South East - Surrey

The National Gardens Scheme is the largest organiser of garden openings in the UK and in 2016 some 3800 gardens will open in support of the NGS in England and Wales. Beginning in February with Snowdrops and other early-Spring delights and continuing right through to the end of October with autumn colour and fruits, there is a never-ending array of gardens to enjoy.

Crucially, the great majority of the gardens are private and never accessible to visitors at other times. In order to support the NGS and the group of nursing and caring charities to which it donates the funds raised, gardens either open for one or more specific days in the year, or they open by prior arrangement.

The great majority of gardens are suitable for group visits, in particular more than 1,000 are available for visits by prior arrangement and their details can all be found at www.ngs.org.uk. Many are open for set weeks of the year and a few can only accommodate limited numbers, but the is a rich variety of gardens all over the country who are happy to book in a group for a special opening where you are given undivided attention.

The way that the National Gardens Scheme is organised, with teams of knowledgeable volunteers in every county finding and managing the gardens, there is a reassuring element of quality control. In every part of the country you will discover gems of the highest quality that you never knew existed. In addition, many of them specialise in particular plants or design features, and so appeal to an audience with a particular interest.

When you visit your group will almost invariably be given exclusive attention by the garden owner(s) and/or their gardener, ensuring that in addition to the delights of the garden your visit has the all-important personal touch. NGS gardens are famous for their home-made teas and delicious refreshments are almost certain to be on offer to add to the enjoyment.

In addition to the unique pleasures offered by the array of gardens, there is the additional benefit of the enormous contribution NGS gardens make to nursing and caring in the UK. Having been founded in 1927 to raise money for district nurses, today the NGS is the most significant cumulative funder of nursing in the county, giving away annually more than £2.6 million. All of this money is raised by the gardens and distributed on an annual basis. The major beneficiaries include Macmillan, Marie Curie and Hospice UK, for all three of which the NGS is their largest single benefactor.

So when you visit an NGS garden, you not only guarantee your group a memorable day out of a kind they cannot find elsewhere, you are helping support a great charitable cause that has been going for 90 years.

Highlights for 2016 is a new Snowdrop Festival that kicks off the garden visiting year with more than 100 gardens opening during the month of February. The annual summer Festival Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th June, which will be the busiest opening weekend of the year with some 400 gardens opening in two days. The weeks from late-summer into autumn offer special treats for group visits with seasonal delights to bring the visiting year to a close.

A great many of the gardens open by prior arrangement offer plants for sale – usually cultivated by the owners from stock in their own gardens. And so you can leave with a tangible memory of your day that you can transplant to your own garden and enjoy for the future.

George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the National Gardens Scheme, says ‘many of our gardens specialise in welcoming groups and ensure a very special experience. Nowhere else can you find the combination of quality and interest, backed up by personal hospitality and attention. We know you will enjoy your visit and want to seek out more NGS gardens you did not know about to discover, and you can leave assured that your contribution has helped us support our wonderful nursing and caring beneficiaries. Happy Visiting in 2016!’

Full details of all gardens opening for group visits and many other details are available at www.ngs.org.uk