Page 20 - Oundle LIfe July 2022

GREAT GARDENS
and great cakes...
The National Garden Scheme has been opening beautiful, private gardens for charity since 1927. Founded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) to raise money for community nursing, today the National Garden Scheme donates millions of pounds each year to some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Carers Trust and Parkinson’s UK.
“Each year we open around 3,500 gardens, relying on the generosity of garden owners and volunteers to maximise the impact of garden visits and to ensure that over 80% of the money taken at the garden gate goes to good causes,” says National Garden Scheme Chief Executive, George Plumptre. “Despite the challenges of the pandemic we were still able to donate over £3 million to our beneficiaries in 2021 and, new fundraising events like our Great British
Garden Party launched by our President, Dame Mary Berry, continue to build on our wonderful donations.”
While manicured lawns and stunning herbaceous borders continue to inspire the garden visiting public, the National Garden Scheme has expanded its portfolio to include small town gardens, allotments, community gardens, groups of gardens and wilding projects ensuring that there is something for everyone. There are over 170 garden openings in Northamptonshire between June and August with many more opening in the autumn.
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To see what’s open near you:
www.findagarden.ngs.org.uk
For more about hosting a garden party see:
www.ngs.org.uk/gardenparty
Image credit: Sussie Bell / Selina Lake