Crocuses are in bloom

In October last year the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill planted 4,000 crocus corms in the area. This was part of the annual exercise across the UK to recognise the End Polio Now campaign launched by Rotary in 1985 to eradicate polio across the world. Back then there were 1,000 cases a day across 125 countries. Thanks to a mass immunisation process  started in 1988 by Rotary and its partners there are now just 2 countries - Pakistan and Afghanistan - where polio remains endemic. Last year only 38 cases of polio were detected in these countries, a reduction of 99.9% across the world. 

The first photo shows some of the crocus now blooming in the rose beds at the top of King George's Playing Fields in the centre of Rayleigh. Members of Rayleigh Town Council helped members of the club to plant 2,000 crocus corms in these beds. Another 2,000 corms were planted across 4 primary schools in Rayleigh and Hockley. The second photo below shows some planted at Edward Francis School. The posters on the planter were designed by children at the school - the club thanks them for their excellent work.