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Project creates remembrance display of 20,000 poppies

Curtis LancasterSouth of England
Nicola Bell five people holding knitted and sculpture poppies and stood in front of a church with a knitted stream of poppies on the wall behind them.Nicola Bell
Organisers thanked Safe Height Solutions who helped to install the display

A community poppy display featuring about 20,000 handmade poppies has been unveiled ahead of remembrance day.

The Windsor Community Poppy Project display at Windsor Parish Church of St John the Baptist opened at a celebration event on Friday and will remain on show until 15 November.

Schools and care homes were among the 40 organisations to take part in the project, led by Craft Coop.

Organisers said they initially thought they would receive about 10,000 poppies but the help of thousands of volunteers meant they far exceeded those expectations.

Nicola Bell An elephant with an RAF uniform on on the left. It has a necklace of knitted poppies around its neck. On the right is the front of the church with two streams of poppies flowing from the top of the church to the ground either side of the doors of the building.Nicola Bell
Elephant sculpture Windsor Hurricane (left) has been loaned to the church in Windsor

Heidi Berry, director of Craft Coop, said: "What started as a modest tribute has grown far beyond what we expected, and it has shown what Windsor can do when it comes together to remember."

A notable feature of the display is Windsor Hurricane, an elephant sculpture on loan from the company Martin-Baker, which honours aircraft designer Sir Sydney Camm and his connection to the church.

Organisers also thanked Safe Height Solutions, whose staff volunteered their time to install the outdoor display in difficult weather conditions.

The project, supported by several local charities and funders, has been intended to be the first step towards a wider Remembrance Trail linking key commemorative sites in the area.

Craft Coop said it hoped it could build on the initiative with future community projects, including hosting the Longest Yarn exhibition at the church in 2027.

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