The NGS, as it is known by the devotees, has had a new logo which is hoped will be more obvious and, in turn, will result in more visitors to the open gardens. The marketing will also be more visible in the hope that many more people will understand what a fantastic organisation it is. Maybe one day the acronym will be as well known as others such as  the RSPCA or the NHS.

Our garden has opened to raise money for the NGS for about 15 years and over that time I’ve had to constantly explain that the money raised goes to a number of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and Hospice UK. I feel sure that there can’t be many people who haven’t been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly yet we often have people go round our garden and then put pennies in the donation box. Our suggested entry fee this year is £3. During the last two days there were six people who went into the garden. When I emptied the box at the end of the day yesterday there was a one pound coin and a few small silver coins, approximately a tenth of what should have been donated.   Of course, most people are very generous, but those who aren’t….well it rankles. I guess the solution would be to be much more rigorous and physically take the entrance money at the gate but I like to think the best of the general public and assume that they know that their donation is for a worthy cause and that they will do the right thing.