A FRAGRANT new rose has been launched in memory of a very special lady.

The pretty pink flower named ‘Elizabeth Ashbrook’, pays tribute to the late Lady Elizabeth, Viscountess Ashbrook of Arley Hall, and mother of the present Viscount Michael Ashbrook.

The rose, which has a delicate perfume, was unveiled at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton.

The Floribunda rose was bred by Gareth Fryer, former owner of Fryer’s Roses in Knutsford, now owned by the Blue Diamond Group of garden centres.

Knutsford Guardian: Gareth Fryer, rose breeder, Bridget Roberts, general manager of Arley Hall and Gardens and Jill Kerr, manager for roses at Blue Diamond GroupGareth Fryer, rose breeder, Bridget Roberts, general manager of Arley Hall and Gardens and Jill Kerr, manager for roses at Blue Diamond Group

Bridget Roberts, general manager of Arley Hall and Gardens, said: “A lot of the design of the garden at Arley, especially the tea lawns and rose garden, is down Lady Elizabeth.

“She had a real passion for gardens.

“It is very fitting that this is such a beautiful, fragrant rose in her honour.

Knutsford Guardian: The new Elizabeth Ashbrook rose, breeder FryyoubetThe new Elizabeth Ashbrook rose, breeder Fryyoubet

“She was very passionate about roses at Arley.

“We will be planting one in our rose garden.”

Lady Ashbrook was born in 1911 lived at Arley Hall for her whole life, until she died in 2002, aged 91.

She was originally Elizabeth Egerton-Warburton but when her husband, Desmond Flower, inherited the title Viscount Ashbrook from his father, Elizabeth became known as the Viscountess or Lady Ashbrook.

Knutsford Guardian: The last Lord and Lady Ashbrook, Desmond and ElizabethThe last Lord and Lady Ashbrook, Desmond and Elizabeth

Her greatest interest was gardening and she devoted a great deal of time to developing the herbaceous border.

She became very fond of old fashioned and newer varieties of shrub rose and became an expert on their cultivation.

The garden first opened to the public in the early 1960s.

Knutsford Guardian: The current Lord and Lady Ashbrook, Zoe and MichaelThe current Lord and Lady Ashbrook, Zoe and Michael

The current Lord Ashbrook said: “It seems to us highly appropriate that there should be a new rose called ‘Elizabeth Ashrbook’ after my mother who did so much to enhance the Arley Garden and started the shrub rose collection which remains one of our key features.”

A gift of £1 from the sale of each rose sold through Blue Diamond and Fryer’s Roses will be donated to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) at the request of the Ashbrook family.

Lady Ashbrook experienced almost the total loss of sight in the last 10 years of her life and benefited greatly from the RNIB Talking Book scheme.

The rose is on sale at Fryer’s Roses stand FM69 in the floral marquee at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park until Sunday, July 24.

Alternatively, visit fryersroses.co.uk or call 01270 360071.

The Elizabeth Ashbrook rose will also be available from Arley Hall nursery on 01565 777479.

The rose was launched by Blue Diamond Garden Centres and their own brand Fryer's Roses and will be available in most of their garden centres while stocks last.