WHEN looking at the newly restored rose garden at Cliveden the idea is the colours go from sunrise to sunset.

And it really is a splendid array of colour from the light hues of Champagne Moment to the dark red of Crimson Glory.

Head gardener, Andrew Mudge, and his team have painstakingly worked to create a display of more than 900 repeat flowers roses at the National Trust grounds.

They have made sure they stay true to the original design by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe- one of the 20th century's garden designers.

And now is to the time to visit as they are currently blooming and are expected to last until September.

Andrew said: "We've worked with David Austin Roses to source 45 different rose varieties, that planted together will create swathes of colour moving from yellow through to orange and red, just as Jellicoe proposed.

"The rose garden was described by Jellicoe as a vegetable form, like a cabbage, with each bed intended to envelop the visitor and draw them into the garden.

"We're creating this effect by using rose of different heights. Tall roses almost five foot high will enclose beds planted with shorter varieties so as you walk into the garden the roses will seem to close around you."

A lot of research and design went into the project and planting started last autumn.

In 1959 the third Viscount Astor invited Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe to Cliveden and commissioned him to design a new rose garden to provide his family with a place to enjoy.

Jellicoe was inspired by the abstract painter, Paul Klee.

The initial concept was lost over time and it was decided to move to an herbaceous scheme in 2001.

Andrew said: "As part of the restoration, we have changed all the soil in the garden, adding beneficial micorrihazi fungi and thinning the boundary planting to increase the air circulation and light levels.

"We're also using modern rose cultivars- they look similar to old fashioned roses, but are more resistant to disease."

There are a number of statues in the garden including one called The Wound Amazon, by William Waldorf Astor made in 1870.

As well as the rose garden there is also the splendid five acre Parterre, the Long Garden with exotic topiary and 18th century Italian sculpture and the Water Garden- a pond of multi-coloured carp at its centre.

There is also ancient woodland to explore.

There are garden tours every Tuesday in July from 2 to 3pm and summer wildflower walks on July 17 and 24 from 11am to 1pm.

For details, admission prices and opening times go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden or call 01628 605069.