SPRING is starting to bloom across West Devon and gorgeous gardens are now opening their gates throughout the region. The 2008 season of the National Garden Scheme at Andrew's Corner on Skaigh Lane in Belstone starts on Sunday, April 20. The garden, run by Edwina and Robin Hill, is now in its thirty seventh year of opening. The gates will be open between 2.30pm and 5pm. Cream teas and plants will be on sale with all proceeds going to National Garden Scheme charities including Macmillan and Marie Curie nurses. The owners said: 'Having enjoyed snowdrops, hellebores and primroses, the garden now makes way for bigger guys and we will have magnolias, camellias, early rhododendrons and azaleas, underplanted with erythroniums and complemented by the strange Himalayan aroids called Cobra- lillies. 'We are proud to announce that we have received a certificate to say we have raised in excess of £10,000 and this is entirely due to the generosity of our visitors. 'We would like to say a big thank you to everyone and hope that you will continue to help us on our way to £20,000 for this extremely worthwhile charity.' A new initiative in Devon for this year has seen garden owners awarded certificates after they have raised £5,000, £10,000 and then for each £10,000 after. Every year NGS gardens across England and Wales welcome over half a million visitors, helping to raise £2 million each year for nursing, caring and gardening charities. The scheme has run since 1927 and the tradition of opening gardens of quality, character and interest is supported by the NGS patron, HRH the Prince of Wales. Further information about NGS, their gardens and the work they do is available from the website http://www.ngs.org.uk">www.ngs.org.uk