A HORTICULTURE charity received the Royal seal of approval on Monday when the Princess Royal paid a special visit.

Princess Anne arrived at Bournemouth’s Cherry Tree Nursery by helicopter, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Valerie Pitt-Rivers.

Despite being bathed in spring sunshine, the Princess Royal wore a long crimson coat, brown leather boots and a patterned scarf.

Sporting sunglasses, she was given a guided tour of the Northbourne nursery before unveiling a plaque to officially open the new Sheltered Work Opportunities Project sustainable building.

The charity was set up to provide rehabilitation for people with severe and enduring mental illness.

The Princess Royal spoke to several volunteers including Valerie Lampard, 58, from Ringwood, who said: “The Princess was really interested in what we do here, I told her we work in all weathers.

I feel really privileged to have met her.”

Nicki Sturgess, 46, from Broadstone, said: “I was a bit nervous but she put us all at ease. We even had a bit of a laugh.”

Martin Edwards, 72, from Ringwood, told the Daily Echo: “The Princess was really easy to talk to; she is a very nice lady.”

As well as meeting thrilled volunteers, the Princess Royal was greeted by civic dignitaries including the High Sheriff of Dorset Alan Frost, MPs Conor Burns and Richard Drax, who is a SWOP patron, and Bournemouth mayor Cllr Chris Rochester.

Nursery manager Jessica Davies said: “It’s a big day for us and I was really moved by the moment. Princess Anne was very supportive of our work and said she hoped her visit would help us to receive more funding.”

Before leaving, the Royal visitor was presented with a wicker hamper containing a Dorset picnic and a Hellebores ‘Anna’s Red’ shrub, similar to three presented to her mother during recent weeks as a Jubilee present.