Remembrance Sunday bulb-planting breaks world record

A Remembrance Sunday bulb planting event in a Birmingham park broke a world record to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

A total of 850 residents of Stockland Green, Birmingham, planted the bulbs as a lasting memorial to the fallen at a Remembrance event held in Brookvale Park over the weekend.

Each resident planted five narcissi bulbs within an hour to beat the previous world record for 750 people planting simultaneously. The task was verified by a representative from Guinness World Records who was there on the day.

The event was organised by Glendale, which manages Brookvale Park, alongside local police, Birmingham City Council, Interserve and the Friends of Brookvale Park.

Glendale supplied the bulbs and the company’s specialists prepared the ground by removing a strip of more than 300 metres of turf from the park, which runs parallel to George Road.

The area was seeded with wildflowers to provide blooms during the summer months, and Glendale rotovated the land to ensure it was in the best condition for the bulbs to thrive.

Contract manager Tod Hale said: “The event was a wonderful yet poignant way to bring a community together and commemorate the First World War. It was humbling to see the sense of pride among those who took part, many of whom were planting bulbs with a relative or friend in mind.

“We were proud to be part of this once in a lifetime event and create a lasting tribute which will be enjoyed by generations.”