The Garden Visitor’s Handbook is the famous yellow ‘bible’ for anyone interested in gardens and the 2020 edition is now available. Its 744 pages contain descriptions of the 3,700 gardens opening to visitors throughout England and Wales this year, and offers people unique access to the most beautiful gardens in the country. Most are privately owned and never otherwise accessible, so the book offers a magical entré to these wonderful domains.

Funds raised at the gardens on their open days come from admissions, teas and plant sales and are donated to the National Garden Scheme which in turn donates the net proceeds every year to a group of nursing and health charities. Currently these donations total £3 million annually and, since its foundation in 1927, the National Garden Scheme has given away a whopping £60 million. The main beneficiaries include some of Britain’s best-loved charities including Macmillan, Marie Curie, the Queen’s Nursing Institute, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Parkinson’s UK and Horatio’s Garden.