Kingsmead Poppies – Display from 1st November 2020

Kingsmead Parish Council had planned a display of red and white silk poppies around the memorial on the Kingsmead A533 to commemorate VE Day 75, however it was decided to postpone the display due to the pandemic.

It has now been decided to display the poppies prior to Remembrance Day and members of the council will be preparing the flowers and completing the display on Sunday 1st November.

The idea for the display came from a project run by a primary school teacher, Dan Vidler, who works at Coxley School in Somerset. Dan led the Somerset Poppies project which involved the display of 7986 red poppies created by over 4500 children from schools around Wells to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One. Dan has advised on how to make the poppies and the Kingsmead poppies will be made using the stems from the original Somerset display.

The Somerset Poppies were inspired by the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red ceramic poppy exhibition by artists Paul Cummings and Tom Piper in November 2014 at the Towers of London.

Kingsmead Parish Council has decided to include white flowers in its display, in recognition of the UN Peacekeepers who have lost their lives in their work to reduce conflict around the world, and blue flowers in recognition of the NHS staff who have lost their lives in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Cllr Emma Bannister, Chairman to Kingsmead Parish Council, said, ‘’ We have wanted to have a poppy display in Kingsmead for a number of years and are delighted to have the opportunity to do so in 2020. The Parish Council hope the display is enjoyed by all those travelling through Kingsmead during November and gives us an opportunity to also reflect on the work of the NHS which continues throughout this pandemic’’