Private gardens across England and Wales will open their gates to the public during 15-16 June for the first ever National Gardens Festival Weekend. Set to be the largest garden visiting event in history, with 800 openings planned over the two days, the Festival aims to raise £500,000 for nursing and caring charities.

On Thursday 21st March 2013, George Plumptre, Chief Executive of The National Gardens Scheme, was delighted to announce the amounts that each of our beneficiary charities would be receiving as a result of funds raised through garden openings last year.

The so-called ‘bible’ of garden visiting, The Yellow Book 2013 is the indispensable guide to over 3,800 gardens in England and Wales open to the public on behalf of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) to raise money for charity.

Parkinson’s UK and The National Garden Scheme (NGS) have joined forces to encourage people with Parkinson’s to get out into the great outdoors and visit a local garden. Parkinson’s UK will receive a donation in the region of £100,000 from NGS to support their nursing fund.

Across the country there are hints and signs, we hope, that winter is drawing to a close and spring is approaching. February and March heralds the emergence and blooming of that seasonal favourite the Snowdrop. Whilst the recent snow may not have been welcome for many the sight of swathes of Snowdrops are.