There are over 310,000 unpaid carers in Wales, often unrecognised, and spending up to 24 hours a day looking after a family member or friend without much respite. The Carers Trust was one of the major beneficiaries of the National Garden Scheme in 2025 and works to transform the lives of carers. The Carers Trust in Wales, working with a network of local carer organisations, directly supported over 28,000 carers last year, providing advice and practical help including short breaks.
Stephanie Morgan hosted an open garden event for carers and some of the Carers Trust team from Powys and Ceredigion at her home Garregllwyd in Nantmel, Rhayader. She was supported by NGS volunteers, and NGS Chief Executive Richard Claxton travelled from Kent to join them. Despite the unseasonable weather, the visitors were able to dodge the rain to enjoy a tour of the fabulous 3 acre garden, meet others in the same situation as themselves, and of course, enjoy tea and lots of cake!
About National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Channel Islands, and raises impressive amounts of money for some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors, in December 2025, the National Garden Scheme announced donations of £3,875,596. The impact of these donations to our major nursing and health beneficiaries mean thousands of people who live with health conditions such as cancer or Parkinson’s, who have poor mental health, or who struggle financially as unpaid carers, have been supported by our funding of the nurses, health professionals and case workers who support them. Our funding also provides support to those in the Gardens and Health sector, to community gardens and to those working in horticulture. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, we are now the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK with the main beneficiaries The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, Hospice UK, Carers Trust and Parkinson’s UK.
The National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – we are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. We fund projects which promote gardens and gardening as therapy. In 2017, we launched our annual Gardens and Health Week to raise awareness of the topic. Our funding also supports the training of gardeners and offers respite to horticultural workers who have fallen on difficult times. For details of how donations are spent please refer to the Impact Report 2025 ngs.org.uk/record-donations-show-the-power-of-gardens-and-garden-visits-for-good-causes
To find your perfect garden, visit ngs.org.uk
Feature image: Stephanie Morgan with Carers Trust support
