WI CENTENARY GARDEN PARTY AT
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 2 JUNE 2015
A brief history of the Buckingham Palace garden
Like the palace itself, the garden at Buckingham Palace has undergone many changes
over the years. Covering nearly 16.2 hectares (40 acres), including a 1.5 hectare (3 acre)
lake, the north side occupies part of the original site of a mulberry garden laid out by
James I in 1609. In 1703 the Duke of Buckingham arranged for a more formal layout and
in the 1820s George IV commissioned William Townsend Aiton, chief gardener at Kew,
to remodel the gardens completely. It was he who created the lake (1) and the broad
stretches of lawn famous for its camomile (2). He also built the mound (3) and planted
many of the London plane trees seen today. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth cleared
much of the dense Victorian shrubberies and planted a wide selection of decorative
ÀRZHULQJWUHHVDQGVKUXEV- notably the tremendous 170 metre long Herbaceous Border
(4).
The shrubberies have been continuously improved and in 1961 The Queen added a
curved avenue of Indian chestnut (5) running from the NW corner of the palace. There
are more than 200 mature trees in the garden, with London plane predominant. There
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trees (6) planted on different occasions over the years by Members of the Royal Family.
Although very much a spring garden, recent additions have provided more plants for
summer colour like hoheria, agapanthus and hydrangea. The Rose Garden (7) contains
formal beds of hybrid tea and Àoribunda roses and behind the Admiralty Summer House
(8) there are shrub and climber roses. In the centre of the Rose Garden stands the
imposing Waterloo Vase (9), made from carrara marble and positioned here in 1903.
Originally made for Napoleon, it was given by King Edward VII. A small waterfall (10)
was installed in 1991 to circulate the lake water.
A survey of the garden by the London Natural History Society has revealed a wealth of
Àora and fauna, some of it quite rare. Two species of fungi new to science were found,
including a small mushroom found growing in a bed of holly bushes. The garden is a
nesting site for many native birds and the great-crested grebe has nested on an island
in the lake for the last few years. The lake also provides a refuge for water birds
including coots, moorhens, shelduck, mallard and geese. Captive birds include redbreasted geese, ruddy shelduck and emperor geese. There is a distinct “long grass”
policy in places to provide a range of habitats for wildlife. Since 1991 all of the grass
clippings, prunings and leaves gathered in the garden – as well as some of the horse
manure from the adjacent Royal Mews – are recycled on site.
Please keep this leaÀet as the information will be useful on the day.
No acknowledgement of this invitation is required, however if the recipient is unable to attend,
then for reasons of security the green Personal Admittance Card MUST be returned to the
Central Secretariat Department, NFWI, 104 New Kings Road, London SW6 4LY.
It is NOT possible to arrange for the transfer of invitations between individuals.
General Information
Your dress on the day
Ladies:
Gentlemen:
Day dress (hat optional) or Uniform (No medals). Trouser suit may be worn
Lounge Suit or Uniform (No medals).
Chains of 2I¿ce may be worn.
National Dress may be worn
Your checklist on the day
Please bring
•
Two forms of identi¿cation, one of which MUST be photographic should the Police
wish to see them. The other must con¿rm your address.
•
Green Personal Admittance Card
•
Royal (Pink) or Diplomatic (Blue) Tea Tent Admittance Card (if applicable)
•
Disabled Car Parking Label (if applicable)
Valid photographic identi¿cation includes the following:
Passport
Driving Licence (photocard)
Credit Card with photo
Bus Pass with photo
If none of the above methods of photographic ID are available other valid forms of photo ID will be
accepted.
Valid address con¿rmation documents include the following:
Driving Licence
Utility Bill
Bank Statement
Please do NOT bring
•
Your Invitation Card
•
Any Hand Luggage or Rucksack (except handbag or rainwear)
•
Anyone under 18 years old
GUESTS ARE ADVISED THAT PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE PALACE
AND GARDEN. THIS INCLUDES THE USE OF CAMERA-EQUIPPED MOBILE
TELEPHONES, WHICH MUST BE SWITCHED OFF
Hyde Park
Please allow time for heavy traf¿c in Central London. You may have to walk
along the Mall or Constitution Hill, so allow plenty of time for that too.
2.00 p.m. Gates Open
Public Transport In addition to the Rail and Underground stations shown (see map),
many buses pass within walking distance of the Palace.
3.00 p.m. The National Anthem announces the arrival of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
and HRH The Countess of Wessex. A small number of individual presentations
will be pre-arranged with those who are to be presented in the Garden near the
Terrace Steps. Lanes will then be formed for HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and
HRH The Countess of Wessex to move through the guests.
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Central London Congestion Charge The driver of any vehicle, unless exempt, will
be required to pay a charge, if moving within the charging zone between 7am and
6.30pm, Monday to Friday, or otherwise will be subject to a ¿ne. Buckingham Palace is
within the charging zone and information about the charge and its payment can be
obtained by telephone on 0845 900 1234 or online at www.cclondon.com.
You are highly recommended not to arrive by car unless you have applied to the NFWI
for a special disabled parking label.
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SP Car Park
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By Coach Coaches arranged by federations will approach via Trafalgar Square and
Admiralty Arch and park near The Duke of York’s steps, situated along The Mall.
Guests will not be allowed to alight from their vehicle or be collected
immediately outside Buckingham Palace. Cars are not allowed within the
Palace precincts.
Guests with Special Needs and Wheelchairs Those guests issued with special disabled
parking labels (SP) by the NFWI should approach by car via Constitution Hill. Parking is in
the designated SP car park at the top of the Mall (see map), or as directed by the Police.
Once parked please enter by the Front Gates, where you will be shown to the special Garden
Entrance and so avoid any steps. Please note that the Palace holds wheelchairs only in the
event of an emergency. Mobility scooters will be permitted in the Palace grounds.
Entrance to the Palace Gardens There are three entrances (see map), where the
green Personal Admittance Cards are to be given up.
•
St. James's Park
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Gr
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St. James's Park
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Underground Station
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Grand Entrance
& Quadrangle
Green Park
Underground Station
Green Park
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WI Centenary Garden Party, 2 June 2015
Timetable for the afternoon The following timings are approximate:
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Constitution Hill
Hyde Park Corner
Gate
Pa
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Victori
Victoria Railway &
Underground Station
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Pal
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Buckingham
Palace
Grosvenor Place
Gate
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ridge
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Knig
Hyde Park Corner
Underground Station
N
Buck
WI Centenary Garden Party Arrival
The Grand Entrance is approached through the Front Gates, and guests should have
their Personal Admittance Cards ready to show the Police on duty, as well as
photographic identity.
•
On entering the Quadrangle, guests will be asked to form queues, as necessary, and will
then walk through two ground Àoor rooms to enter the Garden.
•
The Hyde Park Corner Gate and the Grosvenor Place Gate will have shorter queues and
are handy for public transport. Guests who enter by these gates may leave afterwards
through the Grand Entrance and the Front Gates if they wish.
2.30 p.m. Tea is served in the Main Tea Tent until approximately 4.00 p.m.
3.15 p.m. Tea is served in the Diplomatic Tea Tent
3.30 p.m. Tea is served in the Royal Tea Tent
4.30 p.m. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and HRH The Countess of Wessex depart
5.00 p.m. The National Anthem
Lavatories These are situated beside the lake, close to the Grosvenor Place Gate
Entrance and by the First Aid Tent, near the Terrace. For your comfort you are
advised that the lavatories near the Terrace tend to have smaller queues to those
near the lake. In addition, the lavatories for those with special needs are situated
at the front, inside the Garden Entrance and also by the First Aid Tent, near the
Terrace (see plan of the Garden).
First Aid St. John Ambulance will be on duty in the Quadrangle and in the
Garden at the South end of the Terrace.
The Bands Two military bands will play music alternately throughout the
afternoon.
Teas Tea will be served in the relevant tents during the afternoon. For your
own comfort you are advised to avoid the queues when tea is first served.
Chairs Please do not reserve chairs as this can cause difficulties. Guests are asked
kindly to give up their chair to any elderly or frail guest in greater need.
Departure
Exit from the Palace Guests may exit from any of the three gates shown on the
map.
Taxi Rank A rank will be provided in front of the Grand Entrance gates, but be
prepared to wait, especially if it happens to be raining.