A striking cascade of more than 3,200 hand-knitted poppies has been unveiled at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to honour those who have served in the armed forces and those who have lost loved ones in conflict.
The poignant artwork — the vision of Heritage Centre supervisor Debbie Miles Williams — is made up of 3,204 poppies crafted by local schools, community groups, libraries, and individual residents. Local knitting groups, solo knitters, Heritage Centre staff, and former service personnel all picked up their needles to contribute to the display.
Picture credit: Leicestershire County Council
Volunteers attended three dedicated sessions at the Heritage Centre to attach the thousands of poppies to the cascade netting. Staff members Alison Stafford and Elizabeth Hornsby played key roles in coordinating the sessions and reaching out to community knitting groups, personally contributing more than 700 poppies between them.
While most of the flowers are the traditional red symbolising remembrance, others carry special meanings: black poppies recognise the contributions of Black, African and Caribbean service people and their families; purple poppies remember animals in service; and white poppies represent peace.
Unveiled on Thursday, the completed cascade now hangs proudly in the Heritage Centre’s Upper Courtyard, where it will remain for two weeks before being carefully packed away until next year. The plan is for the display to grow annually as more poppies are added.
Councillor Paul Harrison, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, praised the project as a “truly moving tribute” that reflects both remembrance and community spirit.
“Each of the 3,204 hand-knitted poppies represents not only remembrance but also the incredible spirit of community that defines Leicestershire,” said Councillor Harrison. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time and talent to create this powerful display. I encourage residents and visitors alike to come and see it — to reflect, to remember, and to appreciate the collective effort that has brought this tribute to life.”
Looking ahead, the Heritage Centre plans to expand the project through a monthly ‘Knit and Natter’ group, partnerships with more schools and community groups, and wider outreach across Leicestershire — ensuring the poppy cascade continues to grow as a living symbol of remembrance for years to come.
