Page 9 - ALG Issue 2 2023

Royal encounter
I was involved in a community growing project in East London for a few years and was lucky enough to be selected to go to Clarence House (the home of the then Prince Charles) for a garden tour. We were allowed to wander around parts of the garden, and
I came across a mulberry tree, laden with mulberries. I had never tasted mulberries, and for some reason thought that ‘foraging’ for a taste in the future King’s Garden was a good idea! The mulberry was delicious!
Little did I know that the future King would get his own back. We were deeply honoured to have King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla visit our little community garden – Rocky Park Community Garden – a couple of years later. When I was introduced to the future King,
he confessed to me that he had ‘foraged’ a cherry tomato from my growing patch at the community garden and could confirm it was absolutely delicious. So, this was my ideal opportunity to confess to him that a couple of years before I had tried a Mulberry from a tree in his garden at Clarence House.
We laughed so much and agreed that we would call it a fair swap.
Elizabeth Adams
prompting Lord Snowdon to joke: “How does [former] Prince Charles drive his Aston Martin? Caerphilly.”
The King has become used to causing
a stir during his time in the public eye, and his cultivation techniques became legendary when he revealed in 1986 that he talks to his plants. “I happily talk to the plants and trees and listen to them. I think it’s absolutely crucial.” The King said in 2010. When asked about this in 2013, he was unembarrassed, telling BBC’s Countryfile: “No, now I instruct them instead.”
King Charles became a patron of The National Allotment Society in 2011 and has continued to work with the organisation to promote and protect the UK’s enduring traditions, such as allotment gardening, over the last 12
years. In 2022, the King agreed to allow the NAS to christen all new allotment sites created that year in honour of the late Queen’s jubilee.
It is hoped that the King will continue to be the patron of the NAS post Coronation, but should the role be passed on to younger members of the Royal Family, the Society would welcome the input of the next generation.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 9
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