Article: A Rainbow of Roses in 2021

CHARITY & COMMUNITY

A R A I N B O W OF ROSES IN 2021

The saying goes that after every storm there is a rainbow and at the end of every rainbow there is a pot of gold. That was certainly true for David Austin in 2021, inspired by Clap for our Carers and the efforts being made by people across the nation, we purposefully set about our positive planting initiative.

Following the difficult year we all experienced in 2020, David Austin began the 2021 season with the release of Nye Bevan (Auspital), whose positive pale yellow blooms seemed a fitting tribute to the founder of our National Health Service, Aneurin Bevan and the incredible individuals and services we came to rely so heavily upon during the Covid-19 pandemic. The only English Rose ever to be released in a limitededition blue pot, we set about raising money for the NHS and other health-based charities by donating £2.50 from the sale of each rose. By the end of the year an outstanding total of £100,000 had been raised and divided between a number of fitting charities including NHS Charities Together, The National Garden Scheme and The Alexandra Rose Charity. This total wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our wonderful customers, so we would like to thank everyone who helped us to plant a little bit of positivity last year. As part of our Planting Positivity drive, we brought our huge Rainbow of Roses to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. A floral tribute to the NHS and keyworkers, The Rainbow of Roses was a spectacular 10-metrewide installation consisting of three striking orange Corten steel planters and featuring over 500 rose plants, set in a glorious arc of colour and fragrance. A highlight of our year, it was a joyful experience to talk to visitors, share in the delights of the roses, something we had missed through the cancellations of other RHS shows.With its open-air location and unique design, the rainbow incorporated socially distanced seating for visitors seeking a moment of reflection and rest. As the Rainbow of Roses gets prepared to be settled into its final resting place at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, it is wonderful to reflect on the joy it brought and the funds that were raised, giving us hope for the future. The planters will be filled with several hundred bare root roses, and it’s our hope that staff and patients alike will benefit from a moment of peace, surrounded by the rainbow which represents the hard work and sacrifice of anyone who’s been there to support one another in challenging times. It’s been wonderful to see the positive impact our roses can have on the wellbeing of people up and down the country, whether that be through the planting of roses where people in need can take some time out from a demanding moment in their life, or more tangibly giving funds so that people struggling can receive the love and support they require.

Pictured above: Rainbow of Roses, Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2021. Members of the Aneurin Bevan Society at Bedwellty House.