News Article
Weather Presenter Forecasts Great Norfolk Gardens in 2010
Despite the snow, BBC weather presenter Julie Reinger forecast a great “Open Gardens” season for the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk in 2010 when she was at How Hill Farm, Ludham to launch the 2010 Norfolk NGS Guide. Over fifty new and regular garden openers, nurseries, sponsors, and tourism officials enjoyed the picturesque scenery at the presentation of the 2010 Norfolk NGS Guide by kind invitation of owner Peter Boardman. This included the opportunity to walk around the garden with the tradition of tea and home - made cakes, made by the NGS county organisers. No matter what the weather gardens will entice visitors to a great garden day out while supporting the worthwhile charities of the Scheme.
Alan Gray, an Ambassador of the National Gardens Scheme, presented Julie with the 2010 Norfolk NGS Guide. It is a guide to the cream of the county’s gardens most of which are private. The front cover features the private garden of famous garden designer, Claire Agnew, Oulton Hall. It signals the start of the gardening season with seventy five gardens, including fourteen new wow factor gardens opening for the charity this year. Now with 32 pages, 60,000 copies are guaranteed to attract not just enthusiasts from the county but from further afield too. It promotes the famous Sandringham Flower Show and The Royal Norfolk Show. With pages of private and commercial gardens and nurseries, including the Norfolk Nursery Network, for inspiration, the 2010 Norfolk NGS Guide has certainly bloomed.
Julie Reinger said "I love my own garden and it's great to be able to get inspiration from other peoples. The NGS gives you the opportunity to peep over the hedge, fence or gate of so many incredible gardens that normally wouldn't be open to the public. I just hope this year I'll be forecasting lots of dry, sunny weather for all the open days ...and plenty of overnight rain for the plants”!!
Ambassador Alan Gray of East Ruston Old Vicarage said “When the National Gardens Scheme was born in 1927, visiting private gardens was a well-established pastime, but only for the privileged few. To then ask owners of fine gardens to open once or twice a year to the general public was a rather clever idea, charging ‘a shilling a head’ and donating the proceeds to charity. Details of how to find the gardens led to the success of this garden opening list from which a booklet was created and later, an illustrated guide “The Yellow Book”. Now each county has a guide and the yellow arrow signs highlight the way to “gardens open for charity. This year “The Yellow Book.” features Manor House Farm, Wellingham on the front cover, taken by garden photographer Marianne Majerus, an honour for any garden owner and a great promotion for Norfolk gardens”.
The NGS showcase every gardening style – from wild and blowsy to oriental chic, with all shapes and sizes, from traditional to formal, from rural to city, including allotments. For many people who visit every year, there is nothing more satisfying than getting the opportunity to see real life “show” gardens as well as raising money for good causes.