The Appeal of the Yellow Garden

Wednesday, 25th April 2007

All over the region, National Gardens Scheme members invite you to follow the yellow signs and visit their gardens for a good cause.

When gardens and gardening are one of life's joys then there is nothing more fascinating than having a good look at what other people do with theirs. It's where we pick up fresh ideas. Imaginative designs we have never considered before can be adapted for our own use. Interesting planting can help transform the look and feel of our own gardens. Visiting other gardens can be more than just inspiring - they can be voyages of discovery.

The good news is that every year around 3,500 gardens, mostly private, open for charity in England and Wales through the dedication of garden owners and volunteers of the National Gardens Scheme. Such has been its success that more than £15 million has been raised for its beneficiaries in the last 10 years. Everyone benefits - especially garden lovers on the hunt for something different, as a quick look at 'The Yellow Book' or website (www.ngs.org.uk) of participating gardens will reveal. Gardens open for the NGS on a restricted basis, so check The Yellow Book or website for dates and times before you go. Fortunately in North East England we have a wealth of such gardens - and more are springing up each year for us to visit and enjoy. Those taking part in the region range from historic houses and holders of national collections to tiny cottage gardens blossoming with unusual hybrids. A visit to two or three is an ideal way to get to know part of the area in more detail, taking in some of our most interesting towns, villages and scenery along the way. Out in the countryside and along the coast you can also find a gorgeous array of wildflower species unique to certain habitats. The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty shelters spring gentian, cotton grass and important hay meadow species, and the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding natural Beauty has sea campion and thrift. Northumberland National Park has harebell, northern marsh orchid and sundew; and on the Durham Heritage Coastline you can admire bird's-eye primrose and hart's tongue fern.

Amazing discoveries, in and out of the garden. Happy hunting.