Huntingdonshire Society for the Blind launch new Rose to mark centenary
The Harkness Rose Company is excited to be launching the Hunts Blind Centenary Rose to commemorate 100 years of a local charity who are dedicated to supporting people with sight impairment across Huntingdonshire. The society offers a wide range of support such as home visits to assess needs and give advice, social activities, subsidised holidays, and a volunteer visiting scheme.
The Rose, which has been bred by Philip Harkness, was chosen for its strong fragrance, few thorns and beautiful golden yellow blooms that are a perfect match for the charity’s branding. Thanks to the strong fragrance and low thorn count of this rose, it can be enjoyed by those who are partially sighted or blind.
The Hunts Blind Centenary Rose will launch on 25 August and will be available to pre-order for delivery in late Autumn. £2.50 from each rose sold will be donated to Huntingdonshire Society for the Blind (Registered Charity No. 202573). The funds will be used to help visually impaired individuals within Huntingdonshire with support and advice to enable them to maximise their ability to remain independent, regain and boost their confidence and improve their quality of life.
Andrea Murphy, Social Activities Co-Ordinator at the Huntingdonshire Society for the Blind, commented: “How lovely it is to have such a fragrant rose named after the society. Many of our visually impaired members are still very keen gardeners and will enjoy buying and planting this rose, that represents us and them, in their own gardens”.
The launch of the rose coincides with a member event to be held at the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon on Thursday 25th August with live entertainment, afternoon tea and the local mayor in attendance.
Philip Harkness, Chairman of The Harkness Rose Company, added: “We are proud to be able to support the Huntingdonshire Blind Society on their 100th year. The rose chosen is simply meant to be with a beautiful fragrance and a lower than usual thorn count, perfect for those who suffer with sight loss”.
Rose Information:
There are some gorgeous colours in this rose. Early in the season it is dominated by yellow, lemon and gold, in the late season the gold is much richer and can include an undertone of pink. Flowers are shaped with an elegant high centre, the outer petal forming almost perfect concentric circles. Outstanding health, tough dark green leaves, a bushy plant and a strong perfume. Perfect for beds, borders, and large patio containers, it grows to approximately 80cm tall.
The rose is available to pre-order now for autumn delivery at www.roses.co.uk or www.worldofroses.com.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact: hannah@harknessrosecompany.com
About The Harkness Rose Company
The Harkness Rose Company has been breeding and growing roses for more than 140 years. World renowned for their exquisite beauty, superb fragrance and award-winning quality, The Harkness Rose Company produce reliable cultivars, as well as classic old roses. The first Harkness nursery had its origins in 1879 in Yorkshire, soon becoming well-known as a grower of top-quality roses. It was 80 years later that Jack Harkness began breeding new varieties in Hitchin, determined to create new and ever-more beautiful roses. Today, Harkness roses are known & grown world-wide; with reliability, flowering performance and beauty that is second to none.
The company is based in Upper Caldecote, Bedfordshire, but also has a second nursery in Hitchin, Hertfordshire where new rose varieties are bred and trialled before being launched to the market.
More information can be found at: www.harknessrosecompany.com
About Hunts Blind Society
Hunts Blind are an independent registered charity supporting the old county of Huntingdonshire residents of all ages who are experiencing sight loss.
We provide a wide range of activities and services tailored to each individual, their carer and family. Our team of outreach workers, social events coordinators, technical support and volunteers are committed to providing members with support and advice.
Some of the services we provide include
- Home visits from our outreach team to assess needs and provide information and support
- Identification of and assistance with entitlements applications
- Monthly social meetings in Bury, St Neots, St Ives and Huntingdon
- Walking group
- Book Club
- Technology support – Tech forums
- Visual aid equipment centre based in Huntingdon
- Support and advice at the Low Vision Clinic
- Volunteer drivers to help members gain access to the social groups and outings we organise
If you are a resident of Huntingdonshire and living with sight loss, please contact us. There is no membership fee and you do not have to be registered sight impaired.
