COLCHESTER’s four Rotary clubs have teamed together to plant 5,000 crocuses in one day at Colchester Hospital’s well-being garden to mark End Polio Now Day.
Since 1985, the Rotary Club, an international network of social clubs which fundraise for money, have prioritised the campaign to end polio, a severe infection that can be fatal.
Today, the number of cases is down by 99.9 per cent due to vaccinations and charity campaigns with October 24 marking ‘End Polio Now’ Day.
Further in 1985, there were 125 endemic countries, and now there are just two – Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Before – The garden before the planting (Image: Colchester Rotary Clubs)
Work – The volunteers hard at work (Image: Colchester Rotary Clubs)
Colchester’s four Rotary Clubs – Centurion, Camulos, Forum and Colchester – have planted 5,000 purple crocus corms in one day on October 22 to mark the day.
The purple crocus was chosen as children who have the polio vaccine in many parts of the world have their little finger dipped in purple ink to indicate they have been vaccinated.
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The act of planting purple crocuses raised awareness of the vaccine which costs as little as 20p per person.
The crocuses – both flowers and plants – were planted at Colchester Hospital’s well-being garden, which was recently opened by the Princess of Wales, so in spring the crocuses will bloom.
A total of 28 volunteers turned up on including Claire Custance and Alison Findlay and others from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Volunteers from the Colchester Hospital charity were also in attendance.
The purpose of the outreach teams from the RHS is to build capacity at community level to help improve people’s lives – alongside overcoming social isolation.
Crocuses – Over 5,000 crocuses were planted, seen with Rotary Club volunteers (Image: Colchester Rotary Clubs)
A joint statement from the Presidents of Colchester’s Four Rotary Clubs said: “Supporting the continued fight against Polio is such an important project for the worldwide Rotary family and Rotary in Colchester is pleased to be able to lend our support whilst also improving the colour of the wellbeing garden at the hospital.
“Thanks have to go to the RHS outreach team who, in conjunction with gardener Adam Frost, created the garden as part of a three-year programme. The wellbeing garden volunteer team will also be helping with the crocus corm planting.”
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