The National Garden Scheme nears 100

Today, we had the pleasure of hearing Clare Walters speak with such passion about The National Garden Scheme.

Elsie Wagg, a member of the Queen’s Nursing Institute, sparked the idea. In 1926, she suggested that owners of lovely private gardens could open them to the public for a modest entrance fee, with the money going towards supporting nurses in the community.

The first gardens opened their doors in 1927, featuring famous spots like Sandringham and Blenheim Palace, and visitors paid just one shilling to enter. The scheme was a resounding success, amassing over £8,000 in its first year.

Now, the scheme welcomes visitors to over 3,300 private gardens and last year contributed £3.8m to nursing and health charities.

Report by Bruno Kilshaw