The summer holidays are wonderful for spending lots of quality time with children or grandchildren – but it can be easy to run out of ideas for things to do. If you need a suggestion for an activity that is fun, inexpensive, healthy and even educational, then why not visit a National Gardens Scheme (NGS) garden?
There are many wonderful gardens across England and Wales that are open for visits this summer which positively welcome families with children. The benefits to young people are many: exciting spaces to explore, fresh air and natural beauty to enjoy, and the opportunity to learn about nature first-hand – helping to cover areas of the Key Stage 2 Science curriculum.
Visitors to NGS gardens will also have the benefit of contributing to wonderful causes, as approximately 80p in every pound raised at the garden gate goes to the NGS beneficiary charities. Macmillan Cancer Support and Help the Hospices are just two of the charities that have received millions of pounds from the NGS, helping them to carry out their vital work.
You can find gardens suitable for children by visiting the NGS website or you can download the new free NGS GardenFinder app compatible with smartphones and iPads.
Admission charges are usually around £4 for adults and free for under 16s.