A story of crocus planting

This is what 4,000 crocus corms look like when they are
first delivered. That is a huge box. And we had three of
these boxes, that is 12,000 crocus corms, to plant. Our
sponsors for the corms were Chichester District Council,
Green Team, McMatt & Co and Rotary Novum Beacon.
We are most grateful for their support.

Three areas for planting were marked out on the grass and CDC Green Team lifted
and rolled back the turfs to expose the ground below for planting, and then replaced
upon completion.

We had invited the children from
Rumboldswhyke Junior School and
Kingsham Junior School to come and
help us with the planting and the groups
of 85 children walked in convoy from
their schools to the Whyke Oval site.
Members from the local Lakeview
Grange Care Home also came along to

join us and planted crocus corms with the volunteers and children.

Our MP Jess Brown-Fuller attended during the
morning and chatted to everybody. And then got down
onto her knees and helped the children plant the
corms.
Our Chichester Mayor Sean McHale
attended and got stuck in planting the
crocus corms and chatting to those
present, together with other councillors, teachers, volunteers and
Rotarians from Chichester Harbour Cub, Chichester Club and of
course the new Novem Beacon club who lead and organised this
event.
It had not rained for a while so the ground was dry and
hard, but the day was nice and sunny. It was hard work
for the children, but they all enjoyed the occasion, and
the excitement of the children was infectious and
much enjoyed by all.
Novum Beacon members handed
paper cups full of corms for the volunteers to take and plant and
then they come back for more as the planting progressed.

Doug had previously visited these schools who were to
volunteer for the planting when they were given a briefing
on the depth of planting, and general gardening advise.
Doug also had explained to the children and teachers the
Purple for Polio initiative and before departure thanked
them all on behalf of Rotary Novum Beacon.

The crocus is the flower that Rotary uses to symbolize the significant impact Rotary
has had on the worldwide eradication of polio, a cause that Rotary has engaged in
for some 25 years.
When the crocus corms flower in the spring we will invite everyone to join us in a
little celebration to show our appreciation for their efforts.

Doug Price, Project Lead, Novum Beacon Rotary. October 2025.