Volunteer gardeners purple plants raise vital finances for Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity

Proceeds will go to the charity’s Purple Butterfly Appeal, which aims to build a fourth respite room for terminally ill patients at Rotherham Hospital.

The green-fingered fundraisers from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Rotherham In Root have already planted in gardens and allotments throughout Rotherham, with produce going on sale at Rotherham Hospital’s reception area later this year.

Volunteer Sally Moffett, who is co-ordinating the activity, said: “We have been sowing seeds and growing sunflowers for the Purple Butterfly Appeal for two years and it’s such a joy.

“It’s a great way to get volunteers, community organisations like Rotherham In Root and the hospital all working together to raise money for a good cause.”

She added: “We will have a beautiful variety of sunflowers on offer again this year, such as happy smiles, incredibles and teddy bears.

“But we also wanted to do something a bit different so we decided to grow purple flowers and vegetables to honour the Purple Butterfly Appeal.

“We hope everyone enjoys cooking with the vegetables because they really do taste delicious and hopefully they will inspire people to have a go at growing their own too.”

The generous gardeners are hoping to beat the £800 harvest they reaped in 2017.

Gabby Atmarow, chair of the trust’s charitable funds committee, said: “Thanks to amazing fundraisers who supported last year’s plant sales, we are one step closer to raising enough money for a fourth Purple Butterfly room.

“I know from the feedback we receive from patients’ families that our existing three rooms do really make a difference when time is most precious.”

Sally will be joined by Rotherham In Root and volunteers from the trust at the charity’s Spring Fair on Tuesday, March 20.

They will staff a stall at Rotherham Hospital from 10am to 1pm, holding one of the first plant and vegetable sales of the year.

For more information about the charity visit www.therotherhamft.nhs.uk/charity.

Alternatively, email Suzanne Rutter at [email protected] or call 01709 426821.