A DISPLAY consisting of 5,500 poppies created from plastic bottles is set to appear at Weymouth's Nothe Fort ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
It should see the iconic flowers cascade down both sides of the entrance to the historic military attraction.
Recycled fishing nets and twine will be neatly laid with poppies created from plastic bottles while the fortress will also be lit red for the month along with Weymouth Pavilion, the Jubilee Clock and the seafront lights.
The display is a collaboration between We Are Weymouth, Homeworks Dorset CIC as well as Weymouth and Portland Marine Litter Project who aim to work within the community to create the art installation.
It will be an arduous process to create the thousands of poppies with three workshops planned over the next four weeks to ensure that the display is completed in time.
These workshops will take place at Littlemoor Youth Centre between 3-5 on Thursday, October 13, the Veterans Hub at Wyke between 3-5 on Thursday, October 20 and the Salvation Army at Westham Road from 10 am until 2 pm on Saturday, October 29.
All of the workshops are free to attend and for those with loved ones serving or who have served, names and messages can be written on the poppies in their honour.
The installation at Nothe Fort will take place on Monday, November 7 and will open to the public the following day. It will remain in place until Monday, November 21.
Due to the short amount of time to create, fix and hang the poppies, the team behind the art installation are very keen to encourage locals, families, veterans and more to attend the workshops and help make poppies, Jye Dixey, Board Member at We Are Weymouth said: "With such a military history here in Weymouth we really wanted to do something within the community to commemorate Remembrance.
"Our curtain of poppies at the entrance of the Nothe Fort will be incredibly eye-catching and something for children and families to feel proud of after attending the poppy-making workshops.
"We need 5,500 poppies so really want to encourage as many locals as possible to join in with the crafting, or donate their empty plastic bottles to one of our two sites.”
Such is the demand for poppies locals are being encouraged to drop their plastic bottles, or any poppies completed at home, to Nothe Fort, the William Henry pub or The Veteran’s Hub at 12 Portland Road.
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