Drove Road flower bed used to thank NHS workers

As a thanks to all Swindon’s NHS workers, South Swindon Parish Council have put together a “Thank You NHS” flower bed on Drove Road opposite the turning with Chandler Close.

The gardeners at Queens Park put together the flower bed with the help of the Parish Council’s Park Rangers. The flower bed was put together from Wednesday 20^th May to Friday 22^nd May.

The existing hedge was trimmed back to allow a raised bed to feature the thank you message. The location for the flower bed was chosen as a key gateway between Old Town and the Town Centre.  While flower beds thanking the NHS can be found across the country it is the first of its kind in Swindon.

The Parish Council’s Chair of Leisure & Amenities Committee, Councillor Neil Hopkins, said: “While it has been great that everybody has been clapping and doing gestures to show appreciation our appreciation of NHS workers, the Parish Council felt a physical gesture saying thank you would be a nice touch. The flowers used for the bed are Blue Crystal Palace Lobelia. When they come out they will be NHS Blue.

NHS workers do a brilliant job all the time anyway but it is nothing short of heroic what they’re putting themselves through at the moment. You cannot help but be inspired by them.

The flower bed was put together by the Parish Council’s team of gardeners at Queens Park and they have done a splendid job. Really well put together. And some staff have been watering the flower bed at 6am to keep it growing well during the hot spell we’re currently in.

On top of this gesture the Parish Council has handed out food hampers to staff working in care homes inside the Parish and we have also been phoning our parishioners who have been told to “shield” to check they are okay. We feel it’s important we do our bit to support care workers.”