Visit A Winter Wonderland and Help Raise Money For Charity
Magical sights are emerging in gardens as plants edge towards spring. To make sure you do not miss out, garden owners across the UK will be opening up their winter wonderlands to visitors.
A selection of the 3700 private gardens in England and Wales, that open to the public as part of The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) for charity will be showcasing their spring flowering gardens in most parts of the country throughout January and February.
Speaking about the early openings, NGS chief executive George Plumptre said: “Early spring openings have a special magic for visitors. After the long winter the NGS is able to offer you the opportunity to get out, despite the cold weather."
“With Valentine’s Day just around the corner a trip to a local NGS garden at this time of year can be a romantic experience for visitors, friends and family. Not only does it directly benefit charity, it is a wonderful chance to take in some beautiful winter scenes at a small cost with most allowing under 16s in for free,” he added.
In 2010 the NGS donated £2.6 million to charity and in the last ten years has raised more than £26 million. Its largest single beneficiary, Macmillan Cancer Support, has received £13 million to date. The NGS also donates money to Marie Curie Cancer Care, Crossroads Care, Help the Hospices, The Queen’s Nursing Institute, The Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children, Perennial and the National Trust.
Details of the early spring gardens open in January and February can be found at www.ngs.org.uk
The Yellow Book 2011, which goes on sale in early February, can be purchased direct from www.ngs.org.uk or by phone 01483 211535 or from booksellers.
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Note to Editors:
With image: Pembury House is located in Sussex and opens under the NGS in February: the garden boasts winter flowering shrubs, hellebores and drifts of snowdrops as well as views to the South Downs National Park.
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For more information on this press release and activities of The National Gardens Scheme please contact Graham Paskett (grahampaskett@paskett.co.uk) or Alice Brett (alicebrett@paskett.co.uk) at Paskett Public Relations or call 01332 258335.
For NGS please contact Chris Morley (cmorley@ngs.org.uk) or call 01483 213900.