The approach to Torbay Hospital is set to bloom with colour and hope, thanks to a new partnership between Torquay Rotary Club and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. Together, volunteers from the Rotary Club and hospital staff have planted 1,000 purple crocus bulbs by the Lowes Bridge entrance, creating a vibrant welcome for patients, visitors, and staff.
This initiative is more than just a gardening project—it’s a celebration of what can be achieved when local organisations and volunteers work hand in hand. The crocus planting is part of Rotary International’s global campaign to raise awareness of polio eradication, with the purple crocus symbolising the fight against this disease and the power of vaccination.
Ryan Evans, Facilities Operations Manager at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This project is a wonderful example of community partnership in action. By working together, we’re not only brightening the hospital entrance but also sending a message of hope and unity. We’re proud to support Rotary’s efforts to end polio and grateful for the positive impact this collaboration will have on everyone who visits our hospital.”
Roy Tuttle, President of Torquay Rotary Club, added: “Community is at the heart of everything Rotary does. Planting these crocuses alongside our NHS partners shows how much we can achieve together. As they bloom, we hope they inspire everyone who sees them to support the global campaign to eradicate polio and to celebrate the strength of local partnership.”
The crocuses are expected to flower in early spring, serving as a lasting symbol of what’s possible when communities come together for a shared cause.
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