Family Friendly
At The NGS
Garden visiting isn't just for adults and senior citizens.
You may be surprised to know that NGS welcomes thousands of children to its gardens every year, most of which are privately owned. Admission is normally free to children aged 16 years and under accompanied by an adult. Where admission is charged for children. it is usually below half price and offers excellent value for a family day out. We welcome parents and grandparents to enjoy the garden visiting experience, and to learn from other private gardeners as well as encourage their children to be gardeners of the future.
Among the variety of NGS gardens open to the public are several school gardens. At the Palatine School in Sussex, teachers and volunteers have helped special needs pupils to create a series of award-winning themed gardens with the help of Lottery funding. St Brides C/W Primary School in Glamorgan shows what can be achieved by a school gardening club, including a Butterfly Garden and a Woven Willow Playground.
For further inspiration a visit to the NGS Family Garden at RHS Wisley, Surrey, designed by Fiona Lawrenson is a must. It underlines the link between the two gardening charities while providing a developing family garden for children.
Gardening is the UK’s premier leisure activity and the NGS is playing its part to encourage and sustain gardeners of the future. So next time you are wondering how to entertain the children over the weekend, have a look through the Yellow Book gardens. And look out for those home-made teas and cakes!