Doncaster town decorated with thousands of hand made poppies for Remembrance

Buildings, trees, fences and even benches in Tickhill have been festooned with the colourful flowers for Armistice Day today and through to Remembrance Sunday.

More than 3,000 poppies have been made to create eye catching displays that have captured the attention of residents and visitors alike.

Centre stage near the Buttercross is ‘Winston’ a horse made by creative volunteers and covered in purple poppies which represent remembrance of animals lost in war.

The project began back in May when Tickhill resident Paula Thomas, inspired by displays seen in other local towns in 2020, asked on the local community forum if anyone would like to join her in making poppies for a display.

The response was amazing with over 65 people joining the group she set up dedicated to ‘Poppies for Tickhill’.

Paula was quickly contacted by Anette Hetherington who was keen to offer her support to the organisation of the project and together the ladies started making plans.

Soon after they asked Dawn Jeffrey to join them on the planning team, after she demonstrated her creativity and enthusiasm for the project within the Poppies group.

The three ladies worked perfectly together, making ever more ambitious plans as the poppies began to roll in.

The numbers created exceeded all expectations as the knitters and crocheters of Tickhill got behind the plans and produced poppies by the dozen.

Dawn collected a poppy from each person and created a special wreath from them that will be laid at Tickhill’s War Memorial on Sunday.

Both local primary schools were very happy to join in and added displays made by their pupils to the railings in front of their schools, and members of Tickhill Methodist Church joined together to make more poppies and decorate the front of the chapel.

The Scouts & Guides also decorated their HQ and many local businesses joined in displaying poppies in their windows.

There are 20 war graves within St Mary’s churchyard and these have also been marked by a single poppy allowing visitors to find each of these graves.

Said Paula: “It has been a fantastic community project bringing together many people and importantly prompting awareness and remembrance. Community work at its best.”

A collection for the Royal British Legion has also been taking place in support of the year-round work they do.