A series of free summer events dedicated to David Austin roses are taking place across The Garden Centre Group's member businesses this month and next, and more than 5,000 people have already signed up to attend.
A David Austin Roses expert will be hosting 110 talks for members of the Gardening Club until July 19. The Garden Centre Group chief executive Nicholas Marshall said: "The David Austin roses evenings we have held so far have been extremely popular with our members. We are delighted with the response as more than 5,000 people are set to attend and we expect more will sign up.

"We have added extra dates due to the demand at many of the garden centres. We are advising people that booking is essential to secure a place."

The experts giving the talks will explain how to plant, grow and design with roses for beginners and experts alike. People will also be able to see the 'Josephine Hooker' rose, which is exclusive to The Garden Centre Group. There are just 2,500 of these roses available and, according to Mr Marshall, they may never be grown again.

He added: "The rose is named after my great aunt, who is the granddaughter of Sir Joseph Hooker, a botanist and a director of Kew Gardens."

Garden centre members of the GCG will be stocking four new varieties of David Austin roses, which were revealed at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. These are Boscobel, Heathcliff, The Lark Ascending and Tranquility.

Each event will also include a free prize draw with the chance to win a trip to the David Austin Plant Centre at Albrighton, a signed copy of 'The English Roses' by David C H Austin, and a new Josephine Hooker rose.