The National Gardens Scheme has been opening fine gardens to the public to raise money for charity for over 75 years.
Over the years the gardens which open for the scheme have changed in size and style. In place of the hundreds that opened in 1927, there are now thousands of medium-sized and small gardens, the majority belonging to practical gardeners.
However, it is a tribute to the scheme that in 2002 almost 100 of the 'pioneer' gardens were open for the scheme.
And always, at the back of your mind when you visit an National Gardens Scheme garden, is the pleasant knowledge that your money (usually around £3 nowadays, rather than 5p or 'a shilling') is going to help a whole range of good causes, from providing cancer relief to training National Trust gardeners.
