Hardy band of volunteers brave wind and rain to plant 4,000 crocus bulbs in Harborough

Talk about flower power!

A hardy band of volunteers have braved wind and rain to plant a stunning 4,000 crocus bulbs in Market Harborough.

The enthusiastic Harborough in Bloom team put in 2,000 crocuses at the entrance to the inpatient unit at St Luke’s Hospital on Leicester Road, Market Harborough.

The group carried out the ambitious scheme on World Polio Day on Saturday October 24 to support the town’s booming Rotary Club with their worldwide Purple4Polio project.

The Good Samaritan gardeners swung into action after an official handover and a heartfelt thank you from Rotary President Gillian Bindley.

Christine Doxford, one of the volunteers, said: “All being well we can all look forward to a dazzling feast of colour vividly lighting up St Luke’s in the spring.

“The purple crocuses represent the purple dye put on a child being vaccinated against polio.”

She added: “They will be a fitting emotional tribute to the Rotary Club’s fantastic commitment to eradicating polio across the world and one which Market Harborough in Bloom is extremely happy to support.”

Christine said they took Sunday off before getting back together for their usual ‘Bloomers’ session in the town’s Welland Park on Monday morning.

“Half of the team tidied and weeded the rose garden as the other team planted 2,000 bulbs in the mini-Arboretum in Welland Park,” she said.

“The crocuses are circling some of the young trees to enhance what will grow to be some spectacular specimen trees such as Black Walnut.

“Stay bang up to date and see how else you can get involved with our latest projects and work by checking our website at mhibv.org.uk

“Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rhsbloomharborough“We have just achieved a big milestone of 500 followers and would love to see our numbers grow even more,” said Christine.