A GROUP of budding gardeners at The Abbey School in Farnham have planted a brand-new variety of rose, the first named after an ethnic minority Briton.

As part of the launch of the John Ystumllyn rose, Harkness Roses and We Too Built Britain launched a community gardening scheme to bring the benefits of gardening to people from all backgrounds.

Harkness Roses set aside 5,000 roses for community gardens and Anu Baldwin, a school parent, applied for some on behalf of The Friends of The Abbey. Year 10 and 11 students planted the roses in the school grounds under the close supervision of Frederic Gabellec, instructor of the school’s horticulture class.

John Ystumllyn was an 18th-century Welsh gardener and the first well-recorded black person of North Wales.