Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is to memorialise the rainbow ribbons placed on the fences that have become a poignant part of the entrances to both hospital sites over the past two years.

Hundreds of rainbow ribbons were tied to the fences by hospital staff and members of the public in October 2020 to remember those who had died during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two years on, the ribbons have continued to be placed and now the hospital trust is planning to relocate them to a permanent place within the hospital grounds.

The ribbons will be placed inside a memorial box and planted at the base of a remembrance tree marked by a special commemorative plaque and surrounded by beautiful flowers.

The Trust would like to invite members of the public to help them plant thousands of spring bulbs donated by the hospital’s charity around the tree to remember all those lost during the pandemic.

Hospital Spiritual Care Manager, Martin Abrams, said: “It has been very moving to see how the ribbons and bulbs have evolved over the last two and a half years.  Every ribbon, bulb and flower represent a personal experience of loss and many memories too.

“I would encourage people to join us as we plant the spring bulbs to reflect and remember together.”

I want to plant a bulb when can I do this?

Trust volunteers will be available to support members of the public with planting a bulb from October and November at both Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.

• Southport Hospital – Tuesday and Thursdays from 1:30pm – 2:30pm
• Ormskirk Hospital – Thursdays from 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Please go to the reception desk at the main entrance of the hospital to ask for the volunteer and to obtain your bulb. More details or alternative times can be arranged with Volunteer Services Manager Irene Gardner – who can be contacted on 01704 704796 or by contacting the Trust’s Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care team on 01704 704639 or by emailing soh-tr.@chaplains@nhs.net.