THE Rotary Club of Tarporley has joined forces with local primary schools to take part in an international programme called Focus on the Crocus.

Rotary clubs are aiming to set a Guinness World Record by encouraging local societies and schools to plant the most bulbs ever in one go.

Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) is working with The Eden Project, the International Flower Bulb Centre (IBC), the National Trust and Learning through Landscapes to plant purple crocus bulbs to flower for Rotary Day on February 23, 2011.

These Purple Flowers represent the colour of ink dabbed on a child’s little finger to indicate they have been immunised against polio.

Crocus bulbs have been distributed to Eaton, Bunbury, Duddon, Tarporley and Utkinton primary schools for planting ready to bloom in February.

Rotary Club of Tarporley President Andrew Wallace said: “We hope that by being involved in this way, local children will be inspired by the blooms to feel part of the world-wide drive to eradicate polio.”

Rotary clubs across the UK & Ireland have been contacting their local schools, and community organisations to ask them to identify suitable sites which can then be planted with swathes of purple crocus bulbs in the autumn – as a reminder of the essential need to continue the fight to eradicate polio from our world.