Visit the NGS Charity Private Gardens
If you’re looking for the chance to visit some of the best gardens in the country at the same time as supporting a huge range of fantastic charities then The National Garden Scheme is the perfect place to start.
Thousands of beautiful private gardens across England and Wales open each year to raise funds for nursing and caring charities through the unique National Garden Scheme charging a small entry fee which goes directly to Cancer and hospice charities, palliative care, Parkinson’s support and District Nursing; all are supported by the proceeds.
The links between gardens and good mental and physical health have become much more apparent in recent years, and the opportunity to spend time in gorgeous green spaces, whether through gardening ourselves, or through enjoying the results of another gardener’s hard work, cannot be stressed too much.
And with many NGS gardens offering visitors tea and cake, delightful spots to sit and chat and wonderful homegrown plants there are great opportunities to take inspiration for your own plans at home - Everybody wins.
There are few gardens where all the growth is at ground level, and Agriframes is the secret support for beautiful planting schemes in many an NGS garden. Whether that be a peony with heads heavy with rain, the always-gorgeous climbing rose and clematis combo, or a delphinium in danger being snapped off in its prime.
Permanent Gazebos, Arches and Obelisks create superb focal points when full of blossom and twisting tendrils - Wisteria as a spectacular avenue, for example, or a fragrant rose or Trachelospermum Jasminoides deliciously trained on an arch at head height.
From January through to December, there is always a garden open for the NGS somewhere across England and Wales. As you might expect, the peak of the garden opening season is Spring into Summer, but there are some beguiling places open to show off stunning drifts of snowdrops, or incredible wintry spaces and always something new to see.
We are proud to work in partnership with The National Garden Scheme in 2021 and are sponsoring the Nation’s Favourite Garden competition run in conjunction with English Garden Magazine – vote for your favourite shortlisted National Garden Scheme garden at theenglishgarden.co.uk/ngs keep an eye on their website for gardens opening near you – there are so many inspiring photos as well as the chance to ‘virtually’ visit gardens further afield too without even leaving your armchair!
