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)

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

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

FULL LIST OF DATES, VENUES AND  TIMES

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the Tudor Rose Awards 2024

Iain Silver – a founder member of The Rose Society UK. Iain has been Membership Secretary and is now our Vice Chair. Iain is a society judge and amateur exhibitor and attends as many of our National Shows as possible, travelling from his Scottish Borders home. Assisting (often accompanied by his wonderful wife Dorothy) with the set up, take down and helping on the Society stands at Harrogate Show has been an immense help, without which the attendance at these shows would not have been possible. Behind the scenes, Iain is a continual supporter of the society and picks up numerous roles to ensure the smooth running of the society.

John McCarthy – another member who has been with us since day one. John lives in Tewkesbury and is a stalwart of our Malvern shows. With wife Margaret, John attends every Malvern show, Spring and Autumn and are always on hand at build-up and break-down. John and Margaret stay onsite during the shows in their campervan which means that John is able to open the stand in the morning and close the stand at the end of each day. This means that we can more easily manage the stand for the duration of the shows and for that alone the society are really grateful. Additionally John is a master rose grower. He brings his roses to shows in Spring, Summer and Autumn and the shows are much the better for his endeavours.

Neil Duncan – yet another Founder Member of the Society, Neil is the epitome of an amateur rose exhibitor; except for the professional manner in which Neil grows and Shows his roses. Neil’s adage, ‘Have roses will travel’, of course only works because of the dedication of his wife Paula, as she drives the van! That said, the lion’s share of the rose growing and showing is Neil’s department. Neil  enters shows almost every weekend during the summer, sharing his gorgeous roses with the public who attend the shows and spreading the name of our society wherever he goes. Neil is an ever-present on the Society Facebook Group, sharing his knowledge with articles and videos which are appreciated by the group. Neil is a valued rose and society ambassador and most worthy of this award.