ROSES FOR ALL

By Simon Barefoot

This idea came as a result of a visit to an extraordinary village in France during 2023. Have a look at the link (in French, but you can either practise your language skills or mute it!).

https://www.ouest-france.fr/centre-val-de-loire/video-chedigny-le-village-jardin-bbc3664c-e88c-4952-a021-e76a1cfe5bf7

There are also some pictures here which will give you a sense of what has been created.

Having spent some time on a truly hot afternoon in the village, just days after their rose festival finished, the inspirational vistas were something which struck a chord and I thought we could offer something similar on our site.

We had already teamed up with Eastcroft Roses because they had supplied the roses which were used on the ‘windsock area’: this has been a successful piece of camouflage and has masked some IBCs with one variety of rose (‘The Simple Life’) and underplanting of salvias which were our own cuttings.

Eastcroft Roses generously gave us an impressive discount on the 72 roses we eventually bought and they arrived in November 2023. They have been given to all members who wanted one and the idea has been to have them planted on the approach to plots and on the edge of plots themselves so that their colour and scent can be enjoyed by all. 

About the Author

Simon Barefoot has been the President of the Association for quite some years. His hands-on approach includes trimming the hedges, cutting the grass and encouraging the cultivation of flowers, vegetables and fruit on our special site. He runs the seed order scheme and is involved with the poultry ‘co-operative’. Promoting rainwater collection and low-tech crop management are important interests.