Starts With You

Every great project starts with a single idea.

We envision a promising future for all gardens, particularly those unite across the British Isles.

We envision a promising future for all gardens, particularly those in the United Kingdom, uniting England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

One of our main initiatives is to establish a self-sustaining British Gardens Association (BGA), which is currently in the conceptual stage. We've discussed this idea with directors of significant UK public gardens and garden tourism experts.

The next step involves detailing the functions of this organisation and presenting it to more key stakeholders in the garden sector to assess interest, support, and the feasibility of proceeding. Should we receive a positive response, the BGA would be set up as a not-for-profit (charity) professional membership organisation, with gardens as the primary members, encompassing organizational, corporate, and professional levels.

The BGA’s mission would align with the broader UK garden sector, particularly focusing on gardens open to the public, whether year-round, seasonally, or for special events and charity functions.

In comparison:

• APGA: The American Association of Public Gardens represents 500 members and serves as the voice of gardens in the USA.

• BGANZ: The Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand includes 48 gardens and serves as their representative body.

• CGC: The Canadian Garden Council represents 20 Canadian gardens, managing a Garden Tourism trail, conferences, and research projects.

• APGI: The Parks and Gardens of Italy Association (APGI) The Italian Association of Gardens connects 149 gardens from Switzerland to Sicily.

This raises the question: Why don’t we have a UK Garden Association?

Such an organization could offer:

• Research and Insights

• Advocacy: Lobbying national and regional governments in the UK, the EU, and tourism boards & DMOs.

• Data and Best Practices: Sharing knowledge and best practices.

• Networking Opportunities: Organizing conferences and meetings.

• UK Garden Awards: Including specific awards for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and local regions.

• Cross-border Collaboration: Supporting cooperation with gardens and policymakers in the Republic of Ireland, the EU, and the US.elp.