A Wave of Poppies Washes over Cornwall

Kenneth (the prize winning name for the horse given by a local schoolgirl whose great-grandfather served in WW2) proudly displays his purple poppies.

Members of Crantock WI put the finishing touches to their Remembrance Day Display in late October. This year, despite the pandemic and supported by a grant form local charities and the parish council, the WI members went all out. They bought a frame for an almost life size horse, and covered it with knitted purple poppies, the remembrance colour for animals lost in the wars. In addition, the red poppy display of 7,500 knitted and crocheted poppies has gone one step further than last year, forming a spectacular display by day or night. Linda Hallwood of Crantock WI says, “Even in times of a pandemic, this project has stitched the seams between the WI and its local community to work together. For it we are stronger. Although it will be a socially distanced one, we are more determined than ever to mark this special day of Remembrance Sunday.”

In Ludgvan, members of Crowlas & Ludgvan WI were an integral part of a community project to drape Ludgvan Church in poppies. Over 2,500 poppies were knitted and crocheted, most by WI members, and attached to ‘flights’ suspended from the church tower. What a spectacular accomplishment!

The flights of poppies at Ludgvan Church.

Penryn WI members were invited to knit and crochet poppies this year to decorate the railings of the Town’s Memorial Gardens prior to the Lockdown Remembrance weekend.

Some of the beautiful poppies made by members of Penryn WI.

Mawnan WI’s poppy cascade.

Mawnan WI installed their poppy cascade outside the Memorial Hall and it looks stunning in the autumn sunlight. Members are really proud of their village community and their WI. At not quite crack of dawn, a small team arranged the poppies so that they cascade over the railings and then placed a trough of the poppies made last year on the other side of the entrance. This is the third year of the WI’s tribute to the brave men of Mawnan who fought and died in the World Wars. There are now over 1,000 poppies made by the women and men, boys and girls of the village.

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