The Duchess of Cornwall visited Westonbirt Arboretum yesterday.

Camilla met the staff from both Forestry England and the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum while touring the 600-acre site and enjoying the autumn’s colour display.

She walked along the arboretum’s treetop walkway, which opened in May 2016.

The Duchess got an insight into the arboretum’s plans for a new community shelter.

Mike Coe, CEO of the Friends of Westonbirt, said: “We were honoured to welcome our patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to the arboretum.

“We took the opportunity to show her around the arboretum at one of its most beautiful times of year, and demonstrate how the charity and its members support this magnificent site, from supporting the community and learning programmes to helping to finance the purchase of Silk Wood House in 2019, which allowed the arboretum to expand for the first time in 200 years.”

The arboretum backs onto Prince Charles’s Highgrove Estate.

Arboretum director Andrew Smith said: “After what has been a challenging year for staff, members and visitors, it was wonderful to be able to welcome The Duchess back to the arboretum this year. This year has really highlighted the importance of spending time in nature to both our physical and mental well-being, and this was a wonderful opportunity to share with The Duchess some of our plans for how we will continue to connect people with trees to improve the quality of life for many years to come.”