King Charles’ belief that humans should work with nature rather than dominate it is evident across every corner of his gardens at Highgrove, where one striking rule has been in place for decades: pesticides are never used. This week, The i Paper visited the King’s gardens and the King’s Foundation projects at Highgrove in Gloucestershire, where Charles has been developing his vision of “harmony” with the natural world since shortly after he bought the estate in 1980, when he was Prince of Wales. The gardens are now maintained by a team of 11 gardeners and two apprentices, all working to principles rooted in sustainability and respect for the environment.

Chemical pesticides are entirely absent, with plants and soil managed organically. Irrigation does not rely on mains water either. Instead, rainwater run-off from the main house is collected and used to sustain the productive walled kitchen garden, reflecting a system designed to minimise waste and maximise natural resources. Rather than striving for perfection, gardeners allow nature to follow its course, embracing irregularities instead of uprooting or correcting them.

That approach extends to the trees across the estate. When branches are lost or trees are felled because of disease, the timber is repurposed rather than discarded. Students on the King’s Foundation’s Create course use the wood to learn furniture-making skills, giving fallen trees a second life.

Oak and beech trees brought down during storms have also been relocated to a stumpery, where they now support wildlife. The stumpery includes a playful personal touch: a gnome that the King periodically moves around the garden, set among woodland planting and a nationally important collection of 160 varieties of broadleaf hostas.

In the arboretum, visitors can see three Himalayan birches donated by the late Queen Elizabeth II, alongside the King’s extensive collection of acers. There are further reminders of Charles’ hands-on involvement, including low hurdles he made himself during lockdown from hazel coppiced on the estate.

Elsewhere, weeds are allowed to grow freely unless they begin to dominate, at which point they are selectively reduced. The wildflower meadow is cut just once a year using traditional scythes, after which cattle and sheep are brought in to graze, helping to maintain biodiversity. In the Thyme Walk, rows of golden yew topiary show how formal planting is allowed to soften over time. One bush shaped like a wedding cake is gradually losing a tier, but is being left to evolve into a more natural form.

The gardens mirror the message at the heart of the King’s forthcoming Prime Video documentary, Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, which urges people to place nature at the centre of everyday life. Narrated by Kate Winslet, the film explores Charles’ long-standing environmental philosophy and aims to reach new, younger audiences.

Kristina Murrin, chief executive of the King’s Foundation, described the film’s message as urgent, telling The i Paper: “The earth is asking us to change our actions at the moment. And hopefully this film will inspire some people to do that.”

The film will be released on 6 February in 240 territories worldwide.