Gardens open tomorrow in support of healthcare charities

Friday 24 June 2022

The Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden at Sausmarez Park will open to the public for two consecutive Saturday’s (from tomorrow) - as part of the National Garden Scheme - to raise funds for the Queen’s Nursing Institute.

Cathy Morgan, volunteer at the Guernsey Botanical Trust (GBT) who run the garden, said she is proud to be opening in aid of cancer and health charities, and the Queens Nurses.

The afternoons will see tours of the garden including the heritage vegetable, fruit and flowers patch, the pollinators ‘nectar bar’, and 170 feet of period glasshouses.

Additionally, there will be craft demonstrations, opportunities to learn about seed-sowing and the possibility of purchasing produce, plants and art. Refreshments and freshly baked cakes will also be available. 

National Garden Scheme Chairman Rupert Tyler will also be visiting the garden on June 25. Ms Morgan said: “The visit of their chairman is very prestigious for Guernsey. We are delighted that we will be able to show him our kitchen garden and the hard work of our dedicated team of volunteers."

Pictured: Volunteers have maintained the garden since 2006, reviving the derelict site. Credit: Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden.

This is the first year that Guernsey gardens have featured in the National Garden Scheme. Castle Carey in St. Peter Port and Le Grand Dixcart in Sark will also be open to the public.

Ms Morgan added that they have previously worked with it's associated charities when a mock Chelsea Flower Show event was held in Guernsey during the early days of the pandemic. This was hosted by Raymond Evison OBE, who is also the President of the GBT.

Alison Carney, Guernsey Queen's Nurse said she was delighted that three Bailiwick gardens were opening for charitable purposes.

“The funds raised will go towards training and education opportunities for Community Nurses,” she said.

Tickets are £5 for adults, and children can enter the gardens for free. The first event occurs on June 25 between 14:00 and 17:00; the second occurs the following week on July 2.

Pictured (top): The gardens. Credit: Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden.