Local volunteers create knitted Poppy swath for Chagford Remembrance

A handmade poppy display will be hung outside the Chagford Chemist this week to mark this year’s Remembrance celebrations.

Members of the Chagford Knit and Natter group, along with other local volunteers, have created around 200 knitted poppies for the display, which will be draped from the chemist’s window and across the wall above.

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The swath will be put up this Friday (7 November), ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

It will include the names of Chagford’s fallen soldiers, written on the camouflage netting used to hold the poppies.

Chagford local Cheryl Hartshorn, who decorates the chemist’s window yearly, told The Moorlander the project had brought people together in the lead-up to Remembrance.

“We’ve had a great group of ladies knitting and sewing the poppies on,” she said.

“One lady made 25 on her own, and others have helped attach them to the net. I just hope it works. I'll make it work.”

The idea came from the group’s wish to make a display visible to everyone in the town, not only those attending church services.

“People in town who don’t go to church will see it,” said Cheryl. “That’s what makes it special.”

If the display holds up through the week, the group plans to donate it to the church for use at future Remembrance events.

The swath will hang across the window of the Chagford Chemist and above the flat above, stretching over the memorial window. 

In the base of the display, the group plans to add crosses and flowerbeds, including names drawn from a list of Chagford’s fallen soldiers.

An informal gathering is planned for 11am on Tuesday 11 November, when members of the group and local residents will pause to remember.

Cheryl added: “They’re not braggers, but I think they deserve recognition for what they’ve done, I’m really proud of them.”