Windsor Castle will unveil its newly redesigned Venus Garden this summer, offering a celestial-inspired landscape to the public. The transformation, which spans several months, reimagines a historic site through the lens of planetary geometry and biodiversity.

From Charles II's bowling green to George IV's 1820s garden

The site beneath Windsor Castle's east facade has a layered history that stretches back centuries. The area was first utilized as a garden in the 1820s during the reign of George IV, and it later served as the bowling green for King Charles II. Throughout the years, the space has seen various royal uses, from Prince Albert's interest in its planting to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret using it as an allotment during the Second World War.

As the report notes , this new iteration seeks to honor that 200-year history while pivoting toward modern ecological values. By reshaping this historic garden, the project aims to create a space that will offer beauty and interest for generations to come.

The 11,000 bulbs and the Pentagram of Venus

The design of the Venus Garden is heavily influenced by celestial mechanics, specifically the "Pentagram of Venus" or "Rose of Venus." This geometric floral pattern is derived from the petal-shaped orbit of Earth's closest planetary neighbor. according to Adam Scott, the gardens and nursery manager at Windsor Castle, the project involved approximately 18 months of careful transformation to reflect King Charles III's passion for nature's patterns.

The landscape features a complex arrangement of new perennial beds, evergreen hedge-lined pathways, and 11,000 spring bulbs. To provide year-round structure, the redesign incorporates mixed perennials and roses, alongside new avenues of pear trees and topiary yew shrubs. Visitors will also encounter bronze sculptures by Hubert Le Sueur, originally created for Charles I, as well as large-scale marble, bronze, and stone vases.

A rare view of the east facade from July to September

Access to the Venus Garden is scheduled from July 16 to September 13, and the garden is included with a standard ticket to Windsor Castle at no extra charge. Because the area has only intermittently been open to the public in the past, the opening provides a rare opportunity for tourists to enjoy impressive views of the castle's east facade, a perspective seldom seen on the usual visitor route.

To ensure broader accessibility, the Royal Collection Trust is facilitating a £1 ticket scheme for individuals on Universal Credit or other named benefits, which allows up to five household members to enter. this move aims to make the historic Berkshire site more inclusive for a wider range of visitors during the summer season.

The challenge of balancing wildflower meadows with formal topiary

While the project aims to provide "beauty, interest and biodiversity throughout the seasons," the source does not specify how the garden will maintain this balance during the harsher winter months. The report highlights the King's commitment to sustainability through the introduction of wildflower meadows, but it remains unclear how these naturalistic areas will be managed alongside the formal, high-maintenance elements like the topiary yew shrubs and large-scale stone vases.

Additionally, while the Royal Collection Trust has announced the £1 scheme, the source does not clarify if this specific benefit will be available for the entire duration of the garden's summer opening or if there are specific limitations on the named benefits eligible for the discount.