Poppy cascade for West Sussex village grows way beyond expectations after yarnbombers' plea

East Preston Yarnbombers asked the village for 4,000 poppies to make a cascade from the tower of St Mary's Church.

The plea went out in February, with members thinking it would take until August to reach the target.

But such was the enthusiasm for the project, 3,000 poppies had been collected by the end of April and now there are 11,000 woolly flowers being fitted into displays for the village.

Valerie Sharp, secretary at East Preston Yarnbombers, said: "It has been great fun putting this together but what a huge project it has turned into.

"We got 11,000 and will now have 'Poppy Preston' for a few weeks. Not only will there be the cascade but 500 red poppies on sticks linking the seven War Graves in the churchyard, with a further 700 making a Garden of Remembrance opposite the Royal British Legion.

"There will a children's competition and a poppy trail around the village showing all the installations."

A large community event is planned for October 26, with the finished poppy cascade being revealed at 10.45am, hanging from the tower at St Mary the Virgin Church, Vicarage Lane, East Preston. Poppies will be on show until mid-November.

The yarnbombers, who have been creating installations for the village for a number of years, hope those have contributed enjoy trying to find their poppies.

The East Preston Poppy Event 2024 will run from Saturday, October 26, to Wednesday, November 20.

See the poppy cascade at St Mary the Virgin Church, in Vicarage Lane, and follow the poppy pathways to the War Graves. The launch event takes place at 10.45am on Saturday, October 26.

Pick up an entry form and map for the Village Trail and collect the letters to enter a prize draw with an opportunity to win a souvenir of the event.

Maps will be available at the launch event, as well as at The Ethical Pet Shop, Dizzy and Seaview Stores. The Ethical Pet Shop also has dog collar poppies for puppies.

During half-term, there will be a children's competition to win a book and cash prize. Guess the number of poppies used in the cascade. Closest in two age categories will win.

The trail will be available to follow until November 20 and the cascade will remain in place until November 24.