The story behind Kate Middleton's 'Back to Nature' garden and the children it was built for

The “Back to Nature” garden, co-designed by Catherine, Princess of Wales (then the Duchess of Cambridge), which was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019, gained attention due to its unusual focus. While conventional gardens were meant to create spectacular visuals, this one was centred on the movement and interaction of children with outdoor environments. Specifically, the design featured elements associated with nature, including woodlands, logs, rough ground, and a stream and water features.The design has been interpreted as an expression about childhood and family life, drawing attention to the importance of nature-based games and outdoor exploration during child development. Pictures from the exhibit suggest that the design used natural materials to create a woodland feel.According to Architectural Digest, the Back to Nature garden designed by the Princess of Wales at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show was conceived as a “playful woodland oasis” intended to encourage families to engage with nature through interactive, child-friendly landscapes.Designed for play, not perfectionBack to Nature was designed to foster unstructured forms of play. Rather than providing equipment for structured physical activity, the garden featured natural elements that invited children to climb, balance, and explore through unscripted engagement with the environment. The Royal Horticultural Society described the garden as encouraging interactive, nature-based play.This type of design is consistent with contemporary views about landscape architecture and play. Indeed, according to the theory of landscape architecture and play, loose parts such as the natural elements in a playground foster children's creative outdoor play.What research says about nature and playBeyond the interpretive studies about design, there have been numerous academic reviews about the relationship between the natural environment and outdoor play by children. Research suggests that factors such as vegetation and uneven terrain can increase physical activity and play behaviour in children.However, studies related to the natural environment show that outdoor play opportunities have been decreasing over time. Thus, making the natural environment more important when it comes to play behaviour in children. Though these studies are hard to apply directly to measuring the impact of the Back to Nature garden, they can help us to understand why the garden receives much attention in the public forum.Nature and children’s well-beingConnection with nature-based environments is also linked to the study of the relationship between these environments and psychological health. One meta-review analyses several studies involving children and young adults, showing the correlation between exposure to natural environments and positive signs related to mental well-being.This does not imply that one garden cannot prove measurable psychological benefits. Nonetheless, it places the theme of exposure to nature in connection with the existing research, specifically, in the context of stress relief through the restorative experience provided by outdoor settings. In this sense, the garden reflects existing ideas found in research on children’s interaction with natural environments.Time spent in nature and broader evidenceThere is additional scientific research concerning the relationship between time spent outdoors in natural settings and health outcomes. Studies have shown that individuals who spent at least 120 minutes in nature weekly reported better physical and mental health.While this study does not concern playgrounds in particular, it forms part of the body of evidence supporting the notion that contact with nature can be beneficial for overall well-being on a population-wide scale. As such, environments which facilitate outdoor experiences become an important factor in conversations about the daily lives of children.Why the garden still resonatesWhat makes the Back to Nature garden appealing even now is its simple nature. The garden did not depend on technological interventions but utilised natural elements in such a way that would make it conducive for the children to walk around and play freely. These aspects are also related to the topics discussed in the research concerning the environment as an influential factor in outdoor activities and games in early years.The cultural significance of the garden is also based on the message it sends in relation to children's interaction with nature. By creating a natural and family-friendly setting at the big floral exhibition, the garden served as a platform for further discussion on the significance of spending time outdoors in childhood.