Rose Trials

We are keen to use the trials and the trial grounds to promote the horticulture industry in as many ways as possible. We would like to encourage careers in horticulture through educational visits for adults and for children. We hope to hold art and poetry workshops along with work experience days. We are pleased to welcome representatives from the following charities and organisations that we are delighted to support:

  • Perennial: Helping people in horticulture 
  • SHP: Preventing homelessess - transforming lives
  • Future Gardeners
  • Waste not want not 
  • The Great British Garden Festival
  • Herts CC Covid Garden
  • Bankside Open Spaces Trust

About the Rochfords International Rose Trials

As ever, we are very grateful to our team of judges: they represent as wide a spectrum of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm as possible and we welcome enquiries from those who would like to get involved. Once the scores are received, they are collated and checked by a small panel led by the Chair of Judges, Adrian Pickett, and the winners are announced.

Across our trials we have varieties submitted by breeders and growers from various countries with entries from the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Ireland and Denmark.

Our programme of education and information on roses has continued as much as possible, with many talks back in halls and at events. We are particularly keen to introduce the work of the Rose Trials to primary and secondary schools and hope to begin making links in the autumn.

  • Trial 1

We have a total of 68 entries for Trial 1. The first plantings took place on the field at Birch Green in the autumn of 2018. After an 18 month establishment period, the roses were assessed over two growing seasons by a panel of judges. The judges represent as wide a spectrum of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm as possible and we welcome enquiries from those who would like to get involved. Once the scores are received, they are collated and checked by a small panel led by the Chair of Judges, Adrian Pickett and the winners are announced.

  • Trial 2

We have 75 entries for Trial 2. Judging is in its first year and will finish in 2022. Growing conditions have varied dramatically over the two years of judging, with a lot of spring frosts in the first year and record high temperatures in year two.

  • Trial 3

Trial 3 is getting established and judging of the 73 entries will begin in 2022. Varieties are submitted by breeders and growers from various countries and we have entries from the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Ireland and Denmark. We have recently had enquiries from New Zealand and Uruguay.

  • Trial 4

Trial 4 has 66 entries and is already looking very promising. Trial 4 will also have an autumn judging this year.

  • Rose of the Year and Gold Standard Roses

We currently hold the trial for Gold Standard Roses and for 21/22 we have 19 entries. We also hold the trial for Rose of The Year (ROTY) with 7 entries this year. Our programme of education and information on roses has continued as much as possible, with many talks moving to zoom and others rescheduled for 2022. We are particularly keen to introduce the work of the Rose Trials to primary and secondary schools and hope to begin making links in the autumn.