More Than Red-Hot Pokers And Sweet Rocket(s)

At a spectacular 5th November display Cumbria’s ‘Yellow Book’ Garden Co-ordinators celebrated another highly successful season.

In 2011 over 10,000 visitors enjoyed the county’s 56 gardens that open for The National Gardens Scheme (NGS).  More than £56,000 was raised for charities such as, “Macmillan Cancer Support”, “Marie-Curie Cancer Care”, “The Queen’s Nursing Institute” and “Help The Hospices”.   Nationally the NGS raised £3 million in 2011.

Diane Hewitt (NGS County Organiser) said, “The season started well with that all important sunny and dry weather.  Summer was mostly a ‘wash-out’ here in Cumbria.  To have attracted so many visitors and have raised so much money for charity is magnificent and I thank everyone who has helped in this.”

Linda and Alec Greening (Assistant County Organisers and previous County Organisers) added, “A visit to a NGS garden is a great way to spend half a day.  It offers a one-off opportunity to see gardens in some wonderful locations and it is good for all the family as there is so much to see and do.  Besides gardens there are the views, architecture, sometimes steam trains and vintage cars, new areas to explore and usually great home-made teas and cakes.  And all of this at a very reasonable cost where all the takings go to well-deserving charities”.

At the end of their Annual General Meeting the NGS County Team thanked the time, support and generosity given by Cumbria’s Garden Owners.  Such efforts made 2011 so successful.