The National Garden Scheme is a charity and in 2018 donated £3.1 million to various charities including £500,000 each to Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and Hospice UK. Donations were also made to Horatio’s Garden, Mind and many other charities.
This money is raised by volunteers who open their gardens for a small admission fee and from the sale of tea and homemade cake.
Many gardens are dog friendly, there are no admission charges for children, and some gardens have wheelchair access and plant sales on site.
In May Westbrook House in Little Bowden will have its bluebell woodland on show, and this year has an additional amazing 7000 new tulips which should be in flower for the May opening. Within the 6 acres of garden are a perennial, colour themed border planted in red, orange, and yellow and hiding somewhere in the garden is “Sid the Stag”. There is a working vegetable garden with raised beds, and a recently redesigned lower garden which features perennial borders, a summer house, slate water feature and rill.
Burrough Hall was built as a hunting lodge in 1867 and is surrounded by mature gardens and magnificent views across the Leicestershire countryside. There is also the added interest of a small collection of classic and vintage cars on display.
Opening together in May in the lovely old village of Grimston are The Yews Farm and Fourwinds, and both gardens are around 1 acre. Four Winds has traditional borders, long lawns with mature trees, shrubs and flowering borders. The Yews Farm is thought to be the oldest house in the village, with views across the paddock, mixed flower borders, a kitchen garden including an old Bramley apple tree and greenhouse. Within the garden are two old Yew trees thought to be about 500 years old and a mature Wisteria.
In Tilton on the Hill Hedgehog Hall opens which is a plant lover’s paradise with a lavender walk, herb garden, themed colour borders and bee friendly plants. There is also a walled courtyard with hostas, ferns, wisteria and climbing hydrangea.
Thorpe Lubenham Hall extends over 15 acres including areas of lawns and mature trees for a relaxing walk combined with a more formal borders and shrub planting. There are various water features including a walled pool garden with raised beds.
These are just a few of the many gardens opening in May to raise funds for nursing and cancer charities. All gardens have modest entrance fees, excellent tea and homemade cake plus a warm and friendly welcome.
