Leonardslee Gardens Celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III
Visitors to Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens can see the newly-restored Coronation Garden, first created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1952. There is also a range of activities to enjoy to celebrate King Charles III's coronation (Saturday 6th May), such as afternoon teas and children’s craft workshops, while supporting sustainability and the King’s focus on the natural environment.
The Grade I Listed botanical gardens on the 240-acre estate plays a significant role in helping to protect rare flora and fauna that are native to the UK and threatened environments around the world, says estate general manager Adam Streeter:
“To mark the 6th May celebrations, the garden team are restoring and replanting the Coronation Garden, which the former owners, the Loder family, designed. The garden features the famous rhododendron Loderi King George, which Sir Edmund Loder created, along with over 30 other rhododendron hybrids that are featured on the estate.
“The gardening team is also adding a new collection of Magnolia trees, while work on the area has revealed a number of lost specimens such as a Monkey Puzzle and a Eucalyptus tree.
“We feel a particular connection with the royal family because of the history of the estate. My mother Penny, who owns Leonardslee, met Queen Elizabeth II to receive her OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise. The restoration of the gardens - which had been closed to the public and effectively abandoned for eight years - has been a huge project and a major passion. We want everyone to enjoy it and share in its natural beauty.”
Leonardslee is creating a ‘dry’ garden bed that showcases plants that can survive hot and dry conditions with minimal irrigation. The garden team chose an area next to the Courtyard Café and Welcome Centre that is exposed to full sun. The intention is to inspire visitors to the garden to help tackle environmental issues in their own gardens resulting from the changing climate.
Visitor Events
Celebrations at Leonardslee will run from 5th to 7th May, and visitors can enjoy a special King's Coronation afternoon tea at Leonardslee House. The classic English tea will include sandwiches, savouries, cakes and decorations specially made to celebrate the coronation.
Throughout May, children can visit a free planting station in the Plant Centre, where they can plant their own sunflower or pumpkin seeds to take home.
From 6th to 8th May, children can take part in a free Coronation crafts event in the Courtyard Café, where they can decorate their own crown to take home. There will also be a dedicated section in the gift shop with Coronation-themed gifts and household items to purchase.
Flower Displays
Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'
The RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group Group has sent a gift of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias to King Charles to plant as a collection at Sandringham. They have chosen 25 plants that best tell the story and history of these genera and they include two rhododendrons closely associated with Leonardslee: ‘Loderi King George’ and ‘Loderi Sir Joseph Hooker’.
‘Loderi King George’ - awarded RHS Award of Merit (AM) in 1968, the RHS First Class Certificate (FCC) in 1970 and the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.
‘Loderi Sir Joseph Hooker’ - named after Joseph Dalton Hooker who discovered Rhododendron griffithianum (one of the parent plants of this hybrid) in Eastern Nepal in 1850.
Leonardslee features outstanding plant displays in every season, but especially in springtime. The collection is exceptional in its diversity and maturity, says Adam Streeter, with several ‘champion’ trees that are threatened in their natural habitat. The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife, including Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies, and migratory and native birds.
Leonardslee recently celebrated a triumphant return to horticultural competitions after winning three top prizes at the 2023 RHS Main Camellia, Early Rhododendron and Spring Ornamental Plants Competition held at RHS Wisley on April 1st and 2nd. The event was run in conjunction with the RCM Group – Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group, of which King Charles is a patron.
Visitors to Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens can celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with fun activities for the whole family.
