VOLUNTARY organisers for the National Gardens Scheme are actively looking for additional gardens to join the project.

The National Gardens Scheme listing, The Yellow Book, includes several gardens in the West Devon area, some open for a single day and others on several days in the year. But local NGS organisers Ali Fife and Michael Cook are eager for more gardens to join.

Michael said: While it is always great to have large and spectacular gardens, were looking in particular for smaller gardens that can open together as a group.

Visitors like to see a garden they can relate to, something on a scale not dissimilar to their own garden from which they can take inspiration.

We already know of someone in Whitchurch with a lovely small garden and she would really like to open her garden next year, and theres someone else close by who expects to be ready to open the following year. We hope there are others in the Whitchurch area who would like to consider opening their garden for charity.

Ali said it was enjoyable to share ones garden with others. It adds to your own pleasure of your garden when there are others who appreciate it, possibly more than you do yourself.

Ali and Michael opened their garden at Mary Tavy for the first time this year and raised several hundred pounds for the NGS charities, which include Macmillan Cancer Care and Marie Curie.

Anyone who would like to consider opening their garden for the National Gardens Scheme can contact Ali Fife and Michael Cook by calling 01822 810897 or email [email protected]">[email protected] There is also information on the National Gardens Scheme website, http://www.ngs.org.uk">www.ngs.org.uk