Bows are a bloomin’ brilliant idea

An amazing effort by three Scarborough florists saw blue bows on doors across the area and a staggering £13,000 raised for local health services. Michelle Brown from Flowers of Distinction on North Marine Road, Claire Fenwick from Forget Me Not Florist on Victoria Road and Claire Warburton from Rose Garden Florist on Dean Road came up with the idea of providing bows for people’s doors in return for a donation.

They said they were inundated with requests. As word spread, the team were joined by two other local florists keen to help – Daisy Dot Flower Shop in Filey and Minnie Bee’s Floral Design of Cloughton. The florists posted some bows out as far as Wales and Glasgow.

Of the money raised, £10,000 went to Scarborough Hospital, £2,000 to Saint Catherine’s Hospice and £1,000 towards a memorial garden at Cross Lane Hospital.

They also raised £800 for a brain research charity by creating a batch of rainbow bows.

And they made a special batch of green and yellow bows free of charge for colleagues of the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician from Scarborough who died after contracting coronavirus.

They hope to make the project an annual scheme to help other charities.