summer. However visitors have only been able to partially view the grounds.
The current design dates from 1825 when George IV converted Buckingham House into a palace, adopting a more naturalistic style than formal gardens, which had fallen out of fashion.
The central feature is a 19th century lake, which was originally fed from the overflow from the Serpentine. It is now a self-regulating eco-system using water from the Buckingham Palace bore hole which is used in the air conditioning of the Queen's gallery.
Palace gardeners have adopted a "long grass policy" and it has more than 350 types of wild flower and over 150 mature trees. It is a favourite nesting site for coots, moorhens, shelduck, mallard geese and provides habitat for native birds rarely seen in London including the common sandpiper, sedge warbler and lesser white throat. The garden also has the oldest helicopter pad in London, first used in 1953.
The tours are £20 for adults, £10 for under-17s and are available for pre-booked groups of 15-25 people. The gardens will open in April, May and June.
Reader views (4)
How do you apply for garden tour tickets? Anybody know?
- Janet Bowman, Liverpool U.K., 19/10/2008 15:04
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The beauty of this idea is that you don't have to go and you won't lose out on your money.
- Stephen Carter, Fredericton, Canada, 19/10/2008 02:35
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I feel for the Queen. No doubt she will make herself scarce when this extravaganza takes place. Thing is, on her return, she will have to clean up the junk food cartons, extra wicked strength lager cans and unmentionable things behind the rhododendrons. She will soon know what chavs are.
- Dave, Cornwall, 18/10/2008 20:47
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So not really a garden party at all then? Just more of the same old money grubbing antics of the Royals.
- Daniel Rapp, Hampton, Middlesex, 17/10/2008 15:40
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