Julie Smith, a Trustee of Crowland Community Hub, came up with the idea after being inspired by the Blood Swept Land and Seas of Red art installation of poppies at the Tower of London.
Since January 2023, about 100 people in the town have rallied around to create the poppies and tie some of them to the 20m screen which is now decorating the front facade of the famous Abbey.
Mrs Smith (75), who lives in Crowland, has put the success of the project down to the area’s community spirit.
She said: “I knew the Crowland community was capable of that. I had no doubt we would make it happen.
“We have had 300 people comment to say how wonderful it was.
“I knew people would come forward and didn’t realise that they would come forward in such numbers.
“Everyone has asked what are we doing next year and if we should honour the animals with purple
People were offering to knit or crochet poppies and did not ask for money.
Children and staff from the Abbey 345 Playgroup also got involved by taking single use plastics and turning them into red poppies, these are now decorating the pathway leading up to the church.
The project continued in 2024 led by Sue Simmons with one or two additions – A lest we
forget banner being hung on the railings adorned with plaited wool and purple poppies.
He children of Abbery 345 playschool again supported this, with the creation of purple
poppies. Crowland community Hub had purple poppy wreaths alongside the history
section in the library with the History group generating profiles of those on our war heros
on the war memorial
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