Over 40,000 poppies have been sent from thousands of knitters and fibre fans from all over Powys, the rest of the UK and even as far as Alaska in support of an appeal by Wonderwool Wales, which comes to Builth Wells next month.

The donated poppies will be strung together into a ‘Curtain of Poppies’ as part of a commemorative project, launched at last year’s wool and fibre show, that encourages today’s community of knitters to recreate the united determination of the women at home during the First World War, who ‘did their bit’ to support the troops overseas by knitting gloves, scarves, balaclavas and socks.

Organiser Jane Veevers said: “A big thank you to everyone who has supported this project and to those of you who are still working on your poppies, please send them in as soon as you can, to give us enough time to string them all together!”

The massive, commemorative First World War installation will be on display at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on April 28 and 29, as part of Wonderwool Wales, the annual showcase of Welsh wool and natural fibres.

The ‘Curtain of Poppies’ will be on show in Hall 3, where The Royal British Legion will have a stand and collect donations.

Curtain of Poppies organisers, mother and daughter Olwen and Jane Veevers are delighted at the way the project has caught the imagination of so many schools, knitting groups, craft groups and individuals. It is also being supported by the Powys War Memorials Project which is organising a poppy making workshop at the beginning of April.

Olwen, a coloured sheep breeder and needle felt artist who farms near Abergavenny said: “The poppies are now coming in thick and fast – at a rate of about five parcels a day. Some of them are already strung together but we’re also getting thousands that are unhitched and The Bridstow Spinners in Ross on Wye deserve a huge thank you for working furiously behind the scenes to sew them onto cords!”

The current poppy count of 40,038 is being added to all the time and organisers are continuing to accept poppies until the end of March. Poppies are being sent in from all over the UK and Olwen said she had also had parcels from Spain, Alaska and other parts of the US.

“It has been amazing and quite humbling! We have also had so many notes from people; some of them have brought a tear to my eye,” said Olwen, who is one of the organisers of Wonderwool Wales. “I hope to make a display of some of them alongside the curtain. One of my favourite notes was from a serving soldier, enclosing a beautiful embroidered felt poppy, who said she had never made anything else by hand in her whole life…”

Jane said: “A big thank you to everyone who has supported this project and to those of you who are still working on your poppies, please send them in as soon as you can, to give us enough time to string them all together and mount them on dowels! It would also be wonderful if as many of you as possible could come along to the show to see the result of your efforts.”

After its launch at Wonderwool Wales, the ‘Curtain of Poppies’ will become a travelling exhibition and it is already booked to go to Powys County Council County Hall during May and the National Wool Museum of Wales from May 26 until the end of June. It will then be on display at the Gower Heritage Centre during July and August, the Newtown Textile Museum during September and next year (2019) it has been offered a permanent home at the Gower Heritage Centre.

Wonderwool Wales is also inviting monetary donations in support of this project for the Royal British Legion. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Wonderwool-Wales-Curtain-of-Poppies

Find out more about the 2018 show at www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk. Like Wonderwool Wales Ltd on Facebook or follow on Twitter @wonderwoolwales