Tag: Peter Beales Roses

A Legacy of Courage

Peter Beales Roses and RNLI mark 200 years with Blue Peter icons and rose debut at RHS Chelsea

In a tribute to a legacy of courage, Peter Beales Roses and the RNLI have come together to commemorate 200 years of service and dedication at this year’s RHS Chelsea (20 – 25th May).

The launch of the new ‘With Courage’ rose will take place on Monday Press Day (20th May) with several iconic faces from Blue Peter who are synonymous with both British institutions with the ‘Lifeboat Appeal’

Peter Beales Roses, renowned for their exquisite blooms and timeless beauty, have long been a symbol of resilience and strength, much like the brave men and women of the RNLI who risk their lives to save others at sea.

And with the 200th anniversary of the RNLI taking place this year, Peter Beales is proud to launch ‘With Courage’ a carefully bred rose to reflect the spirit of courage and dedication exemplified by the RNLI, which serves as a lasting tribute to their noble mission.

The launch of ‘With Courage’ will see well-loved Blue Peter presenters on the Peter Beales stand, adding an extra layer of meaning to the celebration.

Blue Peter has been a longstanding supporter of the RNLI, emphasising the importance of courage, resilience, and community spirit. Confirmed to attend so far are favourites, Valerie Singleton who was responsible for the first Lifeboat Appeal in 1967, Janet Ellis, Lindsey Russell and Anthea Turner.

‘With Courage’ is a modern classic floribunda, featuring coppery orange double flowers set against glossy mid-green foliage. The rose is compact and reaches a height of 3 feet and releases a delightful apple fragrance.

The rose took six years to come to market, ensuring it meets the demands of modern gardens. With 20% of all sales benefiting the RNLI, sales of ‘With Courage’ are projected to raise £40,000 for the charity.

It will take centre stage on the Peter Beales stand, along with a real RNLI rib, surrounded by thousands of a sea of the most popular rose varieties.

The exhibit will be at the beating heart of the Grand Pavilion, spanning an incredible 100 square metres with walkthrough access so visitors can surround themselves with the beautiful display and scent of the nation’s favourite flower.

The instantly recognisable rose-covered arches will welcome guests to the fragrant and sensory display which will encourage you to linger and enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

As well as ‘With Courage,’ multiple coloured and scented varieties will come together in a breathtaking display, each reaching their height, and exhibited in different ways to showcase the vibrant blooms.

Marvel at the arches adorned with the deep crimson ‘Chevy Chase,’ the enchanting pure white ‘Rambling Rector,’ and the delightful ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk,’ as well as the majestic ‘Waterloo.’ Step further into the immersive display to encounter special varieties like ‘Rachel’s Joy,’ ‘Highgrove,’ ‘Loyal Companion,’ ‘MacMillan Nurse,’ and ‘Pippin,’ each a living tribute to Peter Beales’ legacy.

Experience the enchantment of old historical roses such as ‘Comte de Chambord,’ ‘White Pet,’ and the striking ‘Rosa Mundi.’ Obelisks stand tall, proudly presenting the ‘Siluetta’ range of patio climbers alongside the captivating ‘Purple Skyliner.’

With both Peter Beales and RNLI representatives on the stand, those visiting will have the opportunity to learn more about the RNLI’s life-saving missions and Peter Beales Roses’ rich heritage in rose breeding and cultivation.

Actor and RNLI Ambassador Joanna Scanlon will also be on hand to speak about her experiences in open-water swimming and why the charity’s advice and help are so important.

Peter Beales Roses to unveil ‘With Courage’ rose at RHS Chelsea 2024

Spectacular new charity bloom and lifesaving-themed Great Pavilion display will commemorate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary in style at the world-famous flower show

Leading grower Peter Beales Roses will unveil Rosa ‘With Courage’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May – an exquisite new bloom that’s poised to raise more than £40,000 to help support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The spectacular rose marks the start of a touching new collaboration between Peter Beales Roses and the RNLI and will commemorate the charity’s 200th anniversary with a breath-taking floral showcase that will grace Chelsea’s Great Pavilion.

Peter Beales Roses – a 28 times RHS Chelsea gold medal winner – and the leading lifesaving charity are bursting with excitement to debut their new alliance at RHS Chelsea, presenting a display that not only celebrates the exquisite allure of roses but also pays homage to the extraordinary efforts of the RNLI and its valiant volunteers who, together, have saved over 144,00 lives since the charity’s formation in 1824.

Rosa ‘With Courage’ is a modern classic floribunda, bred to reward the nation’s gardeners with an abundance of beautiful coppery orange double flowers set against mid-green glossy foliage.

Free-flowering, compact and growing to 3ft tall, peachy pink tones add charm to outer petals which display yellow accents at their base, while a sweet apple scent fills the summertime breeze with delightful fragrance. Having performed spectacularly during Peter Beales’ own field trials, the ‘With Courage’ rose has taken six years to come to market to ensure it can more than meet the demands of modern gardens.

For Ian Limmer, head of the nursery and plant breeding programme at Peter Beales Roses, the launch of the high-profile rose is personal, because his grandad spent 30 years serving as a volunteer for the RNLI and saved over 160 lives.

Ian said: “In my mind, the colour of the rose reflects the orange of the RNLI’s boats while the yellow is reminiscent of the colour of the uniform. Gardeners who grow the rose will be supporting the RNLI and its flowers will be a constant reminder in the garden of the life-saving work that volunteers do.”

Ideal for growing in all parts of the garden including borders or containers, in sun or part-shade, ‘With Courage’ is a superbly healthy and highly versatile new rose, that boasts exceptional resilience to summer heat and shrugs off winter cold. What’s more it will happily withstand temperatures as low as -10C, whilst blooms last well when cut for the vase, too.

Set to be the talk of RHS Chelsea 2024, 20% of proceeds from sales of the rose will help to support the indispensable resources that the RNLI needs to survive, including crew, kit and lifeboats.

Developed in Britain, the extraordinary plant embodies the fearless commitment of RNLI volunteers who have been saving lives at sea for two decades, from the times of wooden lifeboats with oars and sails to the motor-powered, all-weather lifeboats they have now, complete with state-of-the-art technology and communications.

Celebrating a flourishing new partnership

At the heart of Chelsea’s Great Pavilion and spanning over 100 square metres, a breathtaking display will unfold, showcasing the partnership between Peter Beales Roses and the RNLI in a truly spectacular fashion.

Central to this display will be a real RNLI rib, surrounded by thousands of Peter Beales’ most stunning roses. Designed to evoke the iconic image of a lifeboat launching from its house, a sight synonymous with the RNLI, this floral masterpiece will capture the essence of the partnership’s commitment to saving lives and protecting communities and is set to be a major highlight of the show, offering countless photo opportunities for Instagram enthusiasts and plant-loving visitors.

Ian Limmer expressed his excitement: “The RNLI’s 200th anniversary is a testament to their unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea. It is an immense honour to stand alongside one of the UK’s oldest charities as partners during this historic milestone and we feel truly blessed that, of all the exhibitors at RHS Chelsea, the RNLI chose us to partner with.

“The unveiling of the garden, with its centrepiece lifeboat alive with roses, will be a truly magical moment. As the world watches, we hope to not only captivate visitors with the beauty of our display but also to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the vital work of the RNLI. This partnership is a celebration of resilience, strength, and the enduring spirit of humanity, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Peter Beales Roses is striving for its 29th RHS Chelsea gold medal at this year’s show, which will run from May 21st to May 25th at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

The Peter Beales Roses and RNLI display can be found in the Great Pavilion. Available to order from April, a limited number of ‘With Courage’ roses will be available at Chelsea, with more plants available as bare-root from November. It’s priced at £26.95 for bare-root and £31.95 in containers.

Visit the website for more information about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and to register for tickets.

Peter er Beales Roses can be found on London Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, where you can view its two-acre rose garden, historic rose collection, garden centre, and an unrivalled programme of workshops and rose events.

See more at www.classicroses.co.uk or call 01953 454707.

Learn more about the RNLI by visiting www.rnli.org