Glorious Gunby gardens and hall support NGS this Sunday

There will be plant sales, craft and trade stalls and three floors of the house will be open too.

The £6 admission charge includes entry to the house (normally £8.50) and will be donated to NGS.

The event is free for National Trust members and under 5s.

“Gunby has supported National Gardens Scheme since its founding in 1927 and are proud to still be doing so today nearly 90 years later,” said Gunby Visitor Experience Manager Astrid Gatenby.

“Not only are the gardens bursting with colour this time of year, visitors can enjoy interesting garden walks at no additional charge, as well as have a browse at the trade and craft stalls.

“Bring a picnic and make a day of it.

“Dogs on leads are welcome too.”

Guided garden walks will take place at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

The walks will take approximately one hour and are included in the entry charge.

Sensible footwear is recommended.

Gunby Hall and gardens, on the A158 off the Gunby roundabout between Spilsby and Skegness, will be open from 11am to 5pm.

For more information ring 01754 890102 or look on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gunby-hall.

What is NGS?

The National Gardens Scheme was founded by the Queen’s Nursing Institute in 1927.

In 1980 it was made an independent charity and in 2005 it was made a charitable company.

It is governed by a Council of Trustees and managed by a Chief Executive leading a small team of employed staff working at a central office, to support a large team of volunteers operating on a county by county basis to source interesting, beautiful gardens and look after their openings.

Over more than 80 years, the NGS has established an unrivalled reputation as the organiser of outstanding gardens being opened to visitors in order to raise funds for charity.

The NGS has a rare and simple fundraising and grant-making model.

Funds are raised annually by visitors paying to attend open gardens and to enjoy home-made teas or buying plants. The totals raised dictate the amounts that are donated annually within a twelve month period.

Currently the NGS’s target is for 80p of every £1 raised at gardens to be donated to the annual beneficiaries.

In the great majority of cases the owners of gardens donate the total amounts raised at their open days, only very occasionally are minimal expenses deducted. Their generosity is responsible for the millions of pounds that the charity is able to donate every year.

Since its foundation in 1927, the National Gardens Scheme has donated more than £45 million to its nominated beneficiaries and partners. In addition, individual gardens have given away more than £4 million in small donations directly to local charities of their choice.

All the nominated beneficiaries are nursing and caring charities and the scale of the NGS’s annual financial support means it is one of the most significant charitable funders of this sector in the UK.

The Trustees of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) announced the distribution of £2.7 million to its beneficiary charities as a result of funds raised at garden openings in 2015.