To commemorate the centenary of the start of World War One, West Ham Park will be hosting a ‘Poppies for Peace’ event on Saturday.
It is organised by the Friends of West Ham Park and will include a guided tour of the wildflower meadows in the park from 1pm to 2pm, a chance to make your own poppy and add a message to the peace tree.
A spokeswoman for the Upton Lane park, which is run by the City of London, said more than 16 million people died and more tham 20 million were wounded in the First World War. The use of the poppy was inspired by the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and its opening lines refer to the thousands of poppies that were the first flowers to grow in the churned-up earth of soldiers’ graves.
The poppies flowering this summer will commemorate and honour their sacrifice.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London recently visited the park to see a poppy meadow planted by the borough‘s children.
Residents can find the Friends of West Ham Park near the playground. For more details, go to parks.gardens@cityoflonodn.gov.uk or call 0208 472 3584.
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