Rose society ceases to exist
The Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) has gone into administration. Founded in 1876, the world’s oldest specialist plant society has been forced to cease operations, having struggled to survive financially for many years. It was hoped a £500,000 redesign of its five acre grounds at Chiswell Green, near St Albans, Herts, in 2007 would rejuvenate the charity’s fortunes as a showcase of more than 5,000 varieties in creative settings. Normally open to the public for several weeks each summer, this year it was set to re-open on June 10. The site is adjacent to the former Butterfly World Project, which closed in 2015 because it failed to attract enough visitors and suffered a succession of trading losses.
Some key members of the rose community hope it may be possible to reform the society, perhaps in a different way, and continue the world-famous RNRS trials. GN will report on any developments as they occur.