Tall Bearded Irises in East Bridgford

Bryan Dodsworth

Bryan Dodsworth spent nearly fifty years developing an extraordinary collection of Tall Bearded Irises from his garden at the Old Rectory, East Bridgford. With twelve Dykes Medals to his name, he is without doubt the most celebrated twentieth century hybridiser of British Tall Bearded Irises.

Bryan died in 2009 but his son Simon, together with Barry Emmerson, former President of the British Iris Society, set up the English Iris Company in 2013 to promote British Irises and continue his father’s breeding programme. This is based in North Walsham, Norfolk and the website offers a selection of irises that can be purchased online; it also has informative tips on growing irises - https://www.englishiriscompany.com

There is also a link to Bryan’s interview on BBC Gardeners’ World in 1989, this explains his approach as a hybridiser - https://www.englishiriscompany.com/2015/09/english-iris-company-feature-on-bbc-gardeners-world-1989/

When Bryan died, he left meticulous notes on his hybridisation programme in his “Red Book’ but, as Simon narrates on his webpage (https://www.englishiriscompany.com/about-us/our-history/), deciphering the codes in these notes took a significant amount of detective work.

It is fitting and appropriate that Bryan Dodsworth’s achievement as a hybridiser of Tall Bearded Irises was recognised for posterity as being worthy of ‘National Collection’ status by Plant Heritage in June 2015.

Many village residents today are probably unaware of the events that unfolded over a lifetime, in the garden and greenhouse behind the parish church.