Knitting for rememberance 2023

The Lexicon is delighted to be supporting The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2023.

From today until Remembrance Day on Saturday, November 11, 2023, Princess Square will host a Poppy pop-up shop run by volunteers from The Royal British Legion.  Visitors will be able to purchase poppies and other Royal British Legion merchandise including snap bands, fridge magnets, lanyards, poppies and much more.

To commemorate those who have and to show support for those serving, The Lexicon has installed a Poppy Pod on Braccan Walk North.  The commemorative display is a collaborative effort between the community, knitting groups and Craft Coop, who have knitted more than 1,000 poppies to decorate the Poppy Pod.

Rob Morris, general manager at The Lexicon says: “We are pleased to able to offer support to the Royal British Legion again this year. We’d like to thank everyone who dedicated their time to knit these stunning poppies to create this unique display.”

The Mayor of the borough of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Naheed Ejaz, says: “The poppy display that has been created by the community is incredible. I would like to thank every resident who took the time to support this worthy cause. Thank you also to The Lexicon and Craft Coop for working on this initiative.”

The poppies created for the Poppy Pod will be saved and sold to the public next year.  This year’s official poppy will be plastic free. The new poppy is made entirely from paper and can be recycled in household collections. It no longer has a plastic stem or centre, and can be fastened with a pin, worn in a buttonhole, or a stick-on version is available.

Gaynor Dingley Poppy Appeal Manager says: “I love the new plastic-free version, but while the poppies have changed, the meaning stays the same. Wearing your poppy shows you care, and that the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community will never be forgotten.  “Many thanks to The Lexicon for its continuing support of the Royal British Legion.”

RBL Notes to Editors:

• The Royal British Legion’s poppy manufacturing HQ in Kent will be operating at full capacity to produce 170,000 poppies every day - to satisfy the public’s desire to wear a poppy to show the Armed Forces community they care.
• The Royal British Legion worked with scientists at University College London to assess the environmental impact of the new poppy and ensure its sustainability. Their analysis revealed that the new poppy will reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent compared with the traditional poppy.
• The plastic-free poppy, which was created in collaboration with designers Matter and with bespoke paper supplier James Cropper, will be available alongside remaining stocks of the current poppy to reduce any waste of poppies already produced.
• There have been more than ten versions of the poppy through the years, from hand-crafted red silk versions with wire stems in the 20s, through to a cardboard ‘austerity poppy’ in wartime in the 40s and onwards to cotton, paper and plastic examples.

About the Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion (RBL) is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting the needs of the Armed Forces community, past and present and their families.  The RBL is the champion of Remembrance and safeguards the Armed Forces Covenant. It is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy. For further information, visit rbl.org.uk.

Registered Charity Number: 219279