Purple crocus corms planted to mark World Polio Day
MORE than 160,000 purple crocus corms are being planted in the Bailiwick this autumn as part of a worldwide campaign to eradicate polio.
A mass planting got under way at Government House yesterday, World Polio Day, where the Lt-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, and Lady Corder were joined by volunteers from the Rotary Club, Floral Guernsey, Paulo’s Gardening Services, sponsors Appleby and a team from Grow Ltd to plant 25,000 crocus corms at the eastern end of the grounds.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched by Rotary and its partners nearly 30 years ago, in which time the incidence of polio globally has fallen by more than 99.99%, from approximately 350,000 to just seven cases so far this year.
Rotary has committed to raising $50m. per year over the next three years in support of polio eradication efforts, which will be matched at a ratio of 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
