Noell’s garden chat with the prince at home

9:31am Friday 10th August 2012 in News

A HARD-working volunteer shared gardening tips with Prince Charles when she was invited to a ceremony at his home in Gloucestershire.

Noell Leather, of Knowsley Road, Ainsworth, spent 10 minutes talking to Prince Charles at Highgrove House.

She was invited in recognition of the 20 years she has spent volunteering with Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

Noell Leather combines chairing the Croal Irwell Volunteer Group with being voluntary manager of Summerseat Nature Reserve.

The mother-of-two organises working parties of 15 to 20 people on the reserve, which is run entirely by volunteers.

Noell, aged 64, admits she was “bowled over” when she was told she was going to meet the prince.

She said: “It was absolutely brilliant.

“It was really exciting. I have always been a great fan of Prince Charles and feel he talks a lot of sense about issues such as the environment.

“It was a lifetime’s ambition to meet him and see his garden.”

Noell and the other long-serving volunteers were given a tour of the gardens at Highgrove.

They enjoyed a champagne reception as Prince Charles spent two hours speaking to guests.

Noell shared her tips for creating a wildflower meadow and they discussed other gardening problems.

She said: “He was very human and easy to talk to.

“He was genuinely interested in what I had to say and he gave his complete, undivided attention.

“The whole day was absolutely wonderful. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.”