Poignant poppy display installed in Queen’s Park ahead of Remembrance Sunday

The project has taken around 3,500 hours of volunteering time to complete.

A poppy display created by the local community has been installed in Queen’s Park in Loughborough.

Around 6,500 handmade, sewn poppies have dressed a tree in front of the town’s war memorial, the Carillon Tower.

The project, led by Loughborough in Bloom with the support of volunteering groups and individuals has taken around 3,500 hours of volunteering time to complete.

Pat Cook, chair of Loughborough in Bloom said: “Each year Loughborough in Bloom wants to pay its respects to those who have served and lost their lives in the armed forces and this project has been our biggest one yet.

“It has been a long process with lots of hours put in by so many different groups but seeing it in place in front of the Carillon Tower is a proud moment for the whole of Loughborough in Bloom.

“A huge thanks goes out to all the volunteering groups and individuals that have helped handcraft the poppies and help us during the project.”

A number of groups and organisations have supported the project which has been ongoing through the year. They include Charnwood Borough Council, idverde, Loughborough Ladies WI, Forest Road Green Belt Gardeners, Friends of Queens Park, Watermead Day Nursery, Purple Pumpkin Patch, various local scout groups as well as Individuals from the local community.

The bottom of the tree also includes recycled bottles which have been painted by children at Watermead Day Nursery.