There are some 20 Queen’s Nurses in Guernsey. Four of whom – Patricia McDermott, Ellie Philips, Alison Carney and Theresa Prince – successfully launched the Channel Islands’ branch of the National Garden Scheme five years ago, and last week they welcomed its CEO, Richard Claxton, to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
‘I arrived this morning and we’ve already been to the Guernsey Clematis nursery and Liz Downing’s garden, which is gorgeous, and one of the private gardens included in the scheme,’ he said during his visit on Wednesday.
‘It’s really interesting to be here. I’ve never been to the Channel Islands before. It’s quite windy, isn’t it? And the crops are about six or eight weeks ahead of where I am in Kent – the asparagus is finished, and the broad beans are cracking on.
‘There’s this perfect circle here. Because the NGS was funded 99 years ago to pay for the first district nursing services in the country, which originally started in Liverpool. There was this idea in 1927 that lots of the wealthy stately homes, people with big grand houses, could open their gardens, sell a ticket for a shilling, and raise money to pay for the service, which is now called the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing. And this is the only volunteer group in the NGS – and we’ve got 50 counties – where’s it’s actually the people we are supporting, the Queen’s Nurses, who are driving the garden openings. A gorgeous story, and a perfect circle.’
The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing is the oldest nursing organisation in the UK, founded during Queen Victoria’s reign. The Queen’s Nurse title is a prestigious, professional accolade, awarded to represent excellence.
The charity provides training schemes and support to nurses, while ensuring high-quality healthcare. It relies on the NGS for about half of its annual income. Dr Claxton said the NGS donates nearly £4m. a year through its garden openings.
‘We charge a little more than a shilling these days,’ he said.
The four local Queen’s Nurses rose to the challenge to launch the scheme in the Channel Islands after Raymond Evison – a long-time fan of the NGS – promised to breed them a special plant in their honour if they did so.
Islanders have been welcoming visitors into their private gardens since June 2022, thanks to their efforts.
‘It’s an honour,’ said one of the four, Ellie Philips.
‘But we’ve made the effort and between all of us, we’ve managed to get the NGS here, where it runs so well.’
Mr Evison, true to his word, cultivated the Clematis Queen’s Nurse EviGsy159, which bloomed this spring. The deep rosy pink flower will make its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week, where the local Queen’s Nurses have been invited to attend.
‘We’re ridiculously excited,’ said Queen’s Nurse Alison Carney.
‘It’s going to be so joyful. It's lovely to be presenting ourselves as nurses so publicly, and to be able to support two amazing charities, and to do it in such a high-profile way.’
They said after five years successfully running the scheme in Guernsey, Sark and this year Jersey that Dr Claxton’s visit is like an official stamp of approval. It serves as recognition and validation for the islands’ efforts, putting the local branch on the national map.
‘It’s very exciting to have him here, and lovely that he’s shown such a direct interest in little old Guernsey,’ said Miss Carney.
Dr Claxton came in as CEO last autumn, having previously been a GP with an interest in garden as therapy and garden design for healthcare spaces.
‘Because the output of the charity is so healthcare-based, it effectively supports my patients,’ he said.
‘We’re seeing both gardens as therapy, but also gardening as a healthy way of life – of avoiding getting ill in the first place. There’s a brilliant coming together of all the threads of what I’ve loved in my job, in this new role.’
Local gardens will open next month. They include Le Grand Dixcart in Sark on 6 and 7 June, Stuart Court in Jersey on 7 June, Les Rocquettes on 14 June, and Government House on 21 June.
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