RHS approved roses – AGM

For some years the RHS has awarded their AGM (Award of Garden Merit) to rose varieties that have proven to be good healthy garden roses. Now, at last we have a definitive list, provided by the RHS and courtesy of Daniel Myhill and Martin Stott.

RHS AGM LIST

Member’s Pruning and Rosecare Day

In response to our Member’s Survey last year, we are pleased to offer members our first Pruning and general Rosecare Day at Sunbury Walled Garden in London.

We are offering members the chance to hone their pruning skills and learn a few rosecare basics from some of our experienced society members.

The rose garden at Sunbury consists of over 400 roses that we replanted in 2018 plus a similar number of older roses that are scheduled to be replaced this Autumn so there will be plenty of opportunity to practice. We’ll look at care of your pruning equipment including sharpening. We’re still in bare root season so we’ll also be looking at planting and in anticipation of a beaitiful rose filled summer, feeding and dead heading to keep your roses in tip top condition.

The day will start at 10.30am at the garden with introductions and a session on care of your pruning equipment and a look at pruning techniques

At lunch time we will go up to nearby Squires Garden Centre for a light buffet lunch in The Orangerie

Then it’s back out in the garden for hands – on pruning. We have a few roses to plant on the day so will be discussing and showing how to deal with a bare root rose.

A chat about the garden’s feeding and rosecare regime will round up the day.

At the Walled Garden the Gallery Cafe, part of the Embroidery Gallery, will be open all day for impromptu teas and coffees.

We plan on having a very informal day with plenty of opportunity to try your hand at pruning and ask as many questions as you need.

In case of inclement weather we will repair to the Orangerie where we will be able to do some limited practical activity and a programme or two on a relevant subject.

The cost to members, for the day, which will include a light buffet lunch will be £10.00

SILVER TUDOR ROSE MEDALS 2026

At the 2026 AGM on Sunday 26th April, Vice President Chris Warner awarded Silver Tudor Rose Medals for Service to the Rose Society UK to;

Membership Secretary Liam Beddall recieves his Silver Tudor Rose Award from Society VP Chris Warner. Liam looks after all our membership needs in between his busy career as Head Rosarian at David Austin Roses

Shop Manager, Mark Nash recently retired from full time employment and is now able to spend even more time managing out Society Shop. Stock control, ordering and dispatch; just three of the important jobs Mark undertakes for the Society.

Our sincere congratulations to both of these valued volunteers. Our society runs totally on volunteer help like this. Occasionally we do get things wrong but when we do, be nice, let us know and we’ll do all we can to put it right.

SPRING ROSE SHOW

NEW SHOW – – – – – – NEW VENUE

Our Spring Show 2026 will be held on Saturday 16th AND Sunday 17th May 2026 at

PLANTER PACIFIC GARDEN CENTRE – 353 Chester Rd, The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0PH

Come along and see the Spring roses – FREE ADMISSION

HARROGATE AUTUMN SHOW

The Rose Society UK will once again be part of the fun at Newby Hall this Autumn. Our Autumn Rose Show is our last one of the showing season. We will have an information stand to advertise the society and answer questions from the Newby Hall visitors.

In the grand marquee you will find dahlia, chrysanthemum, gladiola and bonzai society amateurs shows. Many nurseries and traders will be in attendance offering their best ‘end of season’ deals and of course there is the famour Newby Hall hoause and garden to explore.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL PUBLIC TICKET DETAILS

ROSE SOCIETY SUMMER WEEKENDER 2025

MEET THE BREEDERS-LADIES NIGHT-ZOOM EVENT-13th March

This is a free-to-members event but there’s time to join HERE

Meet the breeders – Ladies Night

Tonight we have the privilege of welcoming two of Europe’s premier rose breeders.

Ann Velle-Boudolf leads the breeding programme at Lens Roses in Belgium AND from Denmark, Rosa Eskelund, of Roses Forever. These two ladies are responsible for a multitude of new roses.

Make a note of the date – Thursday 13^th March 7.30pm: Meet the breeders – Ladies Night

We’ll meet and chat with two of the world’s most successful women rose breeders. Ann Velle-Boudolf leads the breeding programme at Lens Roses in Belgium – a rose nursery with a 155-year history. She’ll tell us the story of Lens Roses, how she and her husband, Rudi, took over the business, and how she learned to hybridise roses. Lens roses are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Rosa Eskelund is a Danish breeder whose roses are fast gaining a reputation – and winning prizes – internationally. She’ll introduce some of her roses, including her Gourmet Rose series – “mini roses for cooking”. We don’t normally recommend you put your roses in the oven, but perhaps we will be changing that advice after this chat!

Our host, and organiser of this webinar, once again, will be former BBC Radio 4 journalist Martin Stott. Martin is the editor of the Storyteller Garden blog and YouTube channel. He is also co-editor of By Any Other Name, the heritage rose journal of the World Federation of Rose Socie ties.

Martin will be posing the questions, but there’ll be chance to put some of yours too. The chances are you already grow their roses – now you can get to know the creators themselves a lot better. And, if you don’t grow their roses, you’ll soon want to!

ROSE SOCIETY MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A WEBINAR LINK BY EMAIL IN A FEW DAYS

Rosa Eskalund at the christening of Ann Velle-Boudolf and her husband Rudy Velle and her stunning

“The Winner Takes It All” rose in Sweden 2024 creation Stephanie d’Ursel (available at Peter Beales)

MEET THE BREEDERS – THOMAS PROLL ZOOM EVENT – 6th March

This is a free-to-members event but there’s time to join HERE

Meet the breeders

In this series of three webinars we’ll meet some of the world’s best rose breeders, learn about their careers, the businesses they work for and about their creations.

First up is ‘friend of the Society’ and rose creator extraordinaire . . . . Thomas Proll from Kordes Rosen

Thursday 6^th March 7.30pm: Thomas Proll, Kordes Roses

The series gets off to a great start with one of the biggest names in the rose world, Thomas Proll. Thomas will tell us the story of Germany’s legendary rose business, Kordes. Then we’ll learn about his own journey, the roses he’s proudest to put his name to and what’s to come.

Our host, and organiser of these webinars, once again, will be former BBC Radio 4 journalist Martin Stott. Martin is the editor of the Storyteller Garden blog and YouTube channel. He is also co-editor of By Any Other Name, the heritage rose journal of the World Federation of Rose Socie ties.

Martin will be posing the questions, but there’ll be chance to put some of yours too. The chances are you already grow their roses – now you can get to know the creators themselves a lot better. And, if you don’t grow their roses, you’ll soon want to!

ROSE SOCIETY MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A WEBINAR LINK BY EMAIL IN A FEW DAYS

Volcano (floribunda) and Perfumy Siluetta (climber) two of Thomas’ recent introductions. Already prize winners at Rochfords International Rose Trials

ADAM FROST TOUR

We’re delighted to announce that our Patron, Adam Frost is On Tour with “Lessons From The Garden” during 2025 with 14 dates in the Spring and 10 dates in the Autumn.

Click HERE for all details and to get your tickets