A Rose by Any Other Name – But This One Matters

This evening, some time before the sun dipped behind Wittenham Clumps, I had the quiet privilege of attending one of Oxfordshire’s more unusual and charming civic traditions: the annual rose ceremony hosted by Oxfordshire County Council.

Held amidst the ancient hills and nature reserve managed so beautifully by the Earth Trust, the event marks the symbolic payment of a peppercorn rent — a single rose — in return for public access to these extraordinary landscapes. It’s a ritual that began in 1970, when the land still lay in Berkshire, and has continued each midsummer since 1974 under the auspices of Oxfordshire County Council.

Cllr Mark Lygo, Chair of the Council, was our gracious host, presenting this year’s rose to Earth Trust’s new CEO, Ian Barrett. The gesture may be modest — just a single bloom — but it carries weight. It speaks to enduring values: stewardship, partnership, access to nature, and respect for our shared environment.

Tim Stimpson from the Council spoke quite brilliantly about the historical role of roses in symbolising tribute, rent, and civic duty. From medieval agreements involving rose payments to their use in ‘peppercorn rents’ (often paid in flowers, gloves, or a single coin to make a legal contract binding), roses have long represented not just beauty, but continuity and care. His words offered real depth and insight — not least when he reminded us that roses, once cultivated as medicine, have always been more than decoration.

For me, sitting there as High Sheriff, it was a reminder of the rich patchwork of civic life in Oxfordshire — and of the enduring links between land, law, and community. These are the quiet moments of public service that don’t make headlines, but which stitch together the social and environmental fabric of our county.

And really, who could ask for a more beautiful rent than a rose in July?