Telly gardener Joe Swift appointed new President of the National Gardens Scheme
Joe Swift, the Gardeners’ World presenter, author and garden designer, is to be president of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) for the next three years. One of Joe’s first duties will be to launch The Yellow Book 2010, the famous directory of gardens that open to the public for charity. “We are thrilled that such a well-known figure from the gardening world has agreed to become NGS president,” NGS deputy chief executive Valerie Cauldwell told AG. “He is a celebrity with credibility, knowledge and a popular down-to-earth approach.”
Joe, who takes over as NGS president from Zac Goldsmith, the former editor of The Ecologist, already has strong links with the NGS. In 2008 he presented Open Gardens, a BBC2 series focusing on NGS gardens.
Although NGS accounts had yet to be audited as AG went to press, 2009 looked set to be a good year, despite the recession. The NGS will raise around £2.5million for charity, which is “up quite a bit” on previous years, according to Valerie. The Yellow Book 2010 will feature a record 3,700 gardens opening for charity, an increase of 100 on 2009. Joe Swift said: “The sheer variety of [Yellow Book] gardens and the hard work of garden owners never ceases to amaze me. I’ve seen a lot, but still have a lifetime of visiting ahead of me to see even a quarter of them!
“I remember one garden in London where I could literally stand in the middle and touch the walls – a garden packed full of plants and inspiration for anyone. And it is a great cause. The money raised makes a real difference to people’s lives,” Joe added. NGS chairman Penny Snell said Joe would inspire garden owners and visitors: “His admiration for amateur gardens and their achievements is incredibly genuine,” she said.
* News article supplied by Amateur Gardening Magazine
