Remembrance poppies go paperless as appeal launched in Salisbury
It's the first redesign of the poppies in a generation
The Salisbury branch of the Royal British Legion launches its poppy appeal today (Saturday 28th October) and for the first time ever, the poppies are completely recyclable.
They’re now paperless in what is the first redesign of the symbol in a generation.
We’re encouraged to wear poppies in a show of solidarity towards the armed forces community in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday, which is on 12th November this year.
President of the Salisbury branch, Chris Child told us more about the new poppies:
“They’re made of a kind-of fibre and they can go straight in the paper recycling afterwards,” he said, adding: “In previous years, they’d been made, predominantly, out of single use plastic but things have moved on and we’re now going for recyclable poppies.”
The branch will be at the Salisbury Guildhall this morning (Saturday) to launch their appeal for 2023.
They’ve invited several guests, including the Mayor and the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory, but there’s one particular guest, 102-year-old Ron Collins, who’s role is very important:
“We’ve also asked, as a guest of honour, a local gentleman who’s a veteran of the second world war.
“He’s coming along to present the first two poppies of the official poppy appeal for 2023 in Salisbury.”
With each donation we make when receiving a poppy, we support the veteran community.
Chris told Greatest Hits Radio that the money raised helps veterans in need in a variety of ways.
“It’s everything from providing help lines, through to providing advice for veterans who have found themselves homeless or are going through hard times.
“There’s a whole raft of charitable aims and the funding that is raised through the poppy appeal contributes an awful lot to the wellbeing of our veterans.”