New Dunham Rose to launch at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 (From Messenger Newspapers)

The National Trust's New Dunham Rose to launch at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013

8:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

A PARTNERSHIP between the National Trust and leading horticulturalists Peter Beales Roses will come to fruition at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

‘Rosa Dunham Massey’ is the name of a new rose which will be launched at the show, and which will subsequently take pride of place in Dunham’s new rose garden, which officially opens on June 5.

For Stephen Adams, Dunham’s general manager, it will be the fulfilment of a long held ambition: “The idea of a rose garden came from our visitors,” he said.

“They wanted more summer colour in the garden from the end of June and through July – which is the ideal time for roses.

"We had archive photographs of a rose garden at Dunham around 1900, which show a rose arch, and roses planted in small beds in the shapes of crosses and ‘x’s. We therefore decided to create a new rose garden of a similar size and design, and asked Peter Beales Roses if they could cultivate a ‘Dunham Massey Rose’ which would be grown in the garden.”

Sarah McKernan from Peter Beales Roses said: “We’re delighted to be working with the National Trust – the new rose is absolutely stunning and will look wonderful In Dunham’s Rose Garden.”.

Dunham Massey head gardener Damian Harries and his team, along with 50 chickens, have been busy over the last year clearing and preparing the ground and marking out the design of the rose garden.

“By the end of April, everything should be in and completed,” said Damian.

“We’ll have 1600 roses planted in total representing 160 different varieties. The beds are in the cross and ‘x’ shape of the early rose garden, and in the centre of the garden is a stunning rotunda which will eventually be covered with ramblers. In addition we’ll be planting 2,500 herbaceous plants, along with lavender amongst the roses – so both visually and in terms of scent, the garden should look fantastic.

"The chickens meantime have taken a well deserved rest from their labours and are now living in the walled garden and nearby Birch Wood.”

Dunham’s new Rose Garden will officially open on 5 June, and will include a series of 8 evening openings throughout that month. The Dunham Massey Rose will be launched at Chelsea on May 20. Visitors will be able to look around the Rose Garden from the following day, Tuesday, May 21.

Dunham Massey house is open Sat – Weds, the estate, garden, shop and restaurant are open daily. For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammassey