Monday 15 May 2023
For the second year running, three exceptional private Bailiwick gardens will be opening to the public this summer, raising money for nursing and health charities.
Visitors and islanders can enjoy exclusive access to the gardens at Longfrie House & Government House in Guernsey and Le Grand Dixcart in Sark. The gardens, which collectively offer glasshouses, walled gardens, ponds, sculptures and more, will open over two weekends - 17th & 18th June and 24th & 25th June - as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) in partnership with the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI).
The NGS works to offer unique access to thousands of usually private gardens across Britain and in doing so raises valuable funding through admissions, tea, and cakes. In 2022 the Scheme raised more than £4 million for its beneficiaries, which includes various health and gardening charities and the QNI.
As the oldest professional nursing organisation in the UK and believed to be the oldest nursing charity in the world, the QNI is dedicated to improving the nursing care of people in their home and in the community. There are twelve Queen's Nurses in the Bailiwick, 3 of whom were instrumental in helping the NGS facilitate the opening of the gardens locally. Patricia McDermott, consultant clinical nurse specialist for urology, Ellie Phillips, Clinical Nurse Specialist for tissue viability and lymphoedema and Alison Carney, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes, make up the organising committee.
Patricia McDermott said:
'Never in our wildest dreams when we first met as a committee in 2019 could we have envisaged that within three years we would be hosting the very first gardens opening in Guernsey to benefit the National Garden Scheme. We are very excited to be welcoming visitors locally and nationally and raising the profile of Queen's Nurses and the work they do to deliver healthcare to people in the community.'
Admission to the gardens is as follows:
- Le Grand Dixcart - Sark
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June
11am to 3pm
Adults £4, children £2
Home-made tea & cakes - Longfrie House, St. Peter's, Guernsey
Saturday 24th June
10am-5pm
Admission by donation
Home-made tea & cakes - Government House, St. Peter Port, Guernsey
Saturday 24th June
12-4pm
£5 admission
Home-made tea & cakes
