TWENTY-FIVE of our members have just experienced a "once in a lifetime" trip. Two-and-a-half years after applying, we received our invitation to visit Highgrove, the home of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. So on an overcast but warm day early in September, we eagerly boarded our coach for the hour-long drive down the motorway and into the glorious Cotswolds.

After stopping in the beautiful town of Tetbury for a short break, we proceeded to Highgrove and were met by a very nice young policeman who checked our photographic proof of identity.

One member didn't have sufficient proof of identity and we held our breath as the policeman radioed headquarters to see if she could be admitted. I suppose she was allowed in because we are members of such a fine upstanding organisation.

We were met by a member of staff who welcomed us, gave us a brief outline of how the tour would proceed, a list of do's and don'ts and then we were handed over the Mr Lunn, a retired surveyor who lived "just over the wall" from Highgrove Estate.

The organisation at Highgrove runs like clockwork. We must have been one of 10 groups of visitors and we were told they take about 250 people a day round the estate. Timings were obviously staggered so that no two groups were in any one place at any one time.

Our first stop was the end of the Thyme walk looking along an avenue of strangely-shaped yew bushes towards the house, with pools at either end and where we were told functions were often held. From there, we strode out through the wild flower meadow which had been newly mown, past an outsized willow model of Tigga (Prince Charles' favourite Jack Russell) and through the woodland garden with a large pond surrounded with ferns and hostas and a strange looking fountain made up of bits of masonry discarded when replaced in cathedrals and churches.

Then, through the woodland garden with a stumpery, which is loads and loads of strange-looking tree stumps planted with ferns.

From there into the southern hemisphere garden with various tropical species, past the azalea walk and into the walled garden where all the fruit and veg are grown. Still keeping up the pace we were walked through the arboretum and saw Prince Charles' sanctuary - a fairytale little house which wouldn't have looked out of place in Hansel and Gretel. Through the wild flower meadow and tulip walk and towards the lovely house which has been Charles' home since 1980.

At that time it was somewhat neglected. He added some features to the house and more or less razed the whole area surrounding it except for some trees and started to plan and develop all the wonderful areas and gardens.

At the side of the house we passed through the black and white garden and then to the back of the house to the terrace garden with a stunning camellia growing up one wall of the house. We then went through the cottage garden and lavender orchard to the very last and probably the most stunning garden - the Carpet Garden inspired by a Turkish style carpet at Highgrove. It was colourful, fragrant, peaceful and just lovely.

Then it was back into the visitor centre for tea and home-made biscuits and a chance to purchase items from the gift shop. I take my hat off to Prince Charles as what he has created is a very unique, sometimes magical, sometimes quirky, always interesting garden. All in all it was a lovely day and will stay in my memory for a long time.

JENNIFER RIDDEX