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On the Royal Landscape Spring itinerary we visit the Punch Bowl in the Valley Gardens
beside Virginia Water to see the azalea and rhododendron displays. You can opt to walk for
just five minutes and take a seat in this pretty pavilion which looks out over views of the
valley or stay with the tour guide for a gentle twenty minute circular route which means we
can collect the “pavilion people” on the way back to the coach.
flowers. The displays would evoke a sense of
new beginnings and the use of flowers and trees
would transform the grand Westminster Abbey
to an almost intimate country church feel.
The beautifully fragrant Lily of The Valley is one
of the Duchess’ favourite flowers and was
chosen to be the key element amongst the head
dresses, bouquets, buttonholes and at the base
of the avenue of trees along the aisle.
Graham Sanderson, Head of The Valley Gardens:
“The Duchess of Cambridge knew of the Punch
Bowl and spring displays in The Royal
Landscape. The fantastic variety of spring
flowering rhododendrons, azaleas and Lily of the
Valley in The Valley Gardens meant that we
were able to satisfy the brief perfectly. On his
first visit to The Valley Gardens, Shane Connolly
was hugely impressed by the sheer volume of
Lily of the Valley that we were able to offer.
In total, seventy pots of Lily of the Valley were
carefully lifted and used on the wedding day.
These plants would have usually been lifted as
part of our seasonal work programmes and once
lifted, the turfs can be watered and replanted.”
Only the flowers in the very best condition would
be used on the day of the wedding with the final
cuttings taken by Graham Sanderson and Mark
Flanagan, Keeper of The Gardens, in The Royal
Landscape and by Paul Lawrence, in Home
Park. Rhododendrons, azaleas, cornus and
cuttings from ‘Handkerchief’ trees from The
Valley Gardens were finally chosen, alongside
the Lily of the Valley. The Savill Garden
supplied euphorbia and stems of smilacena and
some of the pendulous foliage in the Abbey was
sourced from Beech and Willow trees in Home
Park.
Once the cuttings had been taken, they were
carefully placed in containers full of water.
The interior of the vehicle transporting the
special cargo was covered with canvas and the
base of the canvas was watered to ensure that
a cool and wet environment was maintained
during the journey to Westminster Abbey.
Graham Sanderson: “We arrived late afternoon
whilst the large maple trees were being
unloaded into the West Gate. We were directed
to the North entrance, where we were greeted
by a mass of media attention trying to catch a
glimpse of the flowers. Having delivered the
flowers, we were treated to an advance viewing
of the stunning floral displays. The smell of the
perfume throughout the Abbey was fantastic.”
And we all saw the beautiful results!
With thanks to The Crown Estate for helping with this
article & for allowing us to print Mr Sanderson’s quotes.