Prince William has been praised for his visit to a conservation area in Dartmoor as fans laud him for following in his father’s footsteps. The Prince of Wales, 41, sported a casual attire as he visited Wistman’s Wood in the West Dart Valley on Tuesday afternoon. The area is being included in a regeneration and expansion project that aim to expand Wistman’s Wood to double in size by 2040. King Charles is also a strong supporter of climate change and has expressed his love for nature in the past, which appears to have been passed down to William. William wore a cap with a khaki jacket and a blue shirt with a pair of casual jeans.
The trip marked his second day of a solo trip in the south-west countries of Cornwall and Devon.
The Duchy of Cornwall has been working with agricultural tenants in the area, Natural England and the Dartmoor National Park Authority for more than two years on the project.
Plans to expand the Wistman’s Wood area are aimed at ensuring its resilience for future generations.
The ancient oak woodland is noted as a special area of conservation due to its significance in nature conservation.
It is often hailed as one of the south-west’s last remaining examples of a temperature rainforest.
The Prince, who inherited the Duchy from King Charles last year when Charles ascended to the throne, looked round the new extension project which is aiming to create more sustainable spaces at the Nursery and carry on his father’s legacy of environmentalism.
The Duchy of Cornwall Nursery was once a slate quarry, but in the late 1960s it began producing forest trees and started selling plants to the public the following decade.
As one of the largest nurseries in the south west, the Nursery is proud of its history of sustainable practices with a focus on allowing nature to flourish.
Upon arrival William visited the building’s new central atrium to meet with staff and employees who have contributed to the new extension project.
He then entered the Glasshouse, part of the original building, which also houses the most extensive collection of indoor plants, cacti, succulents and air plants for retail in the region.
The Prince then visited the Bumblebee Garden, which uses extra space and works alongside the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to plant a patchwork of different flowers to create the perfect home to help protect the endangered bee population.
At the end of the trip William officially opened The Orangery, overlooking Restormel Castle, which serves seasonal menus using herbs from the Kitchen Garden at the Nursery and is inspired by the produce from local farms and the Cornish coastline.
