Volunteers plant 4,000 bulbs at Market Harborough hospital to highlight a critical health campaign

The small but tireless band of enthusiasts at the heart of Market Harborough in Bloom planted a staggering 4,000 tommasinianus crocuses at St Luke’s Hospital on Leicester Road.

About 10 volunteers got together to plant the massive lorryload of bulbs at the front of the hospital on Saturday (October 24).

Speaking last week, Christine Doxford, who helps to run Market Harborough in Bloom, said: “It’s a very exciting project and we can’t wait to get started.

“It’s taken us several weeks to finally get the go-ahead to carry out this huge special planting.

“But the crocuses are going to conjure an absolutely spectacular display of colour when they bloom in February – just in time to hail the beginnings of spring.”

Market Harborough in Bloom is carrying out the special event to get behind the town’s thriving Rotary Club with their Purple4Polio project.

“Their mission is to totally wipe out polio around the world.

“We fully support that campaign and this is our unique way of bringing it home to the public in a visually powerful way,” said Christine.

“The crocuses we’ll be planting have been supplied by the Rotary Club.

“Polio still poses a serious threat in some countries and it has to be eradicated.

“We’re only talking a few decades ago that the disease was still striking people in our country.

“So this is a fantastic project which we are only too delighted to help highlight.

“At the same time the purple crocuses will really help to light up St Luke’s Hospital and generate an amazing show of colour early next year for both patients and staff there.

“So what we are doing on Saturday will work on so many different levels.

“And it’s especially poignant and resonant because Saturday October 24 marks World Polio Day.

“We are obviously working outdoors in the fresh air and there is plenty of space to keep our distance from each other and stay safe,” said Christine.

“We are also hoping to set up big planting dates in future at the new arboretum in Welland Park in Market Harborough and at St Dionysius Church on the High Street.

“So watch out for our brilliant volunteer Bloomers working hard to bring a bright look to our beautiful town that we are all so proud of in spring 2021.

“If you’d like to volunteer with this project or support us we’d love to hear from you.

“You can email us at [email protected].

“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.”

The town’s in Bloom revved-up team have also been very busy stripping out summer displays and planting thousands of new plants and bulbs to inject new colour and vibrancy into Market Harborough town centre as their pictures graphically show.