Here in Britain we have what is called The National Garden Scheme- it was founded in 1927 to raise money for the queens nursing institute by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public .N.G.S. across England and Wales welcome over half a million visitors each year-most gardens are privately owned and open up just a few times a year -some open as part of a group with the whole community involved-they raise nearly 2 million pounds a year ! A few years ago we decided to get a dog from the local rescue centre- North Clwyd Rescue [ www.ncar.org.uk ] the rescue centre receives no state funding and relies on voluntary donations- so in order to help boost their coffers I decided to do my own version of the open garden scheme and let the public in [well-members of the local horticultural society , friends and family and some of the rescue centre`s staff/supporters ! Everyone chipped in-making lots of yummy cakes-visitors paid 2.50 for a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a tour round my garden [I have a lot of nerve-my garden is not huge-but hey ! it was all for a good cause, We raised over £280.00. Later on in the year my brother opened his allotment and did the same thing raising money for his local church .This year I have decided to open my garden again to raise funds for The Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Oh boy ! Have I got some work to do ! This use to be our vegetable patch- last year it became my cutting garden-hard to believe it did look rather nice !- I do like to leave all the seed heads on for the birds [ thats my excuse and I`am sticking to it ] We thought it might be a nice idea if we could get a few more volunteers to open their gardens on the same day - have a walking tour of gardens ? What do you think ? I will take some cuttings to pot up and sell- Ann will bring some of her homemade jam [well I`am hoping she will-she did last time ] and hold a raffle- rather hoping John will make me some more of his yummy cakes ?
Will let every one know when I set the date for -till then I`d better get cracking and do some work ......................
Here in Britain we have what is called The National Garden Scheme- it was founded in 1927 to raise money for the queens nursing institute by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public .N.G.S. across England and Wales welcome over half a million visitors each year-most gardens are privately owned and open up just a few times a year -some open as part of a group with the whole community involved-they raise nearly 2 million pounds a year ! A few years ago we decided to get a dog from the local rescue centre- North Clwyd Rescue [ www.ncar.org.uk ] the rescue centre receives no state funding and relies on voluntary donations- so in order to help boost their coffers I decided to do my own version of the open garden scheme and let the public in [well-members of the local horticultural society , friends and family and some of the rescue centre`s staff/supporters ! Everyone chipped in-making lots of yummy cakes-visitors paid 2.50 for a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a tour round my garden [I have a lot of nerve-my garden is not huge-but hey ! it was all for a good cause, We raised over £280.00. Later on in the year my brother opened his allotment and did the same thing raising money for his local church .This year I have decided to open my garden again to raise funds for The Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Oh boy ! Have I got some work to do ! This use to be our vegetable patch- last year it became my cutting garden-hard to believe it did look rather nice !- I do like to leave all the seed heads on for the birds [ thats my excuse and I`am sticking to it ] We thought it might be a nice idea if we could get a few more volunteers to open their gardens on the same day - have a walking tour of gardens ? What do you think ? I will take some cuttings to pot up and sell- Ann will bring some of her homemade jam [well I`am hoping she will-she did last time ] and hold a raffle- rather hoping John will make me some more of his yummy cakes ?
Will let every one know when I set the date for -till then I`d better get cracking and do some work ......................
