RSA Trust sponsored garden is opened by Her Majesty the Queen

Date: 11 Jun 2010

On 11th June 2010, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Capel Manor College to open the new Queens’ Garden, sponsored by the RSA Trust.

The Queen was taken on a tour of the gardens and college, where she met current students and was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Then Her Majesty unveiled a plaque signifying the official opening of The Queens’ Garden.

The Queens’ Garden reflects the association between Queen Elizabeth the First and the original Manor of Honeylands and Pentriches that was on the site. The estate was owned by Queen Elizabeth the First and she gifted it to a favourite courtier called William Thorne. The style of the garden follows an Elizabethan Gilly Flower Theme, using modern and traditional plants to reflect the essence of a Garden fit for a Queen.

The Queens’ Garden will be replanted for 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Trustees Gary Walker, Michael Polledri, Martin Jewell and Mike Wehrmann all attended and were thrilled to be introduced to Her Majesty on the day.

Chairman of the Trust, Gary Walker, said –

‘It was a great privilege to be presented to the Queen which was an honour we had not expected when we sponsored the garden. The RSA Trust was very pleased to sponsor the garden to support the excellent work of Capel Manor’s young students and give the benefit of an invitation to Capel Manor for all the residents of Enfield Island Village.’

Why not visit the Queens’ Garden at Capel Manor? For further information including opening times please visit http://www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk/, or telephone 08456 122 122. The gardens are open for the public to visit daily from March – October.

Photographs, top – bottom:

· Her Majesty reveals the plaque opening the garden

· The RSA Trustees meet the Queen

· The RSA Trustees in the garden – Mike Wehrmann, Michael Polledri, Gary Walker, and Martin Jewell (left – right).