They were greeted by Managing Director Sarah Slazenger, Head Gardener Alex Slazenger and Lord Powerscourt Anthony Wingfield. The Prince and The Duchess admired the breath-taking views of the Italian Gardens and Sugarloaf Mountain before meeting guests at a reception next to the Palladian Mansion, Powerscourt House. To mark the occasion, The Prince planted a Giant Redwood tree, following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Princess Grace of Monaco, Jackie Onassis and Buzz Aldrin, who have planted trees in the Gardens.
Sarah Slazenger, Managing Director, Powerscourt Estate: “It is truly a great honour to host The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at Powerscourt Estate. Just as His Royal Highness has devoted much energy to transforming the gardens at Highgrove, my team and I have dedicated ourselves to developing one of most inspiring and magical gardens and estates in the world. We enjoy the shared interests of gardens, sustainability and protecting the environment and planet for future generations. From the natural landscape of Ireland’s highest Waterfall to the Cool Planet Visitor Experience, there are a multitude of places for our visitors to experience the sense of peace and tranquillity that makes Powerscourt such a special place to visit.”
More than a million Irish and overseas visitors visit Powerscourt Estate which dates from 1302 annually, with 300,000 visitors to the gardens alone last year. Managed by Head Gardener Alex Slazenger, Powerscourt Gardens were designed from 1731 onwards, with the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider landscape. Powerscourt Gardens include The Walled Gardens, The Italian Garden, The Dolphin Pond, The Japanese Gardens, Pets Cemetery and Pepperpot Tower, among other features and attractions.
Alex Slazenger, Head Gardener, Powerscourt Estate: “The Sequoiadendron giganteum tree (Giant Redwood) planted by The Prince of Wales today is the largest tree in the world and should live for 1,000 years. The Duke of Wellington gifted 100 of these trees to Lord Powerscourt for helping him secure victory at the battle of Waterloo. This will be the first tree of a new line of Giant Redwoods at Powerscourt that will mirror those majestic trees planted over 200 years ago. The tree will also be in view of a Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) that was planted in 1911 by the then Prince of Wales Edward VIII which is a continuation of the British Royal family’s connection with Powerscourt. It is a privilege to share our piece of paradise with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today. We strive to preserve Powerscourt as a historical and heritage garden, while creating new, exciting and evolving landscapes to complement those that already exist.”
