Centenary poppy meadows come into bloom - 22 July 2015
The seeds of remembrance planted across Arun this year to commemorate the second year of the centenary of the First World War have flowered.
The Centenary Poppy Campaign was launched by the Royal British Legion in 2014 to set the UK awash with colour, and more than 15 sites across Arun were selected to be planted. These meadows are being sown over the four years the centenary will be taking place, from 2014-2018.
The four sown this year, including Langmeads Field in East Preston, Herington’s Field Community Orchard in Arundel, in Felpham Way, Felpham, and Bridge Road in Littlehampton are now bursting with poppies and other wild flowers.
Arun District Council’s Parks Team and contractors ISS Facility Services Landscaping joined forces with East Preston Infant and Junior Schools to sow the seeds at Langmeads, and local families and the British Legion helped at Herington’s Field.
Other meadows sown last year are also in bloom, including West Park and the meadow on the BT exchange land in Gloucester Road, which was planted by Bognor Regis Guides this spring as part of the Bognor Regis in Bloom competition, organised by Arun District Council in partnership with Bognor Regis Town Council, ISS Facilities Services Landscapes and British Telecom. Councillor Terence Chapman, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services at Arun District Council, said: “We are delighted to be part of this splendid campaign to mark the centenary of the First World War and the trench warfare which took place in the poppy fields of Flanders.
“It is wonderful to see these meadows in bloom; they are a beautiful sight and serve as a fitting tribute to all those who fought in the First World War. We are grateful to everyone who helped us to make this campaign such a success in the district.”