Why open your hospice garden?

There are so many reasons why opening your garden for the National Garden Scheme benefits your hospice: from sustainable fundraising to myth-busting and volunteer recruitment.

The National Garden Scheme offer hospices lots of support to hold their own open garden

The prestigious National Garden Scheme gives the public access to over 3,500 private gardens every year. 

On this page, find out why opening your garden can bring your hospice a host of fantastic opportunities, and hear from hospices who already open their gardens on why it’s become a celebrated part of their annual events calendar.

The signup deadline for 2026 open gardens is Wednesday 1st October 2025 - read on for further details.
 

What's on this page

What is a National Garden Scheme open garden?

An open garden is an initiative run by the prestigious National Garden Scheme which enables people in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands to visit and enjoy private gardens which aren’t typically open to the public.

Around 3,500 gardens are part of the scheme – ranging from large to small, from private to public. They include a number of hospices too.

Opening your own much loved garden to the public may seem daunting at first, but if you’re passionate about your garden, then it’s very likely other people will want to visit it. For nearly 100 years, the nation's garden-loving public have been visiting open gardens, and you could be a part of it.
 

St Joseph’s Hospice: why we open our gardens for the National Garden Scheme

“You get a real opportunity to say thank you to your volunteers by giving them a day where they can show off their pride and joy, and show people what they do. My volunteers are just so proud of what they do. It’s a brilliant way of rewarding them." 

~ Jocelyn, Head Gardener, St Joseph's Hospice

How open gardens bring opportunities to your hospice

There are so many reasons why opening your garden for the National Garden Scheme can be beneficial for your hospice: from fundraising and donor development, to community engagement and volunteer recruitment. 

Read the case studies below from hospices who already hold an open gardens to find out why they take part – and what’s in it for your hospice.

St Cuthbert's Hospice have been holding a National Garden Scheme open garden for years. They tell us why it's become such a celebrated annual event, and about its many benefits to the hospice.

Why St Cuthbert’s Hospice support the National Garden Scheme

St Cuthbert's Hospice have been holding a National Garden Scheme open garden for years. They tell us why it's become such a celebrated annual event, and about its many benefits.
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St Joseph’s Hospice: why we open our gardens for the National Garden Scheme

St Joseph’s Hospice: why we open for the National Garden Scheme

Rewarding their volunteers, generating income, and dispelling myths about hospice care are just some of the reasons why St Joseph’s open for the National Garden Scheme.
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Shooting Star Children’s Hospices have been opening their gardens for the National Garden Scheme since 2023

“Just do it!” Open gardens at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices have been opening their gardens for the National Garden Scheme since 2023. They explain how their event is getting bigger and better every year.
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Tell us about your National Garden Scheme open gardens so that Hospice UK can share photos and videos of your event on social media

How National Garden Scheme open gardens will benefit your hospice

Whether your hospice’s garden is a small, peaceful courtyard garden, or set in larger grounds with multiple areas, the nation’s garden-loving public will want to visit it.

Find out more

The deadline for 2026 open garden applications

Now is a great time to get involved with the National Garden Scheme. 

In 2026, Hospice UK celebrates 30 years of generous support from the National Garden Scheme, and we plan to go big on our communications and marketing for the partnership. 

That means that we'll be creating news stories, films and social content featuring our member hospices who hold open gardens - and your hospice can be a part of that by registering for one.

If you'd like to get involved, there are some important deadlines to be aware of:

  • If you've previously opened your garden for the National Garden Scheme, you'll need to contact your County Organiser to register by Wednesday 1st October with the date/s for your proposed opening in 2026.
  • If you've not previously opened your garden for the National Garden Scheme, you'll first need to contact your County Organiser to arrange a visit to ensure the garden is suitable to open for the Scheme. You'll then need to complete your registration by 1st October.
     

2027 open gardens

In 2027, the National Garden Scheme will mark its 100 year anniversary, and we'll be supporting a huge media and communications push on celebrating the organisation - and the people that make the National Garden Scheme what it is. 

You can benefit from prestigious national publicity by making sure that your hospice registers for an open garden. Find out how, below.
 

A National Garden Scheme open garden is a great opportunity to open the door to the hospice

"A National Garden Scheme open garden opens the door to the hospice, and allows people to perhaps think, ‘this is a lovely place and I could consider having care for myself or my loved one here.’ Or maybe they’ll go home and let their neighbour know that, ‘you know what? The hospice is actually a really lovely place.’" 

~ Laura McKenzie, St Cuthbert's Hospice

The National Garden Scheme is the largest funder of our work. They have donated more than £6.5million in support of hospice care since 1996.

Interested in opening your garden?

To find out more about what's involved in opening your hospice's garden, find your County Organiser on the National Garden Scheme's website, and then call or email them.

They'll take you through what you need to do to get your open garden up and running.

Find your County Organiser
Tell us about your National Garden Scheme open gardens so that Hospice UK can share photos and videos of your event on social media

Tell us about your open garden

If you're planning a National Garden Scheme open garden, you'll be listed on their Gardens to Visit handbook, and on their Find a Garden interactive map. Plus, you'll be added to their hospice gardens webpage.

We'd love to hear from you as well. Throughout the year, we share details of hospices' upcoming open gardens on our social channels. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram with photos and videos from the day, so that we can help spread the word about your event - and show how brilliant open gardens are!

Every year, the National Garden Scheme (NGS) welcomes thousands of visitors to their open gardens across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands

The National Garden Scheme and Hospice UK

The National Garden Scheme have donated over £8 million to Hospice UK since 1996. This money has helped us: 

- provide advice, support and expertise to hospices 
- support staff training and development 
- celebrate outstanding achievements. 

Find out more about the partnership