A northern tour of a cascade of crafted purple poppies created in North Yorkshire will raise awareness of the roles played by animals and birds across the globe in theatres of war.
Organisers are looking to find the people who made the 'Richmond Poppies' to invite them to the launch of the tour, at York Army Museum.
The tour will raise awareness of the UK’s official acknowledgement of International War Animal Day that took place in February, and the purple poppy campaigns - particularly from the War Horse Memorial Organisation.
The display brings together education, aesthetic appeal and a recognition of the importance of crafting and charity.
The Richmond poppies are fixed to camouflage netting from Catterick. Crocheted in different hues of purple and mauve, the poppies are a poignant reminder of sacrifices made.
Gifted to the Northern Region of the Donkey Breed Society by a group of makers from Richmond, the poppies had been in residence, as a smaller display, in a pet shop in the town for some years.
However, the society decided that a wider audience was needed to appreciate the hours of work that had gone into the endeavour.
Carefully worked up, with additional artefacts to create a museum exhibit, the tour will visit York Army Museum later this month, the Cumbrian Museum of Military Life in Carlisle (June to July) and the Cheshire Military Museum in Chester (October to December).
Spokesperson for the Donkey Breed Society in the North, Sarah Booth, said: ‘We are pleased to show this beautiful work, albeit against a backdrop of the sadness.
"We can only imagine the horror experienced by these animals. They had no choice and yet their contributions assisted in giving us the democracy we enjoy today. We are very grateful to the York Army Museum for allowing us to begin the Richmond poppies’ journey in York."
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The society is keen to hear from anybody in Richmond who helped to make the poppies, to invite them to the opening of the exhibition in York.
Get in touch either by emailing Sarah Booth at northerndonks@gmail.com or by calling Allison Freeman at York Army Museum 01904-461016.
The Donkey Breed Society is a registered charity that provides support and friendship to a nationwide community that shares a passion for donkeys. Together with War Horse Memorial in the UK and groups in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America they commemorate the amazing and often extremely harrowing roles that animals have played.
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