Rose Gardens

We’re excited to announce the creation of four stunning rose gardens at The Oval, featuring a mix of Hybrid Tea Roses and Floribunda Roses. Each bed will have its own vibrant colour scheme, bringing a spectacular seasonal display to our community space:

Red Roses: Symbolising love and passion.
White / Cream Roses: Representing purity and elegance.
Yellow Roses: Bringing joy and friendship.
Pink Roses: A nod to gentleness and happiness.

Each rose garden, located alongside the public footpath on Eastern Esplanade, will contain 9 carefully selected roses planted in a staggered arrangement, meaning we can only accept 36 roses in total (9 per colour). Once a bed is full, we will no longer be able to accept more roses for that colour.

How You Can Contribute

There are two ways to donate or sponsor a rose bush for our community project:

Let Us Purchase the Rose for You: We’ll purchase the rose at cost price from Eastcroft Roses. You can sponsor a bush by covering the cost, and we’ll take care of planting it for you.

Buy Your Own Rose and Drop It Off: If you’d prefer to purchase your own rose bush, you can select a rose from Eastcroft Roses or another supplier and deliver it to The Oval in person. Please note:

We can only accept Hybrid Tea Roses or Floribunda Roses.
We cannot accept climbing, rambling, shrub, tree, patio, ground cover roses, etc.
If in doubt, please check with us before purchasing your rose to ensure it meets the project’s requirements.

Our gardening team will plant your donated rose in one of the beds for you, or assist you in planting it yourself.

Dedicate or Sponsor a Rose

Whether you’re an individual, local group, or business, you can dedicate or sponsor a rose bush as part of this exciting project!

Individuals: Dedicate a rose to a loved one, special occasion, or meaningful cause.
Local Groups: Support your community by sponsoring a rose bush and showcasing your involvement in making The Oval bloom.
Businesses: Sponsoring a rose bush is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a community project and gain recognition for your support.

Dedications and Sponsorships can include a small 125mm x 50mm plaque installed in the soil at the base of the rose bush with a personal message or your group/business name or logo.

The Rose Garden Design

Our new rose beds are thoughtfully designed to create a vibrant and visually stunning environment that enhances beauty, health, and biodiversity. Each bed will feature carefully selected companion plants to complement the roses. Along the front border, low-growing lavender or catmint will add fragrance and charm, while creeping thyme or marigolds will fill the gaps between roses, offering a vibrant and pest-resistant display. Surrounding the base of each rose, heucheras or chives will provide foliage contrast and act as natural pest deterrents. At the back, tall blooms like delphiniums, hollyhocks, or foxgloves will frame the bed, creating vertical interest and a dramatic backdrop.

To further enhance the space, decorative bark mulch will be laid across the beds to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide a polished appearance. The beds will be bordered by white-painted decorative posts, connected by stainless steel chain links, adding definition and subtle elegance while protecting the area.

This harmonious combination of companion planting, practical enhancements, and tasteful boundaries will ensure a thriving, low-maintenance rose garden full of colour, fragrance, and life for everyone to enjoy.

Important Information About The Rose Bushes

The rose bush you sponsor or donate is a living plant, and while we will do our utmost to ensure it thrives and remains healthy, we cannot guarantee its longevity. Roses can be affected by weather, pests, and disease, and we cannot be held responsible if the plant becomes diseased or dies despite our best efforts.
If you would like to take an active role in tending to your rose bush, we warmly welcome your involvement. Please let us know, and we’ll be happy to include you in our gardening activities. Together, we can help The Oval’s rose beds flourish.
All donated or sponsored rose bushes are for the enjoyment of the community as part of The Oval’s gardens. Once a rose bush is planted, it becomes the property of The Oval. This ensures that the garden can be managed and maintained in a way that benefits the entire community. It will not be possible to take cut flowers from the roses for personal use, or remove the rose bush once it has been planted, as we want to ensure everyone can appreciate their beauty.
The position of each rose bush in the flowerbeds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. As a general guideline, compact rose bushes will be positioned at the front, while larger varieties will be placed toward the rear. Please note that, very occasionally, we may relocate rose bushes to ensure they are planted in the most suitable location for their growth and health. Should any changes be necessary, we will discuss them with you in advance.
We are currently only accepting orders for one rose bush per person. This is because we want this project to reach as many people as possible, helping to create a real community garden at The Oval that everyone can feel a part of.

Important Information About The Plaques

The Oval Gardens are a public space, and while we will install your plaque securely with postcrete in the soil, we cannot be held responsible for plaques that are stolen, damaged, or defaced.
We recommend keeping dedications simple and timeless, or businesses may prefer their logo. The plaque must be appropriate and free from offensive language or imagery, including swear words. The Oval reserves the right to review and approve all plaque text to ensure it meets community standards.
To arrange a plaque, please complete the form below with your details and we’ll get in touch.

Get Involved Today

We’re also looking for local volunteers to help maintain our gardens. Whether you have a green thumb or are simply looking for a rewarding way to contribute to the community, we’d love to have your support. Please visit our Volunteer Page to get involved.

Donate or Order a Rose Bush

To donate or sponsor a rose bush please complete the following form and we will get in touch:

Order a Dedication Plaque

If you have chosen to order a small plaque to accompany your rose bush please also complete the following form:

Please note that to maintain consistency of design, all plaques are 125mm x 50mm in size, made from brushed stainless steel, mounted on dark mahogany, and engraved in the Arial font. Prices start at around £85 (inc VAT) including delivery.

Full Name *

For the engraving would you like text or a logo? *

Text Only
Logo Only (£36 surcharge)

Please provide up to 3 lines of text for the engraving:

So that your dedication remains large enough to read on the 125mm x 50mm plaque, we recommend no more than 5 words per line, although there is a maximum word count of 20. Two lines are included in the cost of the plaque, additional lines are charged at £4.74 per line.

Please upload a single-colour logo file.

Drop your file here or click here to upload

Your image/logo will be re-drawn into a line/silhouette format so that it can be engraved.

I understand The Oval is a public space, and while we will install your plaque securely, I confirm that The Oval cannot be held responsible for plaques that are stolen, damaged, or defaced. *

I agree

NB: Artwork proof available at an extra cost of £5, and will be ready to view within approximately 3 working days of receipt of payment, you will be notified by email. This artwork can be amended as often as required until you are satisfied with the result (changes to the specification may result in changes to the price). If you have ordered a proof we will not start your order until written authorisation is received. All costs are correct at time of writing (25/11/2024).

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