Open your garden

Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated over £70 million to nursing and health charities and in 2023 donated £3.4 million to our beneficiaries including: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK, Carers Trust and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

We can only donate such life-changing amounts by having wonderful gardens to share, and we are always on the lookout for beautiful new gardens to open, whether it’s rolling country acres, a cottage garden, town garden, wildlife-friendly space or community allotment. They all offer a unique and very personal experience to our garden-loving visitors and help raise money for great causes.

“I have been opening my garden for the last five years and it is has been nothing but a win-win.”

You can help…

You can help by opening your own much loved garden. Opening your garden to the public may seem daunting at first, but if you’re passionate about your garden, and your friends tell you how lovely it is, then it’s very likely other people will want to visit your garden too.

By opening your garden with the National Garden Scheme, you’re not only giving people a great day out – you’re also raising money to help change lives. What’s more you’ll be joining a community of other like-minded garden owners and volunteers, all passionate about great gardens and great cake!

Your garden would be included in the prestigious yellow Garden Visitor’s Handbook and on our website, and our county volunteer teams offer lots of support. So whether your garden is big or small, if you think it has quality, character and interest, we’d love to hear form you and arrange a visit.

Email [email protected], call us on 01483 211535 or contact your local volunteer team who will be able to answer your questions.

“Our open days are a community event, widely appreciated in many ways and by many people.”

Read the stories below for a real sense of what opening a garden for the National Garden Scheme is like:

Inspiration and cakes!

“It’s lovely to hear visitors comments about the garden, about the cake, and it’s interesting to see what any particular person focuses on, whether it’s a question of a rose variety or the secret ingredient to the Victoria sponge. Finally, it’s knowing they go away happy, enthused and inspired.”

Garden Owner Sunil Patel, 13 Broom Acres, Berkshire.

A wonderful day out

“Opening the allotments for the National Garden Scheme is a wonderful day. Plot holders love to be asked about what they’re growing, and visitors really enjoy the tea and cakes and Ploughman’s lunches”

Cynthia, plot holder at Paddock Allotments & Leisure Gardens, London

Image © Benjamin Mole

A warm welcome

“I can’t believe how warmly we were welcomed into the National Garden Scheme family or the level of support we’ve received. And although heading towards our first opening was really nerve-wracking, it’s one of the most exciting things we’ve ever done.” 

Garden owners Stewart and Louise Woskett, Laurel Cottage, Hertfordshire.

Opening an oasis in Tottenham

“The National Garden Scheme is very helpful when giving ideas about what kind of opening(s) you can have, to suit you and your garden. It’s a very rewarding experience, and it also gives inspiration and a sense of focus. You’ll meet some great people and make some new connections too!”

Matthew Bradbury, Garden Owner, 21 Gospatrick road

Matched funding

Matched funding can be a brilliant way in which to increase revenue from garden openings. It can be secured relatively easily – just by filling in a form and giving our registered charity number. Matched funding works on the principle that a company/organisation gives a donation to ‘match’ the funds raised for charity at an event, making a donation go twice as far.

To find out more visit our matched funding page