VOLUNTEERS will be planting 10,000 bulbs in Melksham next week to mark Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio around the world.
Pupils from Forest and Sandridge Primary School will plant the crocus bulbs on a strip of land on Eastern Way.
It follows on from the 5,000 purple flowers which have already been planted at St Michael and All Angels Church.
Mayor of Melksham, councillor Terri Welch, is leading the charge and is hoping more volunteers will join in the special event.
Cllr Welch said, “Children will be joining parents and members of the wider community to create this lasting memorial. This large number of crocuses will be planted in a band of over 65 square metres, so many hands are needed! If you are willing to join in and have your spades or edging tools, we would all love to see you. Help is also needed on Monday 21st to mark out the area.
“On Wednesday 23rd we shall be meeting at the point where Snarlton Lane meets the Eastern Way. There are two sessions; 10.30am until 12pm and 1pm until 3.15pm.”
To help with the marking out on Monday call Terri Welch on 702800 or email on terri12@virginmedia.com. To help with planting on Thursday just turn up on the day.
Melksham Rotary Foundation chair Sarah Hiscocks explains, “This campaign ties in with the 100-year anniversary of The Rotary Foundation and Rotary’s own charity, which has played a key role in making polio eradication become close to a reality.
“The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary’s worldwide campaign to eradicate polio, with its colour representing the purple dye used to mark the finger of a child who has been immunized and Rotary hopes that the flowers will act as a reminder of this awful disease, and that it is possible to eradicate it.”
