Focus
HRH writes a new book on organic gardening
5th March 2007
The Prince of Wales has written a new book on organic gardening to give a practical insight into the creation and maintenance of the organic gardens at Highgrove, Clarence House and Birkhall.
The Elements of Organic Gardening breaks down the different aspects of the techniques used to maintain a garden without chemicals and pesticides.
The book gives practical advice on compost, healthy soil and propagation, plant combinations and rotations, and how to deal with pests the organic way.
His Royal Highness has been a keen gardener for 25 years and the estate at Highgrove is well-known as a flagship for the organic movement.
The Prince’s first book on gardening, The Garden at Highgrove, gave an overview of how the garden had developed over two decades.
In the new book, which was written with respected garden writer Stephanie Donaldson, the gardens at Clarence House and Birkhall are shown in the early stages of organic conversion.
With striking photography by Andrew Lawson and David Rowley, the book has a calendar which describes what is done at Highgrove throughout the year.
There is a wealth of practical advice on organic practices which can be adapted to any garden, large or small.
His Royal Highness describes the organic practices that have turned Highgrove into a model for the organic movement and describes how the same principles are employed at Clarence House (in London) and Birkhall (in Scotland), each with quite different conditions and problems.
The garden at Birkhall, which is rarely photographed, has an extensive cutting garden used by The Duchess of Cornwall for the flower arrangements with which she fills the house.
The Duchess is also closely involved with the planting and the garden’s progress.
The Elements of Organic Gardening: Highgrove, Clarence House, Birkhall will be available in bookshops from 21st March 2007.
All profits from the book go to The Prince’s Charities Foundation.