Bushey Rose Garden blooms again!

A £1.5 million restoration project comes to fruition this month with a VIP opening.

The fountain in the garden has water running through it for the first time in decades	One of the first roses in bloom at the newly restored garden off Bushey High Street

After nearly a year of work, the historic Bushey Rose Garden will open its gates to the public again - the first time in five years.

Having been restored to its former glory, the Grade II listed garden has been completely transformed and its features - including a summer house, pergola, water fountain and cloisters - are back to how they were at the beginning of the 20th century.

Lord-Lieutenant The Countess of Verulam, the Queen's representative for Hertfordshire, will officially open the garden on Friday 23 July in front of around 150 VIPs and guests.

Located in a Conservation Area off Bushey High Street, the Rose Garden plays an important role in Bushey’s heritage; the garden was created in 1913 by the famous landscape designer, Thomas Mawson, who later went on to become the first president of the Landscape Institute and has left a legacy of parks and gardens in the UK and abroad.  Mawson was commissioned by the eminent Victorian artist, Sir Hubert von Herkomer, who owned the site and ran an art school on it from 1883 to 1904.

Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder, said: "When we first started this project it was hard to imagine the end result.  I have been on site regularly and watched the progress eagerly.  It has been wonderful to see how each area has been painstakingly developed and recreated over the months.

"I am grateful to all those who have been involved in the project and put so much love and care into making it an area of outstanding beauty."

The project has been funded by a grant of nearly £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as money from Hertsmere Borough Council.  Landsberg-am-Lech, Bushey's cultural twin town in Germany, is also contributing and Bushey and Oxhey Rotary Club has donated a sun dial.

The features of the garden have been restored as follows:

• Summer house - The roof of the Grade II listed building has been completely replaced to make it water tight and new handmade tiles laid.  Paint tests were carried out inside so the original colour scheme could be followed.  The summer house will be used as an information office.
• Pergola - A curved oak top has been fitted to the original posts.  A replica solid bronze plaque is secured at the end of the pergola to replace the original which was designed by Herkomer and stolen in the 1960s.
• Water fountain - After decades, water is running through the fountain again.  New rose pillars have been installed in the ‘sunken garden’ around the fountain.
• The cloisters - The original red sandstone was dismantled, cleaned and reconstructed to form a backdrop for music and theatre performances.
• Paving - Each brick was carefully lifted and as many as possible were re-laid in the original ‘basket weave’ pattern.
• Rose temple - New oak supports have been constructed in the original location.

Public toilets and CCTV have been incorporated into the project and gardener Paul Knott has been employed.  An education and events programme is being devised and it is hoped a group of volunteers will be established to help look after the site and support the Friends of Bushey Rose Garden.

Among the guests at the opening will be a four-piece brass band from Landsberg-am-Lech who will perform alongside local acts.

The garden will be open to the public at 12pm on Saturday 24 July with special arts and crafts activities on that day until 4pm.  The garden is free to enter and will be open 7am to 7pm from May to September and 7am to 4pm from October to April.

More information on Bushey Rose Garden