INTRODUCTION • Created in 1931 • District Nurses • The National Gardens Scheme 1927 Dawyck,Aytounhill, Peeblesshire Fife Dalswinton House, Dumfriesshire Yetholm, Roxburghshire INSTANT SUCCESS • 1932 – the first full year • 500 gardens opened • District Nurses’ annual pension of £20.00 doubled • Nurses training support Danevale, KirkcudbrightshireAscog Hall, Fife Portrack House, Dumfriesshire WAR YEARS • Gardens continued to open although vegetables took over much of the flower beds • Special petrol allowance given to garden owners and bus operators • Teas continued to be served patriotically (without sugar!) • Gardens dropped to about 300 POST WAR • Creation of the NHS • 1952 The Gardens Fund of The National Trust for Scotland Glassmount, Fife Kildrummy Castle Gardens, Aberdeen Nonavaar, Shetland © Andrea Jones THE 1960s • 40% of the funds raised at each garden opening • 60% of the funds (net): – Perennial – The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society – The Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children 2007 Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres The Tower, Fife Drummond Castle, Perth & Kinross TODAY • Circa 600 garden openings • 60% gross of the funds raised to nominated charity – 225+ charities supported each year • 40% net of the funds raised: – Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres – The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland – The Gardens Fund of the NTS – Perennial LAST 5 YEARS • £1 Million to charity – In 2016 a record £266,057 to charity • Nearly 600 charities supported • 1,000 gardens open – 95 villages & groups Cedar Cottage,Gallery, Craigrothie Angus Shepherd House, East Lothian HOW THE CHARITY IS RUN • Trustees • Office team – National Organiser – Office Manager – Marketing Officer • Volunteer committees HOW THE CHARITY IS RUN 24 DISTRICTS: • District Organiser • Area Organisers • Treasurer • Local teams responsible for: – Liaising with garden owners – Finding new gardens – Ensuring the success of each garden opening – Organising local marketing Blair Castle Hercules Garden, Perthshire Willowhill, Fife Cruickshank Botanic Gardens, Aberdeenshire TYPES OF GARDENS • Originally • Today – Country house and castle gardens – Town gardens – Rural gardens – Village gardens – Allotments & community gardens – Small gardens are encouraged to open together • Inclusive SGS PLANT SALES • Substantial sum raised • Collection of plants • Donations • Locally produced • Good value • Also many openings sell plants House of Tongue, Caithness & Sutherland Amat, Caithness and Sutherland GARDEN SELECTION • Willingness to open • “Loved” gardens – Satisfactory standard • Horticultural interest • 45 minutes of interest – alone or grouped with other gardens. KINDS OF OPENINGS • Single day(s) or weekend – Usually 2-5pm, extending to noon-6pm • Extended period – range of dates • By arrangement • Private openings Blackmill, Glasgow and District 2 Durnamuck, Ross & Cromarty A TYPICAL OPENING • Entrance fee • Freedom • Owners at hand • Teas – supported by the nominated charity • Plant stall • Other stalls • Children's activities / games • Entertainment MARKETING AN OPENING • Guidebook • Website www.scotlandsgardens.org • Social Media – Facebook/Twitter • Posters • Road signs • Press releases – Sometimes advertising • Features • Radio/TV • Flyers Corsock House, Kirckcudbrightshire Willowhill, Fife The Walled Garden Tyninghame, East Lothian INSURANCE • Public Liability – All private domestic owners who open their gardens for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme who are not otherwise covered • Product Liability – For the teas • Employer’s Liability – Covering volunteers helping with the preparation and running of the day(s) PROJECTS - Planning • Strategic Plan – Initiated from 2016 conference • Vision Statement & Core Objectives – Volunteers & Garden Openers – Marketing & Promotion – Partnerships – Governance • It must support our local community • It must be fun. Redcroft, Edinburgh and West Lothian The Steading, Perth & Kinross Parkhead House, Perth PROJECTS - Priorities • Updated Annually • Trustees & governance (17/18) • Look at charity support/distribution (17/18) • Infrastructure – database (17) • Support to Volunteers & Garden Openers (18) PROJECTS - Outreach • Year of Young People – 2018 - VisitScotland – Children’s activities • Storytelling in Gardens – In May. Again in October • Horticulture training – Horticulture Therapy – RHS College competitive in 2017 • Fruit & Veg Theme in 2019? Kincardine Estate, Kincardine & Deeside Balker Farmhouse, Wigtownshire PROJECTS - Partnerships • With Nominated Charities • Champion Trees • National Plant Collections • Historic Designed Landscapes • Accessible by Public Transport • Working with local amateur photographers CAN YOU HELP? • Open your garden • Visit a garden (or two or three…) • Help on an Open Day • Join a local committee – Love gardens? – Social media skills – Marketing skills Glenlivet, Kirkcudbrightshire Old Allangrange, Ross & Cromarty THE GUIDEBOOK • Published annually • Information on: – All the gardens – Our charity – The beneficiaries • Cost: £5.00 inc UK p&p • Availability • www.scotlandsgardens.org • Direct from Scotland’s Gardens Scheme CONTACT DETAILS Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Address: 23 Castle Street Edinburgh EH2 3DN Tel: 0131 226 3714 E-mail: [email protected] Charity No: SC011337 Lennel Bank, Berwickshire Wellbutts, Lanarkshire Gean House, Stirlingshire .