Throughout the spring and summer, gardens large and small took part in Glorious Gardens, St Margaret’s community open gardens scheme, giving visitors the chance to discover new spaces, meet fellow nature-lovers and raise money for hospice care across Somerset.
From cottage gardens filled with wildlife to sweeping manor grounds, each opening was unique, but together they raised more than £35,000 to help St Margaret’s continue providing free, specialist care to people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
To put that total into context, £35,000 is equivalent to the cost of around 35 patients receiving all the community nurse visits they need in their final months, based on an average of around seven visits for each patient.
St Margaret’s supports people with any life-limiting illness, not just cancer, providing physical, emotional, practical and spiritual care to patients and those close to them. Much of this care takes place away from the hospice itself, with 95% of care delivered at home or in the community.
£35,000 is a fantastic amount for our gardeners and visitors to have raised together, and it shows what can happen when communities across Somerset get behind hospice care.Holly Hackett, Community Partnerships Fundraiser
St Margaret’s has to generate around 80% of its income ourselves, so community fundraising like Glorious Gardens matters. It helps our nurses and wider hospice teams continue to be there for patients and families across Somerset, giving the time, compassion, and specialist support they need.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who opened a gate, visited a garden, bought a raffle ticket or volunteered this year. And if you’ve ever wondered whether your own garden could take part, we’d love to hear from you for 2027.”
We would like to thank everyone who supported this year’s Glorious Gardens, including the garden owners who welcomed visitors into their spaces, the people who came along, those who bought raffle tickets and the volunteers who helped each opening run smoothly.
Open your garden
We are now looking for gardeners to take part in Glorious Gardens 2027.
Gardens do not need to be large or professionally landscaped to take part. The scheme is an opportunity to share a much-loved outdoor space, meet people from the local community, and raise money to help St Margaret’s provide hospice care across Somerset.
Your garden could make a difference
By opening your garden for St Margaret's in 2028, you could make it possible for more people to receive compassionate care when they need it most.