More than 4,000 handmade poppies have gone on display at a Woodthorpe church as part of a community project raising money for the Royal British Legion.
Among them are 453 poppies knitted in memory of every British serviceman and woman killed during the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Remembrance display at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Thackeray’s Lane was the idea of former police officer Polly Govis and her friend Jo Turner, who served in the Royal Air Force.
Both are members of the church’s Friendship Group, which meets every fortnight and brings together retired people from the local area.
Polly said the idea grew from wanting the group to do something special for Remembrance.
“I thought it would be nice for the friendship group to do something for Remembrance Day,” she said.
An appeal was subsequently made through the parish newsletter and on Facebook, with handmade poppies arriving from neighbours, friends and complete strangers. Some were sent from as far away as Redditch.
One of those who became involved was Mary, whose nephew was killed in Afghanistan.
She told the group: “I’d like to do 453.”
Mary and her friends went on to knit all 453 poppies, representing the number of British military personnel who lost their lives during the conflict.
That number also has a local connection. The A453 was given the additional name Remembrance Way in honour of the 453 British personnel killed in Afghanistan.
Work on the Woodthorpe display began back in February.
From June, a group of six or seven volunteers met twice a week to attach the thousands of handmade poppies to army-surplus camouflage netting.
The finished installation starts with a single poppy beside a statue of St Joseph before gradually growing until, as Polly describes it, “it forms an army”.
Black strands of wool have been included to represent soldiers, while white poppies have been used to represent peace.
Jo said the project also made her think about those who died in earlier conflicts.
Two of her great-grandfathers fought in the First World War.
“I didn’t know them. They died before I was born,” she said.
“But I think of all the people who have nobody left to think about them.”
Residents can see the display at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during November between 10am and noon, as well as throughout the weekend.
Visitors can also pay £1 to guess how many poppies have been used to fill the church’s front windows, with the answer being kept in a sealed envelope.
Money raised will go to the Royal British Legion.
On Remembrance Sunday, the remaining poppies will be blessed before being handed out.
