A morning of inspiring photos of gardens due to open for the NGS really warmed my heart and set me up for getting out and about visiting special places again. Here’s some photos of gardens due to open over the winter. These were highlighted as part of the NGS’s 2024 launch event yesterday. I must say, thinking of all these lovely garden views and beautiful flowers really cheered me up. I hope they do the same for you too!

Bucklow Farm in Cheshire opens on 25th Feb. This special, country garden has been created over 30 years. There’s a herb garden,veg plot, meadow and wildlife pond, and is especially well known for its winter flowering displays.

Thousands of snowdrops underplant the special trees, shrubs and roses.

Hellebores especially do well at Bucklow Farm. The address is Pinfold Lane, Plumley, Cheshire, WA16 9RP. Check all dates, times and details before travelling.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/18917/bucklow-farm

More beautiful hellebores and snowdrops, at Welford Park in Berkshire. This garden has been opening for the NGS since 1927.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/5331/welford-park

Spring cocktail of colours. Galanthus Melanie Broughton, yellow winter aconites and pink cyclamen coum. Gable House, Suffolk.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/7098/gable-house

Higher Cherubeer, Dolton, Devon. One and three quarter acres of gardens with 400 varieties of snowdrop and the national collection of cyclamen species.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/17164/higher-cherubeer

The Old Rectory, Fawkham

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/32008/the-old-rectory-fawkham

And in Leicestershire, hundreds of snowdrop varieties on display at Hedgehog Hall.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/21608/hedgehog-hall

There are around 100 snowdrop and spring-flowering gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme this year.

Over the whole year, 3,372 are scheduled to open. 575 are new to the NGS. 333 gardens are returning to the charity after a break. Nearly 1,000 gardens open ‘by arrangement’ where groups and individuals can arrange a visit at a mutually-agreed time for an exclusive tour of the garden. 2,681 offer refreshments, and 1,682 welcome dogs (very much appreciated by our spaniel Meg- who doesn’t like being left at home).

It was absolutely heartening to hear that 2023 was a record-breaking year for the NGS enabling them to give away £3.4 million to cancer care and other health and well-being charities. The NGS has been helping Macmillan cancer support for 40 years and has donated almost £20 million to them during this time. Personally, our friends and relatives have benefited from this care and we are truly grateful to the wonderful nurses at Macmillan. Many of you will also know that my youngest daughter is a nurse and my eldest daughter also worked for a children’s hospice. So I’m fully behind the NGS as they are a powerful and staunch supporter of nurses.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/34092/chawton-house

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Yesterday’s blog was about garden designers opening their own gardens for the NGS. Read it here:

https://bramblegarden.com/2024/01/25/national-garden-scheme-launches-its-2024-campaign/