North Nottinghamshire communities unite through handmade poppy displays for Remembrance Day

Residents, businesses, and schoolchildren have come together to create handcrafted poppies, forming striking displays throughout the district.

Adorning a series of striking poppy sculptures installed earlier this year to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, North Notts BID launched a public call-out in July inviting the community to create crocheted and knitted poppies. These contributions have now become part of the displays in the heart of Worksop, Retford, and Harworth and Bircotes, providing a poignant focal point for Remembrance Day commemorations.

Sally Gillborn MBE, chief executive of North Notts BID, said: “We have been blown away by the kindness and creativity shown across North Nottinghamshire. Every poppy created is a symbol of remembrance and seeing our community unite through this initiative has been incredibly moving.”

People who contributed poppies, which have been added to the sculptures in Retford and Worksop, have also been able to leave accompanying notes to add personal messages of remembrance. Any surplus donated poppies from this year will be crafted into wreaths to be used annually as part of future remembrance displays.

In Harworth and Bircotes, a donation basket was available for the community to contribute throughout the month. The town also proudly displayed poppies from previous years as a continuation of its tradition, with North Notts BID donating and installing a Tommy sculpture next to the cenotaph.

Sally added: “It was particularly amazing to see a generous contribution from Sutton-Cum-Lound CofE Primary School, in which pupils took time to learn to knit and produced beautiful handmade poppies that are now proudly displayed on the Retford sculpture. This is a reminder of how important is for younger generations to continue to remember the sacrifices made for us.”

For more information about North Notts BID, visit the website: https://northnottsbid.co.uk