Winsford Yarn Bombers' Remebrance poppy 'a national effort'

Members of Winsford Yarn Bombers have been working for months on a 7-foot, red woollen poppy, which is currently on display outside their Crosshatch base in Winsford Cross Shopping Centre.

Installed on Saturday, October 28, the poppy is made up of around 800 smaller knitted and crocheted poppies, all set within a welded steel frame.

Ex-servicemen and woman from the Royal British Legion have added information boards, photographs of local soldiers lost to combat, poems, artwork, and poppies for sale to the public, to create a focal point in the town for their fundraising efforts.

The poppy has become a focus of local Remembrance Day fundraising activities by the Royal British Legion (Image: Sharon O'Brien)

Sharon O’Brien, who runs the wool shop in Winsford Cross, started the Yarn Bombers in August 2022 as a reason for people to get out of their homes and socialise. 

Members of Winsford Yarn Bombers with their 'unique' Remembrance Day creation (Image: Sharon O' Brien)

She said: “It’s not just been our group; it’s been a national effort. We’ve had poppies sent to us by volunteers as far away as Scotland and Southampton.

“Each of its four petals is made of about 200 individual handmade poppies.

“We’ve never seen one like it before. I just had a vision one day, about six months ago, which I communicated to the ladies.

They group's November 11-themed postbox toppers are on display around the shopping centre (Image: Sharon O'Brien)

“They were all on board straight away. They made it a reality.

“Once it was finished, we were just blown away. It just looks so much better than we imagined it would.

“We have a lot of older ladies in the group, and the project has really touched home with them. Some of them have lived through the conflicts each November 11 is used to mark.   

“The Remembrance Day parade will be marching past it next Sunday.   

“The level of commitment on show from our ladies has been amazing.”

The group have also made several Remembrance Day-themed post box toppers, which are on display around the shopping centre.

Sharon added: “We try to include everyone in what we do. We don’t want anyone to be left out.

“Some of the ladies who weren’t able to contribute poppies or work on the toppers have worked hard making pompoms for the black centre of the main flower.

“We’re not about ability. We’re about putting a few smiles back on people's faces.”