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Guernsey planting initiative 'blossoms' in UK

Millions of purple flowers are to be planted in the UK, following an initiative that was set up in Guernsey.

Last year, Guernsey’s two Rotary clubs and Floral Guernsey planted 70,000 purple crocus bulbs across Guernsey, Herm, Sark and Alderney.

The aim of the initiative was to increase awareness of polio and raise money to fund vaccines to protect against the virus.

Chair of Floral Guernsey, Pat Johnson, had such faith in the effectiveness of the scheme that he approached the Royal Horticultural Society to ask if they would help roll the initiative out across the mainland.

There are 1,800 Rotary Clubs so if we can get 1,000 to sign up then that would see five million bulbs planted. Not only will this create a splash of purple up and down the UK but more importantly, it raises enough money to buy between 300,000 and 600,000 life-saving vaccines.

– Pat Johnson, chair of Floral Guernsey
Supporters of the planting scheme