Royal National Rose Society Gardens, Rose garden in Chiswell Green, England
The Royal National Rose Society Gardens are a rose garden in Chiswell Green, near St Albans in England. The site holds thousands of rose bushes planted in orderly rows, covering both old varieties and newer kinds alongside other shrubs and flowering plants.
The gardens were established by the Royal National Rose Society, which was founded in 1876 and was once considered the oldest specialist rose society in the world. After financial difficulties, the gardens closed permanently in 2017.
This site was once seen as a living encyclopedia of roses, with each plant labeled with its variety name and characteristics, so visitors could learn as they walked. This gave the garden an educational character that set it apart from ordinary parks and gardens.
The gardens have been permanently closed since 2017 and are no longer open to visitors. Anyone planning a trip to the area should check for alternative rose gardens nearby before traveling.
The gardens were designed to function as a living reference for roses, with each variety labeled so that visitors could identify and compare plants. A butterfly attraction called Butterfly World operated on the adjacent property until 2015, when it too closed.
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