The QNI and the National Garden Scheme: a QN in Cumbria traces past, present and future

This weekend I will be visiting one of my favourite open gardens in West Cumbria, the beautiful Galesyke Garden, owned by the McKinley Family and open via National Garden Scheme (NGS).

Set in the Nether Wasdale, the Garden is as truly breath-taking and spectacular as the Wasdale Valley and screes that provide its backdrop.  Mature woodland, beautiful rhododendrons, hydrangeas, acers and a riot of colour from all the other perennials grace the garden’s extensive flower beds.

The National Garden Scheme is a charity that raises vital funds for the wonderful nursing and health charities that they support, including the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

A bit of history

The QNI is probably one of the lesser-known charities on the National Garden Scheme’s website, yet it is the oldest nursing charity in the world. It was set up in 1887 with a donation from Queen Victoria to support specialist education and training for nurses, providing care for people at home, something that today we take for granted.

The National Garden Scheme was set up in 1927 by the QNI to raise much needed funds for its work and in the first year 609 gardens opened, charging 1 shilling per person to enter, and then followed an important and intrinsic relationship between the two organisations. Today there are a staggering 3,500 gardens open to the public each year through the National Garden Scheme.

The Queen’s Nurse Title

The title of Queen’s Nurse was introduced in 1889 and was awarded to nurses who had undergone specialist training and education to support the sick and poor at home. The QNI continued to award the title to nurses who successfully completed the training until 1968 when the responsibly for the training was taken over by the NHS and higher education. However, in 2007 the title of Queen’s Nurse was re-introduced, not as a result of completing specialist training, but instead in formal recognition of community nurses who have demonstrated and are committed to delivering and leading outstanding care in the community.

The QNI does some amazing work, championing care in the home, in the wider community, supporting funding and scholarships to bring community nurses inspiring ideas into practice, influencing policy and research and supporting leadership programmes specifically tailored to raising standards of nursing in the home and community settings. There are over 2,500 Queen’s Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 40 of those are in Cumbria.

I was privileged to receive the title of Queen’s Nurse in 2015 and also the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Award for Outstanding Service in 2016 – signed by her Late Majesty the Queen, one of the greatest moments in my career. In 2018 I was again humbled to be accepted onto the QNI Executive Nurse Leadership Programme which was sponsored by the National Garden Scheme – a truly transformational experience which has shaped the nurse I am today and has given me networks with an amazing group of inspiring community nurses across the UK.

I have spent my whole career working in the NHS, 28 of those years in community services. My passion and drive is about ensuring that people who need care at home, or as close to home, get high quality, safe, personalised care when they need it.

Visiting a garden for charity

So back to the NGS and Galesyke Garden, what better place to spend this Saturday or Sunday, wandering round the most stunning garden in the sunshine (I did check the weather whilst writing this) picking up tips, enjoying the plants, the stunning suspension bridge, draped in clematis flowers, or simply enjoying one of the many quiet seats or spots in the garden to kick back and soak in the benefit that being in the open air and beautiful setting? All the while helping to raise money for the vital charities that the NGS supports – oh, and did I mention that the tea, scones and cakes are delicious too?!

Thank you to the McKinley Family for opening their garden for us all to enjoy, thank you to all who visit and support the nursing and health charities (including the QNI) that make care at home possible and thank you to the NGS for giving us open gardens.

Salli Pilcher, Queen’s Nurse

To find a garden open for charity near you, visit www.ngs.org.uk

Galesyke Garden will be opening its doors again next year.