The National Garden Scheme - "How it all began"

The Viaduct Gardening Club has Mrs Cate Bowman (NGS Assistant County Organiser for Cumbria) as a member. Therefore it was a real bonus for members to listen to her presentation about the history of the National Garden Scheme.

The Scheme is the most significant fundraiser of Nursing Charities in Great Britain. Last year it raised £3,000,000 from the sale of tickets to see beautiful gardens, and to enjoy drinking tea and eating cakes!

The list of NGS beneficiaries include the Queen's Nursing Institute, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Carer's Trust, Hospice UK, Perennial and Parkinson's UK.

About 3,700 private gardens open their gates each year and detailed information can be found on social media and in the NGS handbook. Each county also has a booklet featuring local gardens.

A Brief History

In 1859, William Rathbone, a merchant from Liverpool, employed a nurse in order to care for his sick wife at home. Following his wife's death, Mr Rathbone kept the nurse on to care for the sick in his neighbourhood. This was the foundation of District Nursing as we know it today.

In 1926, Elsie Wagg had the idea for raising monies by opening up private gardens. The charge was 1 shilling and that first year, over £8,000 was raised. The following year, the District Nursing Organisation became officially named 'The Queen's Nursing Institute.

In 1948, following the war, the National Health Service took over the role of District Nursing but funds were still needed for retired nurses and for training new nurses.

The NGS also liaised with the National Trust and offered to donate funding to the NT to help them restore and preserve important gardens. In return, the NT open many gardens for the NGS.

In 1970, £52,000 was raised by people generously opening their gardens for the NGS. Last year, in Cumbria alone, that figure was raised.

1984 saw Macmillan Cancer Support join the list of Beneficiary Charities and in 1996, Marie Curie, Help the Hospices and the Carer's Trust also benefited from support. In 2013,  Parkinson's UK was also added.

Recently the NGS has benefited from the introduction of attractive new graphics and a new modern logo.

Jude Jansen