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Thousands of bulbs have been planted for the latest phase of the global 'Purple4Polio' campaign, including the grassy area at the very top of Le Val des Terres.
His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Corder joined volunteers and local businesses who have donated their time and skills, to plant some of the bulbs this week.
They included representatives from the Bailwick's Rotary clubs, Floral Guernsey, Appleby (Guernsey) LLP and Bernie’s Gardening Services.
Rotary said it is very grateful to Appleby (Guernsey) LLP which again sponsored the purchase of the corms, while Bernie’s Gardening Services helped with the main planting again. The bulbs are expected to flower in Spring next year and should continue to do so "for many years to come."
Pictured: The latest phase of the planting took place this week at the top of Le Val des Terres.
His Excellency, Sir Ian Corder, said he and his wife are pleased to support the event and to get their hands dirty helping out.
“Lady Corder and I are totally behind Rotary’s ongoing commitment to deliver on their 1985 promise of a polio free world. It is essential that we all unite behind Rotary to make this possible. #Purple4Polio crocus have been planted in the grounds of Government House, amongst many other places, in the last couple of years. This year we wanted to ensure that a large part of the planting was where we can all enjoy them each Spring.”
Lady Corder agreed with her husband and paid tribute to the work of Rotary Guernsey and the organisation globally for the efforts to eradicate Polio.
Pictured: Government House lit up in purple for the Purple4Polio day earlier this year.
Guernsey has been 'polio free' since 1959 when the last case in the island was recorded. But the virus still exists elsewhere in the world meaning a vaccination campaign has to continue.
Jannine Birtwistle from Rotary Guernsey is the Polio Champion for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland leading on the Purple4Polio campaign.
"Very small pockets of the virus remain with 28 reported cases this year, including a young girl in Afghanistan whose parents didn't want her vaccinated."
She said the campaign supported by Rotary clubs in the Bailiwick helps to ensure that as few people as possible are exposed to polio, with more than two billion doses of oral polio vaccine given to every single child multiple times each year in over 60 of the most ‘at risk’ countries in the world.
This is in addition to routine polio immunisations in all other places.
Each of the three Rotary clubs in the Bailiwick support the Purple4Polio campaign which sees children's nails painted purple to show they've been vaccinated.
Pictured: Lady Corder, Jannine Birtwistle and HE Sir Ian Corder.
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