A ROYAL visitor reigned over Rayners Lane as a new environmental project was opened yesterday.

HRH, Sophie, The Countess of Wessex listened intently as children from Harrow Skills Project and Alexandra School explained to their royal visitor how much work had gone into the Earth Project centre at Newton Park allotments.

And The Countess got straight down to work by helping to plant a weeping crab apple tree, joking with the children "that someone else would have to tread in the earth because of my heels".

One little girl, Sophie Bennet, nine, a pupil at Alexandra School, was lucky enough to receive a hug from The Countess and asked: "Where is your crown?" to which The Countess replied that she had "left it at home."

The new centre will give pupils from Harrow College and other local schools the opportunity to learn about the environment and horticulture.

Barbara Field, principal of Harrow College, said: "The Earth Project is a wonderful idea. It is creating an area which will be green, welcoming and productive for the people living in the Rayners Lane estate and, at the same time, providing the space for other young people and adults in Harrow to learn and practice skills in horticulture."

Gemma Heenan, 14, a pupil at Bentley Wood School, in Stanmore, attends the new centre for one day a week and will receive a BTEC in Horticulture when she leaves.

She and her two friends Shruki Mohamed,15, and Kerry Moat, 15, planted all of the plants at the centre.

Gemma said: "HRH Sophie was really pretty and she was kind and friendly, it was nice to meet her."

Shruki added: "I liked planting and learning the names of the different plants because I didn't know them before."

Andy Carter, who runs Harrow Skills Project, said: "A project like this can make a huge difference and it is nice having someone so important to get it started."

The Countess was greeted by The Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Janet Cowan and signed a special book that commemorated the opening of the centre.

And Priya Vagdama, nine, a pupil at Alexandra School presented The Countess with a massive bunch of sunflowers before she unveiled a plaque.

Students will be able to learn from organic allotments, small livestock, orchards, soft fruits and the Ecology Park and the project will also be used to train newcomers to the council's Urban Living Department as well as accommodate organisations such as Harrow in Leaf, Agenda 21 and Mencap.