Blooming marvellous at Knightshayes

Spring is finally doing its thing at Knightshayes, a National Trust property on the outskirts of Tiverton in Devon. It has come not a moment too soon, as Friday 10 May sees the property hosting its annual National Gardens Scheme open day.

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) was founded in 1927 to raise money for the nurses of the Queen's Nursing Institute by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public. Knightshayes was one of the first to join the scheme on its inception, well before the Trust took on the house and its hugely significant gardens in 1972 and each year it donates admissions takings for one day to the charity.

Since 1927, £35 million has been donated by NGS to nursing, caring and gardening societies through the money raised from entrance fees, and during the 1940s, when many country houses and their gardens were facing an uncertain future as a result of the impact of the war, the NGS played a huge part in securing their future. They have also supported the Trust in offering the opportunity to study for qualifications in heritage gardening – something which has enable the training of a great number of gardeners within the Trust.

Emma Fox, Formal and Woodland Garden Supervisor said of the scheme: "I have worked with a number of trainees who have come to the trust through the NGS careership scheme, and I cannot speak highly enough of the opportunities it has offered countless people, who would otherwise have never been given the chance to pursue their passion."

"It’s also helped ensure that the unique skills required to delivery heritage gardening are preserved for the future, to enable us to continue properly caring for such beautiful gardens. Now is also the perfect time to be visiting the gardens, especially the woodland garden, as they’re in full bloom- packed with magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas."

The gardens team at Knightshayes are delivering a series of introductory tours of the Kitchen, Formal and Woodland Gardens throughout the day to help people understand their significance, and why the continued work on their conservation is so important. The tours will be running at 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm, and will be free to join.

Normal admission charges do apply for entry to the house and gardens, which will all be donated to the NGS.