10,000 crocuses will transform Telford hospital into sea of purple

The project at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital is being led by the Rotary Club of Telford Centre.

It is part of Rotary International’s Purple4Polio campaign to raise awareness of their fight to eradicate polio around the world.

The planting began yesterday, and next year visitors to the hospital will be welcomed by thousands of purple flowers which will bloom either side of the footpath from the car park down to the main hospital entrance.

The idea came from Viv Marsh, founder of the conservation charity Praise Bee and volunteer community and patient representative for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), after he read about the efforts of the rotary club.

Sonia Roberts, president of the Rotary Club of Telford Centre, said: “Purple is the colour of the dye placed on the little finger on the left hand of a child to show they have been immunised against polio, hence the name Purple4Polio.

"With millions of children to vaccinate, this makes it easier to see who has been protected and who has not.”

The rotary club invited pupils from Hadley Learning Community in Telford to help plant the crocus bulbs.

Julia Clarke, director of corporate governance at SaTH, said: “We are absolutely delighted to support this fantastic project which will benefit our patients and visitors, and help Rotary International raise awareness of their campaign.

"Our thanks also go to the staff and students at the Hadley Learning Community who will be helping to plant the thousands of bulbs.

"We look forward to seeing the results of their hard work in the spring when the crocuses will be in full bloom.”

Viv Marsh added: “When I read about Telford Rotary Club’s endeavours to highlight the eradication of the awful disease polio is across the world, that there was natural synergy between what they were doing and to what we, plus all the staff do throughout the trust, every single day.”