Queen Camilla has visited The Poppy Project in Coresham, a display of knitted and crocheted poppies created to mark the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The community initiative was inspired by The Peacock Women’s Institute, Corsham, and brought together various community groups.
The Peacock WI launched The Poppy Project at the beginning of 2025, with a goal to create 10,000 poppies for display in the town.
The group received over 31,000 poppies from across the UK and overseas, including schools, youth groups, residential homes, and businesses in the area.
Queen Camilla looked on as thousands of poppies had been created for the projects
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The Queen visited Martingate Shopping Centre, where a dedicated Poppy Shop was opened to provide free knitting lessons and coordinate community involvement.
Camilla joined a poppy workshop, where she met those involved in making the poppies and watched as they demonstrated how each one gets created.
Queen Camilla took the time to visit Poppy Project in Coresham
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She went on to view some of the decorated store fronts and flower planters, as well as met with youth groups and members of Wadswick Green Retirement Village who had helped with the poppy making project.
Upon arrival at St. Bartholomew’s Church, the Queen was welcomed by the Acting Bishop of Swindon and Reverend Dr. Andrew Johnson.
Queen Camilla was photographed alongside the thousands hanging down the church tower.
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She laid a wreath at the First World War Memorial, before attaching the final poppy to complete the cascade of 10,000 poppies draping the church tower.
Along the way, she was stopped by well-wishers as they looked on and paid tribute alongside the Queen.
Queen Camilla took time to converse with well wishers.
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The Queen was shown a demonstration of how each of the poppies were made.
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Inside the church, Camilla met with community groups, including representatives from the Royal British Legion, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and the Peacock WI Corsham, before leaving.
The final displays, installed in October, will be exhibited in Coresham for Remembrance 2025 and will be preserved and stored as a community asset for future commemorative use in the town and local parishes.
The Poppy Project is intended to stand as a testament to Corsham’s spirit of remembrance, gratitude, and community.
