The National Garden Scheme has raised a total of £15m for Macmillan Cancer Support over 30 years, becoming the largest single donor in the charity’s history.

The NGS is a national gardening charity which encourages people to open up their gardens to the public. Money raised is donated to different charities.

Since the formation of the corporate partnership in 1985, the NGS has funded more than 150 Macmillan services by opening its 3,800 private gardens across England and Wales to visitors.

The NGS donated £500,000 towards the 2014 opening of the first Macmillan Wellbeing Centre in Bristol, adding to the 187 centres the organisation operates across the UK.

In 2015 the NGS donated £2.6m to nursing and caring charities, including Marie Cure, Hospice UK and Parkinson’s UK.

The chief executive of Macmillan, Lynda Thomas, said: “Our partnership with the NGS is invaluable and it is difficult to articulate our gratitude for their continued support of our vital work for people affected by cancer. This fantastic amount raised is an incredible contribution to the support that Macmillan offers people affected by cancer practically, medically, financially and emotionally”.

George Plumptre, chief executive of the National Gardens Scheme, said: “I am immensely proud that over the past 30 years, the National Gardens Scheme has made a significant difference to the support that Macmillan provides to people affected by cancer. Our garden owners and visitors have raised over £15 million to support Macmillan”.