A Royal Celebration at Crosby RDA: Our Floral Design Honouring 50 Years of Riding, Friendship, and Growth.
- Debbie Davies
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
On May 27th it was an honour, as a volunteer at Crosby Riding for the Disabled (RDA) to be part of their 50th anniversary celebrations—an incredible milestone in the life of a truly special place. This celebration was more than just a party; it was a reflection of decades of kindness, healing, and community, and to mark the occasion, Crosby RDA welcomed a very special guest:
94Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.
A Place Where Lives Change
Crosby RDA began in May of 1975, in the quiet fields of Home Farm, Little Crosby. Back then, horses and ponies were borrowed, and rides happened just once a week. It was simple but powerful. Over time, the group grew. Now, with both indoor and outdoor arenas and a welcoming pavilion, rides take place nearly every day. Children and adults alike benefit from the physical movement and emotional connection that only a horse can offer.
And it’s not just about riding anymore. Their "Tea with a Pony" initiative has become a beautiful way to support people in the community with dementia, offering comfort and memories in the company of gentle animals and warm cups of tea and delicious cake.
A Royal Visit to Remember
As Patron of RDA Her Royal Highness arrived to celebrate 50 years of dedication and love. Princess Anne was gracious and keen to meet as many riders and volunteers as possible, taking the time to speak to individuals and to hear their stories.
HRH The Princess Royal, enjoyed watching a short riding display that brought smiles to every face in the arena.
Princess Anne then unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the milestone, and we all gathered to watch as she cut the anniversary cake.
It was a moment of pride and celebration for everyone who has been a part of the RDA journey—past and present.
Rider, Olivia was delighted to be asked to assist, presenting the beautifully decorated cake with pony and rider, to The Princess Royal to cut.
Our Contribution: Nature-Inspired Floral Designs for a Noble Cause
We were absolutely thrilled to be invited to use our artistic skills to help dress the event. Our work focused on blending natural beauty with the equestrian spirit of the day and so starting with a foliage horses head seemed to be the perfect choice.
When then decided to depict the Shetland pony, Cindy, who is used in the rides for smaller children with our foliage Shetland.
Cindy, shares a stable with her donkey companion, affectionately known as 'Donks' and so we included a donkey head made from moss and recycled paper, keeping our designs as sustainable as possible.
Princess Anne paused to admire our foliage animals, remarking on their charm, which of course we were delighted with.
To compliment the horse head we created foliage topiary to create an interesting area for the presentations.
Topiary Trees in the making.
Before the event we needed to be sure all the horses and ponies were comfortable with these new objects in the areana. Like true professionals each one took them in their stride, with Duchess looking at the topiary trees as a nice green snack!
As The Princess Royal departed she was presented with our charming, rustic posy. We created this floral design using yellow, chrysanthemums, caramel carnations and golden wheat stems.
Princess Anne was delighted with her posy, and we were humbled by her kind reaction.
A Day To Be Remembered
The whole day was a reminder of what happens when people come together to serve something greater than themselves. Whether it's through volunteering, riding, cheering someone on from the side lines, or creating something beautiful to mark an occasion, it all matters.
This event celebrated more than just 50 years. It honoured every rider who’s grown in confidence, every volunteer who’s given their time, and every horse who’s carried someone a little further down the road of healing.
Our Woodland Wreath Classes
Click here to view more of our Woodland Wreaths - foliage animal door hangings and garden decorations
or check out our classes here and join us to create your own Woodland Owl Wreath
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