Sunday September 11 is only just around the corner and we would love to see you come and explore our gardens. Stop for tea and cake and use the opportunity to meet new gardeners in your town. Whilst all in the name of fundraising for nursing charities.
At a Queens Nursing Institute meeting in 1926, Miss Elsie Wagg, a nurse, desperately trying to raise monies for much needed District Nurses, came up with the idea of using the nation’s obsession with gardening and charging for entry.
1927 saw the first gardens open with the raising of £8,191 and so the National Garden Scheme (NGS) was born. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, incorporating more nursing charities and allowing people both the pride and pleasure of sharing their love of gardening from both sides of the spade.
No garden visit is complete without a cup of tea and a little treat to go with it. Homemade cakes are always a welcome distraction and often at these events there are plants to be bought too. Monies go to the NGS and everything on the day is run by volunteers. In fact, nearly everything is run by volunteers, from the Assistant County Organisers to the Patrons that help spread the good work. It’s an incredible group of people all over the country taking pride in their gardens, wanting to share them with others and fundraise for a good cause. There are gardens to visit nearly every weekend of the year, with weekday visits too and all to be found at
www.ngs.org.uk. If you feel like joining them, to show your garden, or to just help out along the way, there are details on there too.
So, Ramsgate now has its own set of gardens in the iconic yellow book, the excellent pamphlet that you can pick up in libraries, garden centres and the like. We had our inaugural opening last year in August and raised the wonderful sum of £1,700 to add to the national donation pot. Like last year, we have refreshments, under cover too, so don’t be put off if it rains. Us gardeners know how to cater for all weathers! There are plants on sale for you to go straight home with and make your own little plot just that little bit more special.
So join us, please, on Sunday September 11, from 12noon - 5pm. It is £5 to get into three wonderful gardens, lovingly cared for and a sight to behold. Just a short walk between the three, but easy to spot with the bright yellow signage posting the way to the houses in question. They are located at 104 Grange Road, 6 Edith Road and 12 West Cliff Road.
We look forward to meeting you there.