Meet the Head of Horticulture for The King's Foundation, Melissa Simpson

Wednesday 2nd September | Tuesday 13th October 2026

£220.00

Join us at Highgrove for an exclusive and unique 90-minute garden experience with Melissa Simpson.

Melissa is the Head of Horticulture for The King's Foundation and is responsible for the development and maintenance of Highgrove Gardens and Dumfries House. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from Melissa about how the Gardens are designed and developed and how His Majesty's philosophy of Harmony underpins all, with a strong emphasis on encouraging biodiversity, sustainability, and organic practices.

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All profits are donated to charity

Meet the Head of Horticulture for The King's Foundation, Melissa Simpson

Meet the Head of Horticulture for The King's Foundation, Melissa Simpson

£220.00

£220.00

About Melissa Simpson

Melissa Simpson began working for The King’s Foundation in 2020 when she was appointed Head of Gardens. Since then, her role has expanded, and she is now The King’s Foundation’s Head of Horticulture.

Originally from Yorkshire, Melissa’s love of gardening was inspired by her great-great-grandfather, who was a market gardener. Upon leaving school, she joined a training programme with Leeds City Council before studying at Askham Bryan College in York. 

Before being appointed to work for The King’s Foundation, Melissa held several roles, including Botanical Horticulturist at Kew Gardens and Horticulture Taxonomist with The National Trust for England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Programme

  • 9:30am - Guests arrive
  • 9:45am - 90-minute Garden Tour
  • 11:15am - Afternoon tea served in the Garden Room.
  • 12:30pm - Access to the Coronation Pavilion Estate Shop, Guests depart

Afternoon Tea in the Garden Room

After your Highgrove Head Gardener Tour, indulge in a delightful array of savoury and sweet treats served on a three-tiered stand, accompanied by tea or coffee in our elegant Garden Room.

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Visit the Highgrove Shop at The Coronation Pavilion

Allow time to browse in the Highgrove Shop at The Coronation Pavilion during your visit, where you'll find a selection of bespoke Highgrove products, including special edition artworks.

Inspired by the gardens, our collection includes a delicious range of Highgrove food and alcohol, homeware, and accessories, as well as other unique pieces exclusively designed for Highgrove.

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Important Information

  • All guests will be served the same afternoon tea unless they have a dietary requirement; these will be catered for individually. We must receive this information no later than 10 days before the tour date; dietary requirements stated on the day will not be catered for.
  • Highgrove is the private home of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. All visitors must bring a form of photographic ID, ideally a passport, driving licence, or bus pass.
  • Due to the landscape and nature of the Garden s, wheelchairs and mobility scooters should be well suited to rough, uneven ground, gravel, and rugged pathways. Some surfaces may also be slippery when wet. We suggest wearing sturdy shoes or wellington boots and suitable outdoor clothing, especially in wet weather. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact our Customer Services team to discuss your requirements. Please email customerservices@highgrovegardens.com.
  • The use of mobile phones and cameras (including dash cam recording) is restricted to certain areas of the Estate, which will be explained to you on entry. Binoculars and other forms of recording equipment are not allowed for security reasons.
  • Random bag checks may be carried out for security reasons.
  • Smoking, including vaping and the use of e-cigarettes, is not permitted anywhere at Highgrove.
  • Vehicles with dogs will not be permitted entry (excludes pre-booked service dogs).
  • Please aim to arrive up to 15 minutes before your Garden Tour to allow time for security checks.
  • For further information, please refer to our FAQs.
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