Beautiful floral installation in Wigan thanks NHS and key workers

Their message, created in four-foot-tall letters and symbols and entirely made from flowers, has been placed in The Cherries Community Garden, just a short distance from Wigan Infirmary.

The idea came from a similar sculpture made of beautiful blooms which was placed outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

That was spotted by Sarah Crookston of The Rose Boutique in Pemberton, who mentioned it to Kerry Docherty of Standish concern Wild Flowers. Four other florists’ businesses from the borough have also been involved.

The floral message was finished on Wednesday, well ahead of the initial target to have it standing in time for the popular weekly Clap for Carers on Thursday at 8pm.

Kerry said: “Sarah and I were chatting about doing something big and different, something for the community.

“She was inspired by the image from London and wanted to do something similar.

“We’ve got the word ‘we’, a heart, the word ‘NHS’ and then a rainbow for the key workers with the words 'and key workers' over the top. It’s all made of flowers.

“They’re all on platforms raised higher than the hedges at the front of the garden.

“We didn’t want it to be just about the NHS because lots of other people are helping to make the world carry on going round. We wanted them to be included.”

The plan has taken several weeks to come to fruition as the object is so large that permission from Wigan Council has been needed.

The town hall has also chipped in with help building the wooden platforms the floral letters and symbols are standing on.

The other florists involved are Kath Firth of Garlands, Stacey Whittaker from Perfect Daze, Angela Tickle of AM Flowers and Beth Crawshaw from Hedgerow Flowers.

The group has also got the backing of the Friends of the Cherries Community Garden, the residents’ group which prevented the green space being used for a supermarket and now looks after the site.

The project has been sponsored by businesses NR Barton Accountants and Aport, while Jewsons has provided materials.

Social distancing had to be observed while creating the floral installation, with all the components having to be made separately and then brought together on site.