GARDENERS at a National Trust property in the South West have been working hard to create a more nature-friendly atmosphere.

Over 100 new single and semi-double-flowered rose plants were planted by the garden team in February at Buckland Abbey, near Plymouth.

As well as looking and smelling wonderful, these varieties in the Elizabethan Garden are easily accessible and attractive to pollinators in line with the property’s ambition to make its garden ever more pollinator and nature friendly. They include Tottering By Gently, Sceptr’d Isle, Compte De Champagne and Scarborough Fair.

Sam Brown, senior gardener at Buckland Abbey, said: “There has been a growing focus on planting for pollinators in the recent years to help reverse the steep decline we have seen nationally in our insect population. 

“Where possible we are all being encouraged to set aside less formal areas in our gardens where wildflowers and weeds can thrive, and this is something we even saw echoed at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show where the bug-friendly gardens have inspired additions to the Royal Horticultural Society pollinator-friendly plant list.

 “For several years now we have been working hard to create a nature and pollinator-friendly garden at Buckland with more of the garden and parkland managed to be less formal and more wildlife-friendly. 

“However, there are plenty of cultivated garden plants such as these species of rose which can still have huge benefits to our pollinator friends too and we are excited to see more insects such as bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies working in the formal area of the garden this summer.”

For further information about Buckland Abbey, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.