Local community floods town with poppy decorations after 'disappointment' of 'Poppy-gate'

Last year, the absence of poppies on lampposts and memorials sparked widespread dismay in a scandal dubbed "Poppy-Gate", where Littleover and Blagreaves had a scant handful compared to nearby communities.

Now, with the help of youth groups such as Marine Corp Cadets, 125th Littleover Cubs and 118th Witham Cubs and Scouts have come together to decorate the neighbourhoods.

At the helm of Greener Littleover is NHS worker and local resident Ali Davies-Marsh, who told GB News the idea came about after years of "excuses" as to why poppies were not used as decorations.

The 49-year-old told GB News: "I felt like it was a year of excuses...I think last year really was the year where we went 'You've just made too many promises. You can no longer use Covid or other things as excuses or reasons why this hasn't been done.

"We had to take matters into our own hands because we got to September this year, and there was no suggestion that anything different was going to happen.

"We were also keen it wasn't one organisation taking on the job, [Greener Littleover] were heading it up because we have the contacts and we have the insurances, but we wanted to make sure it was a full community involvement and ownership."

The group got together, working to decorate lampposts, signs and St Peter’s Church ahead of celebrations for Remembrance Day.

Ms Davies-Marsh continued: "We've probably had around 100 people have been involved in putting up these poppies, and would have put up around 250 by the end across Littleover and Blagreaves.

"What's been really nice for some of the kids, as they've been doing it, is people, as they've been doing runs on the side of the road, locals have tooted their horns and shouted 'Thank You' out the window or waved to them, so they've got instant thanks.

"Some of the Cubs and Scouts who did it were also able to be awarded with the current Scout Remembrance badge as thanks for their efforts too, as part of their service to the community."

The group have organised events, including a trail detailing the history of remembrance and the different types of Poppy.

Ms Davies-Marsh said: "We want people to be educated about what the different colors mean, including the red one, obviously and the trail allows them to have that conversation, from parent to younger generation or grandparent as to what it means.

"It's that conversation starter and that's where the education often comes. There's also the green one which respects and remembers all the land which was destroyed or lost.

"You've got the purple Poppy to remember animals, you've got the white Poppy for peace, which, with everything going on around the world, it is just as important today as it was 100 years ago."

Ms Davies-Marsh stressed how education of younger people on the importance of Remembrance is one of the key pillars bringing the community together.

She said: "We're at the stage really now where there aren't going to be many more veterans who can keep telling the story of the original wars or even children of those veterans.

"It's almost aging out, so we wanted to make sure that that was really prominent."

The parent of one of the Cubs who helped out said: "It was moving to see our children help install the poppies, do something for the community.

"They asked questions, they listened to veterans’ stories, and they understand something of why we remember each year.”

A resident at nearby Heatherton House said: "The sight of poppies being installed by young hands brought back memories. But more than that, it made me feel part of a community that cares. That matters."

Ms Davies-Marsh added that Remembrance had a personal meaning to her, having grown up with family having served during the war.

She told GB News: "I grew up a Brownie and a Guide, and then I was a Scout Leader when I lived in Somerset, so Remembrance Sunday has always been really important to me.

"My grandparents both served in the war, so I have only lived in Littleover just coming up for six years.

"I was really shocked and saddened and last couple of years about how little notice was taken of it, and how little recognition there is of poppies.

"So for me, it feels like it's just the right thing to do, and I don't understand why it seems to be made so difficult."

GB News has approached Derby City Council for a comment.