Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
Submitted by Amy Kingham on Fri, 07/01/2022 - 13:10
In summer 2021, the gates of Madingley Hall gardens opened to the public once again as part of the National Garden Scheme, marking the partnership’s 30th consecutive year of raising vital funds for charity.
As with everything in a garden, the idea for the collaboration began as a seed to be nurtured. The inspiration came from then ICE Deputy Director and Warden of Madingley Hall, Susan Rawlings, and her young Head Gardener, Richard Gant, who planned their first National Garden Scheme opening for June 1992. Richard, still Madingley Hall’s Head Gardener today, remembers thinking the gardens had plenty to contribute to society: “Part of the University’s mission is to play its part in the local community. We felt this was a way of allowing more people to enjoy the gardens while doing something positive.”
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors access to more than 3,600 private gardens in England and Wales. Since its inception in 1927, it has donated over £60 million to nursing and health charities, including Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support.
From that first step in 1992, Richard and his team have never looked back. The annual event has now welcomed at least 8,500 visitors to enjoy the gardens and raised more than £40,000 for a combination of the Scheme’s charities and the restoration fund for St Mary Magdalene Church, which sits just within the Halls’ gates.
"It’s now a regular focal point for our Garden teams to work towards every year, and an opportunity to showcase and appreciate their hard work,” says Richard. “At the 2021 event, thanks to the cold April and wet June, the gardens looked like a lush English country garden. It was very satisfying to have so many visitors back after restricting numbers in 2020.
“It’s a pleasure working with the local village to put the event on every year. Volunteers from the church help with stewarding and provide teas and homemade cakes, while Institute colleagues also kindly donate their Sunday afternoons to make everything run smoothly. We enjoy that sense of community."
In September, the National Garden Scheme presented a commemorative plaque to the Institute, which will be displayed at the entrance to the walled garden, and in recognition of his personal contribution over 30 years, Richard was given an engraved fork and trowel.
Not that Richard has any plans to hang up his new tools and end the partnership – the date for the 31st NGS opening of Madingley Hall gardens has already been set for 19 June, 2022.
Find out more about Madingley Hall and gardens.
Find out more about the National Garden Scheme.
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This article was originally published in the Lent - Easter 2022 issue of Inside ICE.
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