Garden designer and television presenter Joe Swift has taken on a new job as volunteer Ambassador of the National Garden Scheme. The charity which sees members of the public open their gardens to the public has raised millions for nursing and caring charities. Joe Swift spoke to Ken Crowther about his role.
Three years ago Parkinsons UK was picked as the National Garden Scheme’s guest charity. Keen cyclist and Director of Fundraising Paul Jackson-Clark was the set challenge in 2015 to see how many of the NGS gardens he could visit by bike in one day. Paul and his friends managed to get around 15 gardens as he told Ken Crowther.
Food writer and television presenter Mary Berry is known for her baking but she also is a great supporter of the National Garden Scheme, where people open their gardens for charity. She has recently been named as their new President taking over from Joe Swift. Mary has opened her garden for over 20 years as she told Ken Crowther.
Lord Michael Howard, Chairman of Hospice UK, is one of the beneficiaries of the National Garden Scheme and without their support they would not be able to carry out the valuable work they do. Despite not being a keen gardener, Lord Howard enjoys spending time being in the garden and visiting them as he explained to Ken Crowther.
This year the National Garden Scheme has nearly 4,000 people opening their gardens to the public and raising money for the charities they support. The scheme was founded in 1927, to provide a hardship fund for district nurses. Today the money goes to a variety of charities as Chris Morley told Ken Crowther.