How to Graft a Rose (workshop)

To mark the planting of the ‘Atom Bomb Rose’ as part of the University’s arts collection, we invite you to join us and graft your own rose, which you will be free to take away after the event.

A rare variety of Rosa Floribunda was developed in 1953 called the Atom Bomb rose. It was named this to mark Britain’s new status as a nuclear power. The rose planted at Loughborough forms part of an ongoing project by the artist Gabriella Hirst and The Old Waterworks in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The project aims to bring the ‘Atom Bomb’ rose back into circulation to encourage a public care-taking for and scrutiny of the violent legacies and historical traumas of atomic armament via gardening and planting. From one of the few remaining ‘Atom Bomb’ rose specimens to be found globally (sourced from the Fineschi Rosarium rose archive in Northern Italy), Hirst and curator, Warren Harper have been propagating new generations of ‘Atom Bomb’ roses at The Old Waterworks since 2018, which are then distributed via workshops, exhibitions, guerilla gardening and community led initiatives.

This event will also include a discussion of the project so far, and an introduction to the planting of a rose at Loughborough. Food and drink is provided free of charge.

The event has step free access, but part of it will take place outside. While the area is grassed and relatively flat, it won’t be totally even. If you have any questions about this, please email David Bell on d.m.bell@lboro.ac.uk. If you have any specific access requirements or anything you would like us to be aware of when running the event, please let us know via the booking form or email luarts@lboro.ac.uk in advance of booking and we will do our best to accommodate them.

This event is supported by The Old Waterworks.