NATIONAL Trust property Mottisfont Abbey is offering extended opening hours to visitors as rose season begins.

The property is home to the National Collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses, which reach their peak in early summer. Unlike modern species, old-fashioned roses tend to flower just once a year, so their blooming season is an annual sight which attracts thousands of visitors.

Hampshire Chronicle: Mottisfont is offering extended opening hours on some evenings during June, giving visitors more opportunities to enjoy the flowers. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between June 1 and June 30, the gardens will be open until 8pm, with live jazz from the FB Pocket Orchestra on some evenings.

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Head gardener Tina Chillingworth said: “As Mottisfont’s new head gardener, I’m really excited to experience rose season for the first time.

“I’m waiting in anticipation for the rose gardens to reveal their array of bright colours and bouquets. The team have meticulously pruned and tied in five hundred roses and nurtured their progress through a year of challenging weather conditions.

“We look forward to welcoming all visitors in sharing our enjoyment of the sensory rose garden experience. Personally, I feel the early mornings and evenings offer the most captivating moments, so I encourage visitors to take advantage of our late opening times. Exciting times!”

Hampshire Chronicle: From June 14 to June 18 an added attraction will be rose displays and special guest speakers as part of the National Trust’s second plant “Monograph”, where horticulturists will gather to study and discuss the genus Rosa. A marquee near the walled gardens will display stands from various rose breeders and information from the historic rose society.

More than 500 varieties of rose bloom in Mottisfont’s walled gardens, including Rosa “Souvenir de la Malmaison” and delicate China and tea roses in shades of cream, pink and red.

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Ancient varieties include Rosa “Gallica Officinalis”, a light crimson and deeply scented shrub brought to England from Persia by the Crusaders, and the highly scented “Quatre Saisons”, an autumn damask which was grown by the Romans.

Hampshire Chronicle: National Trust members, Art Fund members and under 5s get free entry to Mottisfont, otherwise peak admission prices apply from 10am-3pm from May 29 – July 2. Standard admission applies from 3pm onwards, including the evening openings.

For more information about Mottisfont, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/mottisfont.