During lockdown the Bowling Club Crafters started a project to mark the
Centenary of the remembrance poppy with a display. The ladies could work at
home to make the poppies using various crafts. Two of the ladies are also
members of Corrie SWI and I was pleased to be asked to request help from
members across Dumfriesshire Federation in April.
The display will be many times bigger than anticipated with the help of over
1,000 poppies from “Rural Ladies”. They have been knitted, crocheted, made from
felt and from recycled plastic bottles.
The display will be at Eskrigg Nature Reserve west of Lockerbie on Saturday 13
and Sunday 14 November. (Remembrance weekend). It will include a huge
cascade over the main centre/hide. The crafters are now meeting weekly to sew
poppies on to netting and discuss progress.
Individuals have been working on information and displays to go on 10 posts
around the 3km route. Did you know that white poppies are for peace, purple for
animals of war and black for those of African or Caribbean heritage? Of course
red is for remembrance. Other aspects of conflict will be commemorated including
information about the branches of the armed forces.
The “Rural Ladies” have made superb efforts to support this community project
and I have had fun collecting the contributions from all corners of the region.
Special mention has to be made of the outstanding effort by Jean Gemmell of
Kirkmahoe SWI. Jean can no longer attend meetings but keeps in touch and was
pleased to contribute 140 poppies. There were also groups of ladies from
Canonbie, Lochmaben, St Mungo and Terregles Institutes who sent a great
number with Terregles making 230 poppies. Each poppy represents a contribution
from the SWI to help with such an exciting and worthwhile project.