UP TO 4,000 purple crocuses are set to be planted in Pershore’s Abbey Park to mark World Polio Day.
Wychavon District Council’s contractors, Continental Landscapes, are joining forces with the Rotary Club of Pershore to plant the bulbs in support of the fight against polio.
Rotary Clubs across Great Britain have been working with the Royal Horticultural Society to help plant millions of purple crocuses every year.
As part of the Purple 4 Polio campaign, the town’s Abbey was lit up purple on World Polio Day, which was October 24, to raise awareness.
Members of Pershore Rotary also collected more than £300 in donations, which will help fund the two billion doses of polio vaccine required each year.
Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication scheme more than 30 years ago, cases of polio have dropped from about 350,000 a year in 125 countries to just 33 in 2018.
Jonathan Hulbert, senior parks and greenspace officer at Wychavon District Council, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this campaign with the Rotary Club of Pershore, which will provide a poignant reminder for years to come.
“We hope that residents will continue to enjoy our beautiful park and this new addition.”
Ken Rowe, president of Pershore Rotary, said: “We are proud to be marking World Polio Day locally and recognising the work of Rotary, our partners and the millions of people involved in the fight for a polio-free world. Only together can we end polio.”
The Rotary Club of Pershore has been serving the community for 53 years and currently has 34 members.
The group meets at midday on Wednesdays at The Railway Inn in Defford and at 5.30pm on alternate Thursdays at The Angel Hotel in Pershore.
Visit www.pershore.rotary 1100.org for more details.
