A dazzling new rabbit-proof rose garden featuring 15 different varieties of the colourful flowering plant has opened at How Hill, Ludham.

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Head gardener Chris Tubby. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Head gardener Chris Tubby. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

The circular garden, which measures 22m in diameter and is surrounded by a yew hedge, was officially opened on July 6.

Simon Partridge, the director of the How Hill Trust, said the garden at the house was a classic Edwardian arts and crafts garden broken into different rooms.

'There are several rooms, each with its own theme, and the new rose garden is one of those rooms,' he said. 'It had always been used as a rose garden when the family lived here, from the 1920s right up until the 1970s.'

He said it was later converted into a grass garden featuring big ornamental grasses but was difficult to maintain.

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

In 2014 head gardener Chris Tubby came up with the idea of transforming the space back into a rose garden.

'But there were cost implications so it couldn't just be done immediately,' said Mr Partridge. 'Fortunately the Norfolk Garden Trust came to our aid and gave us the funds to convert it. We really could not have done it without them.'

Once the go-ahead was given, Burghwood Landscapes did all the groundwork and also installed a rabbit-proof fence.

'We have a substantial rabbit population here and one of their favourite foods is young roses,' said Mr Partridge. 'The fence has worked really well so far.' Bill Cordaroy, a nearby blacksmith, constructed a dome, two gates and two benches from iron for the garden, while rose grower Bill LeGrice supplied the plants.

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Mr Tubby and rose expert Lt Col Ken Grapes put a lot of thought into the types of plants that would be used in the new garden in order to give it year round interest.

'There are 85 roses in total made up of 15 different varieties,' said Mr Tubby. 'They include a multi-coloured rose named 'eyes for you' and a lovely orange one called 'lady marmalade'.'

He said they had also planted 560 bulbs including daffodils, tulips and alliums.

Mr Partridge said the gardens were important to the house. 'We are investing in them using plants that are in keeping with the ethos of the gardens,' he said.

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

The new rose garden can be viewed free of charge on most weekends and most days during school holidays, although it is advised to phone ahead first.

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: New rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNew rose garden at How Hill. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)