Her open‑garden events have grown from a small local fundraiser in 2012 into a blossoming (pun intended!) event in the spring of 2026 that continues to raise awareness of the NA syndromes across the UK.

As someone who has attended the earlier opening myself, I’ve seen firsthand how Sheila’s generosity and imagination create a space where people feel welcomed, inspired, and connected.

I joined again this year, helped Sheila in preparing signage in the area, pricing and displaying plants for sale and joining a volunteer friend taking cash for plant sales; it was delightful to meet and speak to the visitors about the work of our charity. Along with Sheila’s great plant sale, we also sold copies of  Alex's book, Cataclysmic Limericks, which brought smiles to the garden guests’ faces.  

Back in 2012, Sheila organised her first garden fundraiser after years of supporting NA Advocacy through her gardening blog. She always spoke openly about the importance of sustained funding and the need for small charities to rely on inventive, community‑driven efforts. My husband Glenn and daughter Alex were on hand to add to her volunteers; Alex sold her greeting cards and small refreshments were provided. Sheila’s early plant sale was a simple idea with a powerful message: every act of support helps move NA research forward.

More than a decade later, Sheila’s garden continues to inspire. Visitors often remarked on how approachable and practical her space feels. One attendee shared, “We often visit gardens which are too large to get good ideas for my own garden, but Sheila’s is a perfect size and we’ve gotten many ideas to try at home.” Another added a favourite takeaway: “We learned how to grow raspberries against a wall beside a walkway so they don’t spread too far.”

Sheila also welcomed a garden group from the Scottish Hardy Plant Society led by Margaret Roberts. Their kind contribution is very much appreciated along with part of the Scotland’s Open Garden Scheme entrance fees of over 250 people. This led to Sheila and her team successfully raising over £1,300, part of which is funding a portion of the grant awarded to Dr Kevin Peikert at the University Medical Center in Rostock, Germany for his research into the Western blot testing; you can read more in the article about supporting research.

Following last year’s recognition from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, Sheila’s garden was again featured in national publications this spring, bringing NA Advocacy to thousands of readers. And she hopes to open her garden once again in April 2027, continuing a tradition that blends beauty, generosity, and awareness‑raising in a way only she can.

Sheila’s dedication over the years has shown how one person’s creativity can ripple outward, strengthening a community and keeping advocacy for NA syndromes visible. Her garden remains a place where people come to enjoy nature, and leave with a deeper understanding of NA syndromes and the families they affect.