Green-fingered pupils help plant thousands of flowers at one of Aberdeen’s much-loved parks

By Reporter

September 17 2016, 8:33 am

Pictured: Cornhill Primary School pupils L-R front - Gemma Still, Summer Flett, Abbie Shepherd back - Erin Buchan and Marshall Meikle, who helped plant the bulbs with Council leadert Jenny Laing and Rotary Vice President Bob Hughes with his dog Jess.

Hardy school pupils weren’t resting on their laurels yesterday while they planted thousands of flowers in an Aberdeen park.

The initiative at Westburn Park was designed to raise awareness and help in the eradication of a deadly disease.

Pupils from the city’s Cornhill Primary were joined by council leader Jenny Laing, members of the Aberdeen City rotary club, and friends of Victoria and Westburn Park.

And, soon enough, the youngsters knuckled down and planted 10,000 purple crocus bulbs, as part of ongoing efforts to wipe out the polio virus.

Pictured: Cornhill Primary School pupils L-R Gemma Still, Summer Flett and Abbie Shepherd who helped plant the bulbs.

The flowers are a worldwide representative of the purple dye used to colour the little finger of those who receive the vaccination.

Chairman of the friends of Victoria and Westburn parks, Peter Stephen said: “We were asked to help in the planting of 10,000 crocuses to support the eradication of polio which the rotary club have been involved with for many years.”

Polio is an infectious disease, which, in some cases, can lead to muscle weakness, resulting in an inability to move.

For those who suffer from muscle weakness, 2% to 5% of children and 15% to 30% of adults die.

There is no cure at the moment, but it is preventable through a number of doses of the vaccine.

Rob Hughes, vice president of the rotary club added: “We have been involved with eradicating polio for at least 30 years.

“Everyone has been so helpful today, especially the school who have just been fantastic.

“They have really got behind the project and are really keen to see the end of polio.”

The 10,000 bulbs were planted on behalf of the Aberdeen Rotarians group, which runs an international campaign which is striving to combat polio by 2019.

Council leader Jenny Laing said: “I think the planting will benefit the people who use the park, but also serve as a reminder of the hard work of the rotary club in helping to provide money for health staff and vaccines to tackle this disease.”

Enthusiastic Cornhill primary pupil Afolaranmi Shodipo, 10, added: “I think it will be really nice for everyone who comes to Westburn Park to see the bed of crocuses.”