The wild rose has a very special place in English hearts. Henry VII (reigned 1485-1509), the first Tudor king, adopted the rose as the official emblem of the monarchy and of England itself. His reign brought to a close the Wars of the Roses, the struggle for the throne between the House of Lancaster (represented by the red rose) and the House of York (represented by the white rose). The rose is still used as the emblem of England, seen everywhere that the country is represented – from rugby shirts to tourist guides.

The traditional name for the wild rose is dogrose – so named either from the Roman belief that the roots could cure the bite of a mad dog (the botanical name for the rose is rosa canina) or from the corruption of the name ‘dag rose’, referring to its sharp, dagger-like thorns. The wild rose varies in colour from almost white to deep pink, and has a delicate fragrance. It is best known for its vivid red fruits, rosehips, which appear in autumn. These have been used throughout the centuries for desserts – ‘most pleasant banketting dishes, as tartes and such like’ – and for making preserves and wine. The rosehips are rich in vitamin C and, during World War II (1939-45), the British government actively encouraged its citizens to gather the rosehips and make rosehip syrup and jelly to give to their children, in an effort to counteract the shortage of imported fruit. (The children, meanwhile, were probably more interested in making a very effective itching powder from the rosehip seeds, known as ‘itchy-coos’!).

The lovely Wild Rose Fairy sits serenely among her flowers on a fine summer day, while her dark-haired sister, the Rose Hip Fairy, shows off an autumn abundance of bright red fruits.