FORGET the quaint picture of roses rambling round the porch - Cessa Moore likes to see them climbing up the apple trees, over the garden walls and trailing round the shrubs.

Over the years she has worked hard to ensure they thrive this way in the garden at her home at Shucknall Court, near Hereford.

Cessa loves gardening but she confesses to a long- term love affair with roses of the old fashioned kind and has filled her garden on the farm with varieties from home and abroad.

Over the past 15 years she has opened Shucknall Court for visitors to enjoy all aspects of her garden and on Tuesday, June 12, an extra special event will take place.

Because roses are her special favourite, it is called Cessa's Roses, to raise funds for the Macmillan Renton Appeal, and is by invitation through Macmillan Support Cessa is hoping the fine weather will not bring the roses too forward so they are past their best on the June date.

During the 15 years that she has been opening the gardens she has noticed everything is now a month ahead.

For their £30 ticket visitors will be able to choose morning or afternoon when Cessa will give talks on the history of the rose, there will be garden walks and a special lunch will be included.

The whole event is being sponsored by Wormelow Home and Gardens, who will have their own goods on view and people will be able to purchase Acton Beauchamp roses. These are grown by Lindsay Bousfield, of Acton Beauchamp, described by Cessa as probably the most knowledgeable of old rose growers.

Cessa, who is retiring as chairman of Hereford Hospitals Trust, has held similar events to help the Three Choirs Festival and other charities.

During the same week as Cessa's Roses, the Garden Club and Growing Point will be visiting and on Sunday, June 10, the garden will be open to the public under the National Gardens Scheme between 11am and 6pm.