Help Rotary plant the town purple

MELKSHAM Rotary Club is looking for volunteers to help plant thousands of flower bulbs as part of the organisation’s ‘Purple4Polio’ campaign.

The club has 15,000 crocus bulbs to plant around the town and is appealing for green-fingered volunteers to help. The first planting session will take place at St Michael and All Angels Church from 10.30am on Saturday 8th October.

The bulbs, which will grow purple flowers in the spring, are part of Rotary International’s Purple4 Polio campaign, which recognises global efforts to eradicate the disease.

Mayor of Melksham, councillor Terri Welch said, “We’ll be looking to plant 5,000 at St Michael’s and the other 10,000 elsewhere. We’d like to get as many people as possible involved in what is quite a poignant project.”

Church warden Peter Maslen said, “The idea of the bulbs is to remind people that, as yet, polio has not been eradicated in the world. The chosen colour is purple and Rotary hopes that the flowers will act as a reminder of this awful disease, and that it is possible to eradicate it.

“The idea is that communities come together to plant the bulbs, which will give an annual burst of colour in the early spring.

“We’d like to invite everybody in the area to come along and help. 

“The last time something similar was done, children played a big part in planting the bulbs. So bring the family and grandparents, and if you have a spade please bring that too!

“Come along and plant a legacy for our town and community that will flourish for years to come.”