Two striking poppy displays have been unveiled in Loughborough as the town prepares to honour its fallen heroes on Remembrance Sunday.
The installations, featuring around 6,500 handmade knitted poppies on each tree, have been placed in Queen’s Park and on the Forest Road Greenbelt. The project has been organised by Loughborough in Bloom and the Forest Road Greenbelt Gardeners, with support from community groups and local volunteers.
Picture credit: Charnwood Borough Council
The displays were installed by the Borough Council’s open spaces partner, idverde, at Forest Road Greenbelt on 28 October and at Queen’s Park on 3 November.
Mayor of Charnwood Cllr David Northage praised the effort, calling it “a moving tribute to all those who have served our country and lost their lives in action.”
“I would like to thank everyone involved with the poppies being knitted and installed onto the trees as they create a real centrepiece ahead of this year’s Remembrance Sunday service,” he added.
Pat Cook, chair of Loughborough in Bloom, said the initiative reflects the community’s continued commitment to remembrance.
“It has been a long process with lots of groups and individuals involved in knitting the poppies, and it is a proud moment to see them up on the trees ahead of Remembrance Sunday,” she said. “Thank you to everyone involved in the project.”
The project has received support from a range of local organisations, including Charnwood Borough Council, idverde, Loughborough Ladies WI, Friends of Queen’s Park, Watermead Day Nursery, Purple Pumpkin Patch, various scout groups, and individual residents.
Children from Watermead Day Nursery also contributed by decorating recycled bottles to resemble poppies, which now surround the base of one of the trees.
The displays include not only the traditional red poppies but also purple poppies to honour animals who served in conflicts and white poppies symbolising peace.
Loughborough’s Remembrance Sunday service will take place on Sunday, 9 November, at Queen’s Park. The annual parade will set off from the Market Place at 10:20am, proceeding through the town centre to the Carillon Tower, where the service will begin at 10:50am.
