The National Garden Scheme broadens its appeal
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The pandemic has forced the speed of change in many areas of our lives and the National Garden Scheme is no different. It has been widening its range of gardens at a time when the demand for access to outside space is greater than ever. This change has been evident for a number of years but seems currently to be gaining momentum.
Private gardens have been opening for the National Garden Scheme for over 90 years, raising money for nursing and health charities, their details listed in the prestigious Garden Visitors Handbook, more affectionately known as the Yellow Book. Asked to describe a typical garden it is likely that it would be a period house with a formal garden and gardener, possibly further wilder areas, maybe lovely views.
The small town garden at 18 Pettits Boulevard
There are many gardens like this and they bring huge pleasure to many visitors each year. In Essex we have some very significant gardens which open as part of the National Garden Scheme: Braxted Park Estate, Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Fudlers Hall, Barnards Farm and Ulting Wick are good examples. Our portfolio has, in recent years, grown to include many smaller gardens as well, often town gardens which sometimes band together to open as a group on the same day. These small gardens are very popular and, as their many visitors have a similar plot themselves, the visit takes on a slightly different purpose. From enjoying the splendour of a country estate and the escapism that provides, there comes a more immediate interest in how a design feature could work at home or how an idea can be borrowed and adapted.
Visiting a Town Garden
At the same time conversations surrounding mental health issues have become more public and the physical and mental health benefits of gardens and gardening more obvious. An interest in those for whom the garden is being created has also grown.
These statistics illustrate the growth in the diversity of gardens which are opening for the National Garden Scheme in England and Wales this year:
3,602 gardens are due to open with 1,121 of these opening as part of a group
657 are new gardens and of these 195 are opening as part of a group
1,110 gardens are opening by arrangement
Hilldrop in Horndon is designed to encourage wildlife
These figures include 35 allotment groups, 14 community gardens, 21 hospice gardens and 13 school gardens
This is reflected in Essex where we have six group openings, in Brightlingsea, Harwich, Writtle and new for 2021 in Bradfield, Chesterford and Sheepcote Green, Clavering. We also have gardens where wildlife is prioritised and habitats are created for insects and plants.
Similarly, not all our gardens are private. This year we have a charitable horticultural project in Brentwood opening in May and August. The Gates offers therapeutic lessons for students with learning disabilities. The sessions are often horticulturally based and the flowers and vegetables which result are either sold at open days, used by the Borough for their planting displays or simply enjoyed by students, staff and volunteers.
An Open Day at The Gates horticultural project in Brentwood
We have the 11-acre garden at Little Havens Hospice in Hadleigh opening for us in July and are actively seeking similar gardens to add to our portfolio. Allotment groups are popular destinations for visitors and we hope to encourage some Essex based groups to join us.
As the range of our gardens broadens so we hope the profile of our average visitor will similarly change and that more people will know that they will receive a warm welcome as well as enjoying the benefits of visiting a garden.
Debbie Thomson is the Publicity and Social Media Coordinator for the National Garden Scheme in Essex. Details of all gardens opening in the county this year can be found here
All photographs: NGS
