The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre and The Eden Project, in association with Rotary International, have launched the second year of The Big Bulb Plant.
The Big Bulb Plant is a project to encourage communities to get together in autumn for a day of planting bulbs in their area. They are also helping to eradicate polio by supporting Rotary’s world record attempt for mass bulb planting.
During the autumn planting season (1 September to 30 November), The Big Bulb Plant will encourage communities to get together and plant bulbs, perhaps in public places in need of an uplift or just at home.
The Big Bulb Plant has also partnered with Rotary to support Rotary’s Thanks for Life campaign to eradicate polio. Rotary clubs are aiming to set a world record attempt and support The Big Bulb Plant by approaching local societies and schools, encourage them to take part by planting the most bulbs in one go.The vibrant Ruby Giant has been chosen for this purpose as it matches the colour used to dye children’s fingers once they have been immunised against polio.
Those taking part in the bulb planting world record challenge can plant their bulb any time in October – all they need to do is get in touch with their local Rotary. A nationwide bulb planting will take place on Saturday 2 October, in time for a mass blooming on Rotary Day on 23 February 2011 – which marks Rotary’s Thanks for Life campaign.
There will be key events in major cities across the UK, including in Trafalgar Square in London. The event was a great success last year where inner cities as well as rural areas planting in pots, verges, street flower bed and schools.
The idea behind The Big Bulb Plant is for people to get together with their neighbours, care for their surroundings and enjoy the area they live in. It is an opportunity to make communities a friendlier, happier and more colourful place to live in.
Rotary is committed to making the world polio free. When this promise was made in 1985, there were 23 endemic countries where polio was blighting life. Now, there are just four. Members of Rotary, from the UK and across the world, regularly visit these countries to personally administer the polio vaccine as well as fundraise throughout the year. By working with communities and health agencies, thousands of young lives have been saved from this crippling and sometimes fatal disease.
During the week surrounding the 2 February, there will be many activities taking place across Great Britain and Ireland to raise funds.
