The National Garden Scheme

Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) open exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands raising money for charity through admission fees, tea and cake. Over the past 96 years the NGS has raised over 67 million pounds for charities. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with the Chief Executive of the NGS, George Plumptre and discuss the huge impact opening over 3,500 gardens has had on the charities the NGS supports. We also delve into George’s favourite gardens, his passion for writing about cricket and gardens and we discover what cake Dame Mary Berry, the president of the NGS, baked for George on a special garden visit.

Plant mentions: Winter aconites, snowdrops, hardy cyclamen, viticella clematis and wildflower meadows.

Garden mentions: The Queen Mother’s private garden: Birkhall part of the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, The Royal Lodge on the Windsor Great Park Estate, Berkshire and Castle of Mey, Caithness in Scotland. Royal gardens at Frogmore House and Highgrove Gardens.

National Trust properties at Hidcote Manor Gardens in Gloucestershire and Hatchlands Park in Surrey. Arley Hall, Northwich, Cheshire, Ramster Gardens in Surrey, Hodnet Hall Gardens, Shropshire. Horatio Garden in Salisbury. Goodnestone Park in Kent.

Reports mentions: Gardens and health - The King’s fund 2016 report and Gardens and Coronavirus 2020 report

Desert Island plant and gardening luxury: Plumbago capensis and desalination plant with brass antique water sprinkler.

NGS beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Research, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, The Queen’s Nursing Institute, Parkinson’s UK, Horatio’s Garden, Maggie’s and Greenfingers. Support and training English Heritage, Perennial, Working for Gardeners Association, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Professional Gardeners’ Trust and Garden Museum.

George Plumptre’s books

The Garden Visitor’s handbook 2023 (The Yellow Book)

NGS Website with links to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music.

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