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A national scheme raising money for nursing and medical charities has come to Guernsey again, with several Queen’s Nurses promoting the National Garden Scheme Open Gardens.
The Open Gardens scheme sees privately owned gardens all across the British Isles opened up to the public for charity. It was founded in 1927.
It was introduced to Guernsey via the island’s Queen’s Nurses, members of a charity that work to improve patient care.
There are a dozen Queen’s Nurses in Guernsey, including Alison Carney who is a Diabetes Nurse Specialist.
“We contacted Raymond Evison [horticulturalist]... and asked him to help us develop the idea, and he was very excited because it's something that he had wanted to do... but hadn't had time,” she said.
“We had some key meetings and he put us in touch with several people he knew personally who have nice gardens, and that was how we started off.
“That started three years ago.”
The Open Garden scheme has been running in Guernsey since 2022, when it saw £3,859 raised for charity. In 2023 £4,085 was raised for charity.
Alison is hoping the charity can top £5,000 this year.
“This year in Sark we had two gardens, which is fantastic [The Seigneurie and Le Grand Dixcart]. It was really lovely, very well attended, and about £500 was raised from each garden.”
The initiative comes to Guernsey this weekend and will see the Director of Public Health, Dr Brink open up her garden in St Peters.
“It’s beautiful and well-tended, with gorgeous shrubs and plants and... different corners for people to sit and spend time in. It'svery lovely to look at, and very nice and relaxing to sit in.”
Dr Brink’s Longfrie House garden will be open on 15 June and you can donate to the charity on arrival. You can find out more about the National Garden scheme ONLINE.
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