The Yellow Book 2010. NGS Gardens Open for Charity.
A guide to thousands of gardens in England and Wales.
Review by Alec & Val Scaresbrook
No matter what the winter has been like, there's one yellow herald of spring that appears without fail. And yellow is an appropriate colour for a book containing a gold mine of gardens.
The Yellow Book reveals private gardens from Kent to Cumbria that are opened for charity. Whatever your level of interest in gardens, these places make excellent afternoons out in superb surroundings. Also listed are the many gardens that are regularly open to the public and donate a percentage of the takings to the National Gardens Scheme.
This charitable trust is run solely by volunteers so that every penny possible can be handed over to the nursing, caring and educational charities that it supports (over fifteen million pounds have been raised over the last ten years).
Arranged county by county, with a summary of opening dates, it's a simple matter to see what options there are for your next free day. With over 3,600 gardens to choose from (including new ones for this year), this descriptive directory is invaluable wherever you are.
To help you visit around the country, there's even a list of around 150 gardens where accommodation is on offer - self-catering, bed & breakfast, or hotel.
Contact details for similar schemes in other countries (including Scotland
Ordering details:
Paperback published annually in February (but can be pre-ordered) by The National Gardens Scheme (ISBN: 978-1905942138).
