Since 1927, the National Garden Scheme has been inviting garden owners to open their exceptional gardens to the public, giving people unique access to some of Britain’s most beautiful and memorable gardens while raising money for charity through entry fees, teas and cake. Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors, the National Garden Scheme is the most significant charitable funder of nursing charities in the UK - having donated £55million over the last 90 years. This year the National Garden Scheme donated a record £3.1million from funds raised at open gardens in 2017 and supported charities including: Macmillan Cancer Support; Marie Curie; Hospice UK; Carers Trust; Queen’s Nursing Institute; Parkinson’s UK; Perennial; National Autistic Society; and MS Society. There are over 3,600 private gardens open to the public in 2018, all of which can be found by vising the National Garden Scheme website, or in the Garden Visitor’s Handbook, which is published annually and available via the National Garden Scheme shop and at all good book retailers.