Award winning rose planted in the shadow of Wilberforce

Roses from the Modern Slavery Garden, which won both the Gold and the BBC/RHS People’s Choice Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016, have been planted beneath the statue of William Wilberforce.

In a ceremony conducted by Professor Gary Craig, attended by the Lord Mayor of Hull Sean Chaytor, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Kelk, from Humberside Police, and the Wilberforce Institute of Slavery and Emancipation, the award-winning flowers was planted just yards from the statue of Wilberforce, which dominates the city’s skyline.

On the second anniversary of the passing of the Modern Slavery Act, by the then Home Secretary Theresa May, Prof Craig highlighted the issue of modern slavery, the importance of intelligence, and the increasing problem of people trafficking across Hull, the UK and globally.

Cllr Chaytor also highlighted the importance of the public's ability to inform authorities of any suspicions regarding modern day slavery, adding that it would be safer for authorities to dismiss claims of modern day slavery, rather than the public to simply ignore the signs.

William Wilberforce, who was a member of parliament for Hull(1784–1812), played a significant role in the ending of historical slavery, and has become a symbol of the fight against the increase in the levels of modern day slavery. The significance of the planting of the rose close to the dominating statue, which is situated outside Hull College, wasn't missed by those in attendance.