GARDENS HELP CHARITY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 128, 24 February 1930, Page 10

GARDENS HELP CHARITY

SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH SCHEME Dominion Special Service. London, January 1. The Controlling Council of the Queen’s Institute of District Nursing from the Duke of Portland downwards are in high fettle over the results of the gardens scheme they inaugurated throughout England this year. They have just been counting and distributing the proceeds, and have accounted for about £7765. The result is the more Remarkable when it is recalled that it is made up of shillings arid sixpences paid by visitors to private garderis which were opened at vffl’ious times during the summer and autumn in the good cause. Sandringham headed the list with a total of £B34—an achievement due largely to the initiative of the Queen, who opened the grounds once a week and charged sixpence for each visitor, whereas many other garden owners opened them only for one day at a shilling. Her Majesty obviously applied the soundest principles of salesmanship to her congenial task of assisting ‘the nursing associations. A’ll told, 690 gardens were thrown open, including such fine properties as those of Princess Mary and her husband, the Duke of Portland, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and Lord Saye and Sele. The bulk of the money came, however, from the comparatively small holdings of private enthusiasts. Their response has been so ready that it has been decided to give them another opportunity of playing the same philanthropic role next summer.