Acre of Roses

“New Zealand born Marketer turned Floral Artisan, Sandy McKinley and Melbournian Rob Roy, Trentham’s own Bob the Builder, are founders and custodians of Acre of Roses. When the opportunity to purchase 1,000 mature heritage rose bushes arose Sandy & Rob grasped at it to fulfil their vision.

Tim Pilgrim, the horticulturalist behind The Estate Trentham’s productive gardens, is the resident gardener. Together Sandy and Tim have developed the land to include a potager; fruit trees; herbaceous borders; a wildflower meadow; the roses; and beehives to pollinate it all.

When Rob brought home a windfall of local salvaged bricks local artist and stonemason, Tom Hamlon, was invited to create a folly that was inspired by Sandy’s fascination for ruins, and her family stories of an ancient castle on a clifftop that was the family seat at Rathlin Island in Ireland; and, of the local region’s gold rush ruins. Tom created a folly that is a rustic idyll and gateways the romantic wildflower meadow beyond.

The interiors of the Miner’s Cottage have been decorated and styled by Belle Hemming-Bright of Belle Bright Project .”