Wirral Life November 2018 | Page 25

W L WIRRAL CARE HOME KNIT 1,800 POPPIES FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY Residents and staff at a Wirral care home knitted 1,800 poppies to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. The Hazelwell, a residential, nursing, palliative and respite care home in Heswall, involved residents, staff, and friends and family members knitted the woollen poppies as a fitting tribute to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. Starting in March, residents, staff and friends and family have spent a total of around 450 hours – or more than 18 days - knitting around 1,800 poppies with it taking an average of 15 minutes to knit each poppy. The idea was the ‘brainchild’ of Brenda Newey, the care home’s activities assistant, who came up with the idea as a positive way to honour this year’s special Armistice Day after speaking with residents at the home. Brenda from West Kirby, said: “I came up with the idea after speaking to residents about World War One. Many of them were brought up in the aftermath of the war and grew up hearing stories of war told by their parents, so they felt a real need to commemorate it in some way. “I had a nutty moment and thought why don’t we try and knit as many poppies as we can. It has been a fantastic way of bringing the community together to pay their respects to those that have fallen. Residents, family members, friends, staff, just about everyone has been involved in knitting a poppy of some sort. Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed working on the project.” To find out more about The Hazelwell, call 0151 342 9654 or visit www.thehazelwell.com The knitted poppies were attached together on chicken wire in a striking structure which were displayed in a grand unveiling at the front of the care home on November 8. wirrallife.com 25