Prince Charles - a passionate organic gardener

When Prince Charles began to manage Highgrove according to the principles of organic farming, he caused a few wry smiles. Now, 25 years later, the heir to the British throne has suddenly turned into a pioneer of the organic movement and is considered by specialists to be the undisputed master of this subject. In the meantime, the Queen has also discovered a passion for organic gardening. Since April this year, visitors have been able to see Queen Elizabeth's ornamental kitchen garden at Buckingham Palace. Organic vegetables from Queen of Hearts tomatoes to Northern Queen lettuce and Royal Red bush beans are presented in a manner befitting their rank.

From a once shapeless and empty landscape, the Prince of Wales wanted to create a garden that warms the heart, is pleasing on the eye and conserves nature. He succeeded in doing just that, Highgrove is a Garden of Eden with rippling springs, ponds and spacious natural meadows. Horses and cattle graze surrounded by a colourful sea of poppies, wild daisies and cornflowers. Sheep graze here in autumn before the harbingers of spring weave their carpets of flowers again in February. To control the snail population, a gaggle of lively mallards waddles around the estate. Charles' gardens are not just romantic - all three are worked according to the principles of organic gardening. This means that the soil is fertilised instead of the plants. Fertile soil gives plants a healthy root system which - along with bacteria and fungi - renders important services for all soil organisms.

Discover more about the royal principles of organic gardening in the book, 'S.K.H Der Prinz von Wales, Highgrove, Clarence House, Birkhall - Königliche Biogärten'.

It has 176 pages, 200 colour photos, a hard cover, and is published by Verlag BusseSeewald GmbH, ISBN 978-3-512-03306-3