Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is a park in South Belfast, Northern Ireland, covering almost 130acre and is accessible from the Upper Malone Road. It includes meadows, woodland, riverside fields, formal rose gardens, a walled garden and a Japanese garden, as well as a children's playground, coffee shop, an orienteering course and many walks. It is owned by the people of Belfast and maintained by Belfast City Council's Parks and Amenities Section. On 14 July 2010, the park hosted annual International Rose Trials, the highlight of Rose Week, involving judges from around the world.FeaturesThe City of Belfast International Rose Garden in the Park has made it world-famous. In the summer it contains over 40,000 roses, divided into trial and display beds, a historical section and a heritage garden that displays the best roses from local breeders. It also has a Diana, Princess of Wales memorial garden. The rose garden and events like Rose Week attract thousands of visitors each year. The park also features International Camellia Trials. There are red and grey squirrels in the woodland.HistoryThe park was bequeathed to the people of Belfast in 1959 by Lady Edith Stewart Dixon and was dedicated to the memory of her husband, the late Sir Thomas Dixon. The first roses were planted in 1964 and the Trial roses were judged for the first time in summer 1965. A permanent panel of judges is provided by the Rose Society of Northern Ireland, formed by Craig Wallace in 1964.