VILLAGERS from Denmead worked together to create an incredible display of knitted poppies – ready for Remembrance Sunday.

The poppy display has been hung over the porch at All Saints Church, as a poignant tribute to those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom in two world wars and conflicts past and present.

Entitled the ‘Big Poppy Knit’, the project involved dozens of people knitting a total of 1,547 poppies, in a massive community effort. It kept many villagers busy during the first Covid lockdown.

Then, as restrictions lifted, they came together for the Big Poppy Stitch-Up – six Covid secure sessions that allowed another team to stitch them all together onto a 12-metre hessian background. Also attached is a poem written by Libby Midgley, one of the contributors, that tells the story of the display’s development.

The vicar, the Rev Emma Racklyeft said: “As we approached Remembrance Sunday, and indeed a second national lockdown, it seemed right and fitting to hang the new display. It has been a wonderful, community project, involving so many people. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed.”

Worshippers will mark Remembrance Sunday with a pre-recorded Act of Remembrance, which can be seen here.