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SCOTLAND'S GARDENS
(R8x32)
Roy Goldring
1- 8
1s dance RSh reels of 3 on sides
9-16
1s turn 2s RH on sides 1½ times, 1M casts up on own side followed
by partner & dances down centre to pick up 3s as 1L picks up 2s
17-24
1s with 2s & 3s dance down the middle & back to top with 1L+2s
turning to face down
25-32
2s+1s+3s set, 1s petronella turn to opposite sides, set & 1s cross RH
to 2
nd
place own sides
A reel to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Scotland's Gardens Scheme (1991) with music by Donald Ridley.
Scotland's Gardens Scheme (SGS) was created in 1931 in order to facilitate the opening of private gardens to the
public as a means of raising money to support the training and pensions of the Queen's Nurses, generally known
as District Nurses. Four years earlier The National Gardens Scheme had been founded in England for the same
purpose.
The Scheme was an instant success. The handbook in 1932 listed over 500 gardens, mostly large country house
gardens, that were opening in return for a "voluntary contribution". £5,400, equivalent to nearly a £¼ million
today, was raised and as a result the district nurses' pension of £20.00 was doubled.
During the war years the gardens continued to open although the number dropped down to 300 or so. Proceeds
however actually increased as, in true British spirit, garden owners tried to ignore the weeds and dug for victory
by growing vegetables for sale in the flower beds. Teas continued to be served on the lawns...without sugar. Such
was the esteem in which garden openings were held that extra petrol was allowed for special buses to bring
visitors from the mines and factories, and owners were issued with special application forms for sufficient petrol
to mow the lawns once a month.
With the creation of the National Health Scheme in 1948 the needs of the Queen's Nurses for funding was
reduced and in 1952 it was decided that The Gardens Fund of The National Trust for Scotland, founded in the
same year as the Scheme, should be adopted as a second beneficiary.
In 1961 an important decision was taken to allow the garden owners, if they chose, to allocate 40% of the gross
takings from an opening to a registered charity of their choice. At the same time it was agreed to make small
annual donations to The Royal Gardeners' Benevolent Fund and The Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund, now Perennial
and The Royal Fund for Gardeners' Children respectively.
In 1982 Scotland's Garden Scheme won the British Tourist Authority's award for "Outstanding Contribution to
Tourism."
In 2008 Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres was appointed as a third major beneficiary of the Scheme. The Queen's
Nursing Institute Scotland continues to support community and primary care nursing whilst The Gardens Fund of
the National Trust for Scotland undertakes vital projects in order to maintain their collection of important
gardens. The smaller beneficiaries, Perennial and The Royal Fund for Gardeners' Children play major roles in
each of their areas.
Scotland's Gardens Scheme continues to facilitate the opening of gardens with private gardens, not usually open
to the public, still of paramount importance. All the gardens that open are of horticultural interest and are of a
certain standard.
Although country house gardens continue to open, these are now joined by many town and village gardens which
have proved very popular amongst visitors. Indeed several village gardens often open together with home-made
teas being provided by the church, or other local organisations, that so often receive support through the
owner's choice of charity.
Some 200 charities, both large and small, benefit annually from the 40% gross of the takings that are donated to
the charities chosen by the garden owners whilst 60% net continues to be given to the beneficiaries of the
Scheme.
Taught/practised on:
