A PLEA to see sunflowers flourish across Worcester as part of the city’s bid to stand with the people of war-torn Ukraine has been warmly welcomed.
Caring city resident Karen Field led the calls with an impassioned plea at the last meeting of Worcester City Council before the break for May’s local elections.
In an impassioned speech, drawing on Ukraine’s rich history and on the generosity of Worcester’s people, she called on councillors to send a signal of support to Ukrainian refugees.
“Sunflowers are Ukraine’s national flower and the sunflower symbolises peace. The blue and yellow flag mimics the vibrant colour of sunflowers against a clear blue sky,” she said.
“If Ukrainian people already living here in Worcester, or refugees from the war who settle in Worcester can see the city in summer as a sea of sunflowers, it will send a message we here are warmly welcoming them to our city and standing in solidarity with them.
“It can provide a connection to their homeland when it is so far away, and I hope refugees in Worcester from other parts of the world will also feel part of this welcome.”
Councillors from across party divides were moved by Karen’s speech, and a subsequent motion calling on Worcester City Council to plant sunflowers in the city’s parks and wildflower meadows was passed with unanimous support.
As the Britain’s Homes for Ukraine initiative sees refugees provided with safe homes in the city, Karen hopes the sunflowers will be a beacon of hope for people who have endured so much.
