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Chelsea Flower Show: Duchess visits garden with schoolchildren

Princess Charlotte and her brothers explore the garden their mother designed

The Duchess of Cambridge has unveiled her garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

She visited the woodland wilderness garden with schoolchildren a day after Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also enjoyed it.

The royal children spent an hour on Sunday playing in the Back to Nature Garden, which has a tree house, stream and swing.

The site was co-created with landscape architects Andree Davies, Adam White and the Royal Horticultural Society.

Charlotte was pictured on a swing, while a barefoot George paddled in a stream and Louis ran about with a stick.

Matt Porteous Prince George running at the Chelsea Flower ShowMatt Porteous
One-year-old Louis enjoys the plot the Duchess of Cambridge co-created for the Chelsea Flower Show

Over the past months, George, Charlotte and Louis helped their mother collect leaves, moss and twigs, which were then incorporated into the garden.

The Duke of Cambridge was seen playing with his family in pictures released by Kensington Palace and taken by photographer Matt Porteous.

Matt Porteous The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children at the Chelsea Flower ShowMatt Porteous
Hazel sticks collected by the royals were used to make the garden's den

Catherine has been closely involved in the project and been at the site ahead of the event, which opens to the public on Tuesday.

The garden includes a tree house, waterfall, rustic den and a campfire as well as tree stumps, stepping stones and a hollow log for children to play on.

PA The Duchess of Cambridge shows schoolchildren around her gardenPA
The Duchess of Cambridge was joined by local schoolchildren at her garden

It also features Princess Diana's favourite flowers, forget-me-nots, among the geraniums, blue periwinkle, astrantias, ferns, strawberry plants and rhubarb.

Reclaimed timber from Southend Pier was used to create the decking.

Matt Porteous Prince George and Princess Charlotte dangle their legs over the streamMatt Porteous
The duchess was keen to show her children the project she had been working on
Matt Porteous The Duke of Cambridge plays with Prince Louis on a swingMatt Porteous
William and Louis enjoy the multi-sensory garden designed by Kate

The duchess's woodland wilderness plot forms part of her work on early childhood development.

The garden is intended to highlight the benefits the natural world brings to mental and physical well-being.

One of the people she chatted with while touring the garden on Monday was fellow mother Alison Shockledge.

Ms Shockledge said: "She was talking about it from a mum's perspective: put your devices down, let's go out. Be relaxed with your children, let them get muddy."

Matt Porteous The Duchess of Cambridge with Prince Louis at the Chelsea Flower ShowMatt Porteous
Kate hopes to pass on her passion for the outdoors to her children

The duchess also chatted to Colette Morris and Rebecca Beale.

Ms Morris said: "She said children played very differently. In a way she didn't anticipate."

Ms Beale added: "Children are often sat still looking at screens. She said it was important to be multi-sensory."

The duchess told the BBC: "I really feel that nature and being interactive outdoors has huge benefits on our physical and mental well-being, particularly for young children.

"I really hope this woodland that we have created inspires families, kids and communities to get outside, enjoy nature and the outdoors, and spend quality time together."

Her interview will air on Monday 20 May at 19.30 BST on BBC One.