Charles's first big change to late Queen's beloved estate since her death begins
King Charles's first major change to the late Queen's beloved Sandringham estate since her death is underway - and it will be quite the transformation.
A lawn at the country retreat that was used to grow vegetables during the Second World War is being revamped into a "climate friendly" topiary garden.
It is seen as a way to help the current lawn at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, which has suffered during bouts of warm weather and heavy rainfall.
It also aims to create "joy for visitors and increase biodiversity", according to a statement on the Sandringham Estate website.
Work inside the formal gardens at the Sandringham west lawn in Norfolk has now started and will run to mid-May.
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King Charles is now in charge of the Sandringham Estate (Getty Images)The site to the west side of Sandringham House was a formal parterre garden in the 1800s and was used to grow vegetables for the "Dig for Victory" campaign during the Second World War.
Top soil and turf which will be removed when an acre of land is cleared, redeveloped and replanted is to be reworked into the topiary garden.
A view across the lawn to Sandringham House in Norfolk (Getty Images)The statement says: "In recent years, with changing weather patterns the current expanse of lawn has been affected by warm weather and excessive rainfall.
"The newly developed garden will introduce new species that are more robust, hardy and better able to withstand the impact of emerging weather patterns."
Changes are set to include "increased naturalistic planting to the area to improve biodiversity".
An artist impression of what the new garden will look like (Sandringham Estate / SWNS)
A bird's eye impression of the new garden (Sandringham Estate / SWNS)It is hoped the garden that has been designed to provide seasonal colour from its flowers will also "create a rich source for pollinators and the provision of new habitats".
Some 5,139 yew tree hedging plants in a range of sizes and shapes will be used in the topiary.
More than 4,280 herbaceous perennial plants and bulbs including Veronicastrum (Veronica), delphinium, phlox, echinacea, lavender and other versatile species are also to be used.
Charles and wife Camilla lead the royals to church on Christmas Day at Sandringham (Getty Images)
William and Kate at Sandringham for Christmas with children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (UK Press via Getty Images)Yellow and pink rose, including varieties such as Gabriel Oak, Skylark and Charles Darwin, are also set to feature.
A series of gravel paths, new plants and flowers, a maze of paths and sloping banks are to be straightened during the revamp.
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At the end of last year, nearly all of the Royal Family descended on Sandringham to celebrate Christmas.
It was a bittersweet time as it was the first Christmas since the death of the late Queen - but also the first as Charles as monarch.
Among those seen on Christmas Day making their way to church on the estate was the Prince and Princess of Wales along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - but they were not joined by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
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