Page 6 - QNIS Newsletter 2019

www qnis org uk Healthy Gardening Scotland’s Gardens Scheme: 2019 Garden Garden Openings QNIS is is is rooted in in a a a a a a a proud shared history with Scotland’s Garden Scheme The relationship was was established in in 1931 when it it was was created to raise money for the the Queen’s Nurses Here the the the the charity’s national organiser Terrill Dobson tells us about their their plans for the the the the year ahead and how to get involved in their their work We gardeners share a a a a a a a a a secret our our gardens are are like a a a a a a a a a very special friend helping us us us us with our our health and wellbeing When we’re stressed they calm us us us us us They get us us us us us out of the the the house when the the the winter darkness is is tugging at us us us us us And our our garden can can nourish us us literally as you you you can can can grow so much in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small space Fortunately even if you you you are not a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gardener you you you can can still enjoy many of of the the the the benefits by by visiting them What a a a a a a a a a a a wonderful way to spend time out in in the the the the fresh air surrounded by by the the the the serenity of of a a a a a a a a beautiful garden In 2019 we we are celebrating this positive link between gardening and health with hundreds of private gardens opening to to the public to to to to raise money for charity We have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fantastic variety to to to to visit from allotments to to to to therapeutic gardens gardens villages and and groups and cottage-styled gardens gardens to to to castles And for the second year running we will be holding a a a a Gardens & Health Week in in in August where we will give community groups and schools free access to to volunteer gardens to show how how therapeutic and inspiring garden garden spaces can be Over the year more than 500 gardens will be welcoming visitors under the scheme including more allotments community gardens villages groups and therapeutic gardens gardens than ever With the help of of hundreds of of volunteers across Scotland our our garden garden openings will raise funds for for 253 charities Sixty-four gardens have joined us opening opening for for the first time and include: • Dumfries Station Garden a a a a a a a a a a a a a colourful all-year interest garden planted on on on both sides of a a a a a a a a a a working train station • • • • • • by a a a thriving ‘station adopters’ community group Fairnielaw in in North Berwick with its mixed tree mini forest and contemporary garden rooms the popular Berridale Allotments and Gardens in in Cathcart a a a a a a a a a a Glaswegian horticultural stalwart since before WW2 the the plots of of the the Allotment Association of of Crieff renowned to be the most scenic in Scotland Ellisland Wild Garden next to the the River Nith in in Dumfriesshire and and the the former home of poet Robert Burns Preston Hall Walled Garden in Midlothian a a a a a a a a a a a beautiful example of a a a a a a a a a a a a 18th century walled garden which the owners started to to restore in in 2011 and Brechin Gardens a a a a a a a a a a selection of village gardens including one accessed through a a a a a a a a a a a potting shed and the the local Cathedral Allotments with a a a a a a historic well While we we haven’t yet completed our financial totals for 2018 we we have have achieved record amounts to to charity over the the last last few years years with more than £1 million donated in the the last last four years! And remember that our our roots as a a a a a a a a charity are with the the QNIS our our gardens have been raising money for for the the Institute since 1931 You can help us to raise funds for for QNIS by visiting our garden open days You can also volunteer to help at our our open days or join one of our our our District committees (there are 23 districts located across Scotland) You might even like to open your garden! Visit our our website (www scotlandsgardens scotlandsgardens org) org) or or or or contact our our office (info@scotlandsgardens org) org) to find out out more about how you can help 5 QNIS Newsletter & Review of 2018