On a hot and sunny Tuesday afternoon in late June, HGS Kids Gardening Club were

delighted and excited to welcome HRH Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, on a visit

to the Kids Garden they have created next to St Judes Church in Central Square.

The visit was organised by the London Garden Society, of which the Duke is patron,

as part of a tour of three local gardens, following the Kids Garden winning third place

in the public garden category last year.

After a huge amount of planning, and tidying, there was a surge of excitement as the

Duke’s convoy swept into the St Judes car park accompanied by four motorbike

outriders. After a ceremonial welcome by the Lord Lieutenant of Barnet and the Lady

Mayor, and an introduction to representatives from the London Garden Society, the

Duke was escorted into the garden which was looking dazzling in the sunshine and

buzzing with bees and other wildlife.

I explained the history of the gardening club and the kids garden to the Duke, who

was hugely impressed at what has been created over the last 2 years by over 100

children and volunteers and introduced him to Rev Emily, without whose support

(and land!) the gardening club would not be possible and Hannah Edmonds, a

volunteer who’s attended nearly every session of gardening club since the start,

whatever the weather.

My children (and long standing gardening club members), Theo (9) and Dexter (6)

then took the Duke on a tour of the garden, where he met 14 of our members who

had received special permission to miss school for the afternoon, and their parents.

He was fascinated to see the pond, teeming with wildlife; watch potatoes being

harvested; help tie in tomatoes and explore the greenhouse all of which was

showcased and explained to him by knowledgeable and passionate kids aged from 2

to 14.

The children were especially impressed by the Duke’s gardening themed tie and he

spoke to each and every one of them with great interest, forging memories that will

last a lifetime.

The Duke was then invited to join the children to plant a Henrietta Barnett Rose in

the centre of the garden (now marked with a plaque), and was presented with a

number of gifts which he was delighted to receive and take home with him, including

a gardening club cap, lavender grown from cuttings, a book written by one of the

club members and a hort soc bag. After some negotiation, he was also allowed to

take a jar of the local St Judes honey with him, despite Noam, aged 2, being keen to

take it home for her Dad.

45 minutes after he arrived, the Duke was waved out of the car park and everyone

retreated for some much needed shade, ice and drinks, alongside lots of hugs and

high fives. A celebratory gardening club was held later that day – complete with a highly

competed royal themed Great Suburb Bake off, an inflatable obstacle course, and a

chance to play in the sprinkler. The day was a huge success and a great testament

to the hard work, passion and dedication of the gardening club, which has over 70

children registered of members in 2026.

The children are keen to showcase their newest creation – the Forest Garden – on

the far side of the Inspire Centre, and planted out with Roses, cut flowers and dwarf

apples and so are already keen to send out the next Royal invitation!

A Royal visit to the Kids’ Garden

Friends of Lyttelton