Open Gardens (BBC 2)
Carol Klein says "Every year, hundreds of new gardens join The National Gardens Scheme to help raise money for caring and nursing charities. If you think your garden fits the bill, please contact our local volunteer team who will help you decide whether you should open for the NGS". Volunteer NGS County Teams visit all potential new gardens to discuss the practicalities of opening
Click here to find your local NGS team Download our information pack
Your garden must provide enough interest (including plants, design and refreshments) to engage the visitor. Are you happy to welcome and chat with visitors, can you offer plant sales, do you support our charities and are you happy to donate the money that you raise to the NGS. We very much appreciate all contact from potential garden openers.
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Plant interest - a wide range of interesting and well-grown plants are important in an NGS garden.
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Design - nine out of ten NGS volunteers say plants are more important than design. However, design should enhance the planting.
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Edges - if you do nothing else to your lawn, clip the edges.
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Keep the garden weed-free. Minimal weeds are tolerated so long as they fit in with the style of the garden, ie natural or wildflower meadows.
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Your garden must be made with love and care - money doesn't buy you love!
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Undeveloped areas must be interesting - areas under development can be informative to visitors but they must be progressive.
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Working areas must be tidy. Every garden has a compost heap but it mustn't distract from the overall quality of the garden.
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Parking, an often overlooked practicality, is needed for visitors on a successful NGS open day.
Other Advice: Health & safety is one of the first things the NGS looks at. Signs, fences and handrails are common additions even it is just temporary for the opening.
The county team will also go through our paperwork with you and brief you on health and safety, insurance and publicity. If the NGS volunteer decides we can not accept your garden, please do not be disappointed. There are very many lovely gardens which are not able to open because it is simply not practical to allow a large number of visitors around them.