Princess of Wales joins Essex charity to plant seedlings for addiction recovery initiative

On a morning of Addiction Awareness Week, the Princess of Wales travelled to the Forward Trust’s Garon Park facility in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, to join staff and volunteers in potting plants for the charity’s Forward Growing initiative. Dressed in a grey checked Max Mara blazer and brown sweater, she helped demonstrate the weekly gardening sessions that aim to connect service users with the natural environment as part of their recovery journey.

The Princess, who has served as patron of the Forward Trust since 2021, spoke about the healing power of nature, referencing her own experience of finding comfort outdoors during her cancer treatment. She was greeted by Mike Trace, CEO of the Forward Trust Walk, and noted the charity’s broader effort to spark open dialogue about addiction through the “Big Addiction Conversation” campaign. The campaign, running from September 19-25, highlights that around 17,000 people die annually from drug- or alcohol-related causes and calls for compassionate public discussion. The royal’s participation underscores the organization’s emphasis on nature-based therapy as a complement to traditional treatment services.