LEGACYThe Royal British Legion has announced the Centenary Poppy Campaign which will see them asking the public and local authorities to buy Flanders poppy seeds from B&Q to plant on their own land. Funds raised by the campaign will go towards the £1.6million the Legion spends each week on vital care and support to the Armed Forces community.

The idea for the campaign was initiated by members of the Greenhithe and Swanscombe Branch of the Legion, who are now working alongside the national charity to implement the scheme in communities across the UK.

The campaign, which will be officially launched at the beginning of October, will see the UK awash with poppies during the centenary period in commemoration of all those who lost their lives in the First World War.

The Royal British Legion’s Director of Fundraising, Charles Byrne, said:

The Royal British Legion is pleased to confirm we are rolling out the Centenary Poppy Campaign, across the UK, and in partnership with national retailer B&Q.

“The idea to distribute poppy seeds to commemorate the centenary of WW1 originated in the Legion’s Greenhithe and Swanscombe Branch, who are working with us to establish this campaign on a national level.

“We want to see members of the public making this campaign their own in their local communities, working in collaboration with local government, schools and community groups, and we will be taking discussions forward with central Government to engrain this campaign in the centenary commemorations.”

Graham Mentor-Morris and Phil Berry of the Greenhithe and Swanscombe Branch said:

We are over the moon our campaign is now being developed on a national level, with support from a national retailer. Not only will the Centenary Poppy Campaign commemorate all those who gave so much during WW1, but also raise vital funds for the Legion.”

Find out more about the Legion by watching the video below

What can we do?

I hope that my friends will support the campaign and buy Flanders poppy seeds from B&Q to plant at home, and perhaps our local councils and the Northern Ireland Assembly will buy some to plant on their land too?

Membership?

I am proud to be a member of the Royal British Legion, proudly standing shoulder to shoulder with those who serve and have served.  If you want to join the Legion to help support the Armed Forces community, please click here.