The Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres has donated £6,000 to the Rose Society at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show (28th and 29th September).
Blue Diamond, who own Fryer’s Roses, pledged the donation to the Society to enable the Society to do more to support the rose industry and to promote roses generally.
Fryer’s Roses are internationally renowned and have gained prestigious awards from all over the world. As such, Blue Diamond want to celebrate the brand’s heritage and also ensure that roses remain a firm favourite of the public.
Fryer’s Roses are now sold exclusively in all 37 Blue Diamond Garden Centres and are promoted by Blue Diamond throughout the year at various local and RHS shows.
The rose industry has found the last few years difficult due predominantly to increases in growing and production costs and a shortage of experienced workforces. Family businesses are no longer being passed to the younger generations (younger generations wanting a different life to their parents) and as such rose breeders are becoming themselves a dying breed.
With Blue Diamonds donation it is hoped that the Rose Society can put the money to good use in continuing to promote and support roses.
Alan Roper the Managing Director of Blue Diamond says: “Roses are a cornerstone of the English garden but many new gardeners do not always embrace the plant due to the mysteries and challenges people perceive surround the plant. Blue Diamond are proud owners of the Fryer’s Roses brand and hopefully play a pivotal role in promoting roses to gardeners. A rose is more than just part of quintessentially English gardens, it evokes memories and makes a perfect gift to mark an event in one’s life. Therefore, we are pleased to make this donation to The Rose Society and we thank them for the good work that is being done to promote roses to the wider audience”.
The Rose Society said "As a new society we are always conscious of our tight financial restrictions and always have to conduct our business with this in mind. Our mission is to support and encourage the rose lovers of the UK to grow great roses. We do this through our website, social media, quarterly newsletters and at flower shows throughout the country with amateur rose shows and educational and scientific stands.
"We have had great support from the rose trade in general and the very generous gesture by Blue Diamond will be used to further the efforts of the society.
"Our intention is to use the Blue Diamond sponsorship in several ways including;
- As our membership gradually increases, we will need to improve our management system to keep our members up to date and fully informed.
- Our Educational and Scientific stands have done very well at RHS and regional shows, winning Gold medals and interacting with the general public. Encouraged by our success so far, we hope to have a stand at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show. This will mean developing and making improvements to our current stand and will involve additional costs. A presence at Chelsea, we hope, will give the society greater exposure and in consequence increase membership.
- A new rose trial ground has been established in Hertfordshire to provide a testing ground for new roses that may be introduced onto the UK market. This is a very important facility as it will give UK rose growers and gardeners, a clear indication of the performance and the health of roses that are offered for sale. We have been asked to get involved with the judging of the trials and will be supplying and managing the awards that are handed out to the worthy winners.
"Naturally, as the society moves forward, we will undoubtably encounter new challenges. Having a solid financial footing is something that the Blue Diamond sponsorship gives us."
The Rose Society stand was at stand 807 in the Harvest Pavilion at the Malvern Autumn Show.
3 Shires Garden Centre, part of the Blue Diamond Group, was also at the show in the Plant Village at stand 256, selling a wide of seasonal and herbaceous plants and planted containers.
Pictured above at the cheque presentation from right to left, Chairman John Anthony, Jill Kerr Events Manager for Blue Diamond, Pauline Martin- Chair of Shows and PR, Ray Martin -Secretary, Derek Lawrence- Executive Director of the World Federation of the Rose Society, John McCarthy- Member, Eric Miller-Stand Builder, Gareth Davies- Vice Chairman of the Rose Society and two other members.
