The new Gardens of the Rose were designed for the Royal National Rose Society by Michael Balston and built by Adam Frost Landscapes (both Gold Medal Winners at the Chelsea Flower Show). The detailed plantings and plant combinations were undertaken by members of the Board of Directors with the help of the garden team. The Society’s overriding intentions are: first, to show how good roses are as garden plants and, second, to display a worldwide collection of rose cultivars – all within an inspirational design. The Gardens, currently developed, cover more than five acres. Work started in September 2005. The plans, so far, include some 8,000 roses in approximately 2,000 different varieties – a veritable ‘living dictionary of roses’. Visitors arrive along this curved walk, which leads from the entrance circle towards the central pergola and ponds. The roses on either side are grouped by colour, ranging from whites to strong reds. Most are popular cultivars and readily available. The central core of the gardens is contained within the pergolas. Here is a profusion of roses of all types, grown in a garden setting alongside shrubs, small trees, bulbs, herbaceous plants and grasses. These companion plantings serve to enhance the beauty of the rose blooms and extend the season of interest. All the plants, including the roses, have been grouped in a free-flowing style. Walk around this section of the garden for constantly changing views and colour schemes.