Thousands of poppies to decorate Launton for Remembrance Day

More than 4,000 poppies will be displayed around the village near Bicester on November 11 to honour servicemen and women.

The Poppy Cascades Project, which began in March, was started by villagers Mary Carter and Isobel Jennion, who wanted to enhance the War Memorial for Remembrance Day.

The poppy cascade and tree huggers at Launton War Memorial (Image: Robert Cornford) Lesley Thompson, who helped to organise the project, said: "We had our first meeting in March and presented our vision to the community.

"We had a great response and decided to have monthly progress meetings over a cuppa in the parish hall.

“Very early on we measured and cut camouflage netting for the display at each site so that at every meeting the installations could be constructed with the poppies.”

The group initially aimed for 1,000 poppies to decorate the War Memorial and the village's water pump.

The poppy cascade at Launton village pump (Image: Robert Cornford) Depending on the number of poppies, they hoped to make tree huggers, garlands, and a ‘poppy flow’ from the pump.

However, with support from the community, they achieved more than four times their target.

Ms Thompson said: "At every meeting, and in between, we received more and more poppies and eventually we had 4,060.

"They were different sizes, many shades of red and purple, and white ones, not only knitted, but crocheted, sewn, and made from other mediums, including metal and some beautiful ceramic poppies made by Kathryn Balmford of Marsh Gibbon."

One of the tree huggers with poppies from the children at Launton School (Image: Robert Cornford)

Children from Launton School also contributed by making their own poppies and helping to attach them to tree huggers.

The project involved more than 50 villagers, with support from the parish council and local businesses.

Jewsons in Launton provided materials for the display frames, while D27 Vinyl Wrapping, a Bicester-based company, provided the camouflage netting.

The group plans to store the decorations so they can be re-installed in future years.

As well as the poppies, two new post box toppers, depicting a 'Tommy' and a Spitfire, were made by a group member and will be displayed at the post office and near the water pump.

One of the post box toppers (Image: Robert Cornford) The parish council purchased lamp post poppies, which were installed around the village by volunteers.

The group is also encouraging donations to The Royal British Legion.

There is Just Giving information, with a QR code, displayed at all locations for those who wish to contribute.

The group hope their activities will increase donations from the village, adding to the house-to-house collection by volunteers.

The village's new additions will be showcased on November 11 for the 11am service.