WILD flowers have been rescued from the crumbling site of the old Bicester Community Hospital and given another chance to blossom.

As plans are in place to see the old town hospital in Kings End redeveloped, the Langford Community Orchard Group and Bicester Green Gym rescued the wild primroses to replant them in Langford.

The rescue is the second time the flowers have been saved after they were relocated from Didcot in 2011 to make way for a new housing estate.

The plants have now been replanted in Bicester’s first community orchard in Langford Village as part of a spring planting session held with both community groups on April 24.

The co-ordinator of the project, Pam Roberts, said: “Wildlife needs a safe haven as more of Oxfordshire’s countryside disappears.

“We are making the orchard as rich and varied as possible, with different wildflowers to attract wildlife as well as growing fruit for local people.

“I was so happy to see everyone turn out to plant the primroses. We enjoyed the sunny weather, seeing some new faces, and lovely pecan nut cakes.”

The primroses have been placed under two mulberry trees in the orchard, which is maintained by Langford Community Orchard Group.

Bicester Town Council gave permission for the community orchard in August 2012, and the one-acre farmland site has since been restored to an area of trees, flowers, fruit and wildlife to be enjoyed by the community.