Royal National Rose Society Gardens

The Royal National Rose Society Gardens (formerly The Gardens of The Rose) are the headquarters of The Royal National Rose Society at Chiswell Green, near St Albans, Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

The gardens contain 2,500 rose varieties and nearly 8,000 roses and the Society's stated aim is to create a "living dictionary" of roses in the Gardens. They are normally open to the public during Summer, but were closed for four years for remodelling by landscape gardener Michael Balston. They re-opened in June 2007.

The remodelled gardens feature:

• A rose collection, showing the history of the rose
• Roses in a garden setting showing different styles of planting
• Gardens to give inspiration for growing roses in small spaces
• The newly replanted Queen Mother garden
• New cultivar trials to provide an educational experience as well as being a pleasure to the eye when in full flower
• A much longer season of interest making extensive use of other plants which associate well with roses.
• A cafe called 'Rosebuds' in a recently renovated building, next to the main office.

Future developments

The Royal Entomological Society is refurbishing the mansion adjacent to the Gardens and it will become the society's headquarters.

Butterfly World is adjacent to the gardens and intends to build Europe’s largest live butterfly park over several phases, finishing in 2011.

External links

• Map and Description of the Gardens by the Royal National Rose Society. Accessed June 2007
• Renaissance at Rose Gardens heralds world class attraction RNRS News website. Accessed June 2007