Plant free poppies to commemorate World War 1

Packets of poppy seeds will be made available to create colourful memorial areas in flower beds across the borough.

Community and voluntary groups can apply to sow seeds in their neighbourhoods throughout Blackburn and Darwen.

Councillor Kate Hollern, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “We want to see a sea of red poppies planted across the borough. I feel it’s important to take pride in the poppy as our national symbol of remembrance – we owe it to the people who died – to never forget.”

Small grants are also still available for Your Call groups wishing to remember some of the darkest days of history.

Community groups that have taken part in Your Call events can apply to the fund. For example they may have taken part in a community clean up or formed a winter squad. Any group that has taken part in at least three of these events from April 2013 – April 2014 will be eligible to apply for a grant of up to £200 to host their own commemorative events.

Many groups have already come forward and are in the process of receiving funds. But there is still time to apply for funding.

Councillor Kate Hollern, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “100 years ago, communities up and down our country not just Blackburn and Darwen, came together to fight a war. We as a borough and a community cannot let the sacrifice many of our families made in that dark period go unmarked. These grants will reward groups that, as in the spirit of 1914, come together and volunteer for their community over the coming months.”

For more information on applying for a grant, please contact (01254) 585448.