The residents of Heddington and Stockley have come together in a remarkable display of community spirit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
What began as a plan to make 3,500 poppies to decorate St Andrew’s Church has grown into an extraordinary effort, with 7,000 poppies now adorning the church, the Royal British Legion garden, and areas across the villages.
The project has brought together people of all ages, from nursery-aged children to residents in their 90's, in a true village-wide effort. Liz Woodlands, who instigated the project, explained: “I saw a similar idea in another village and thought it would be fantastic for us. I put it to our Craft ‘n’ Chat group, and everyone was on board.
"But we knew we needed more than our group, so we put it to the village. With under 300 properties, we knew it was going to be a challenge. Once we got more people joining, we asked our Amenities Fund for a donation to purchase wool - which they agreed."
Knitting and crocheting became a central part of the project, but the creative efforts extended far beyond. Men in the village helped by producing large wooden, metal, and 3D-printed poppies, while schoolchildren sewed fabric poppies and painted wooden templates. Scouts contributed by painting wooden poppies, and local childminders and pre-schools made poppies from recycled plastic bottles and beads.
“It has been a real community event, pulling together people who had never met before,” Liz added.
Handmade poppy brooches are also available for donations, with all proceeds supporting the ongoing community efforts. Residents and visitors are invited to come along and see the display in person, which stands as both a creative achievement and a heartfelt tribute to those who served.
This project is a shining example of how a small community can come together for a common purpose, blending creativity, remembrance, and a shared sense of pride in Heddington and Stockley.
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