Poppy display appears in Darlington ahead of Remembrance Day

Raby Terrace in Darlington is home to the biggest poppy display we have seen. Approximately 500 cans were used to create poppies, crucifixes, and wooden soldiers are scattered throughout the display.

The idea came from Liz Jinks, a local woman who started created these displays two years ago during the height of the pandemic.

The effort, time, and energy that has gone into the display is clear as the public can’t help but stop and stare in awe.

Liz Jinks and the impressive poppy display (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Poppies galore (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

A great effort from everyone involved (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Read more: See as town left completely transformed by a 'totally spectacular display'

Ms Jinks said: “I just thought it would be a nice thing to do really, and that area was a bit of wasteland, it wasn’t being used for anything, so I thought I’d put it to good use.

“We asked the council and got the a-okay.”

“We’ve always respected Remembrance Day, so I just thought it would be nice to do something.

“My hands were saw after shaping all those cans into poppies though!

“People walking past always stop and have a look and some people have even donated plants and things for it (the 'secret garden'). I think more and more people are doing this kind of thing since of Covid.”

Read more: Military parade in County Durham town to honour soldiers on Remembrance Sunday

A fantastic effort to transform the corner of the town centre (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

A beautiful way of commemorating a terrible time in history (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

When Liz’s friends, a local group of bikers of which Darlington’s famous Jungle was once part, would finish their drinks she would say “Don’t crush the cans!” and they would be saved for her to shape into poppies.

A display was also created earlier this year on the site for Ukraine, including a cut-out of a soldier in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, but it was sadly stolen once.

The 'secret garden' on Raby Terrace (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

It was a friend of hers, John Knight, who noticed some wooden cut-outs of soldiers in Bowburn, County Durham, and he decided to take a plank of wood, draw round them, and create some of his own for the display.

The display is located on Raby Terrace, just off Duke Street and to the rear of Skinnergate.

A Darlington woman has paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the First World War by creating a poppy display in Darlington town centre (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Raby Terrace in Darlington is currently a sea of red poppies (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

The display has caught the attention of passers-by (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Read next:

• 'I know all about poverty': Protesters in Darlington call for a general election
• All of the North East businesses that closed in October due to the cost-of-living crisis
• 10 people who've recently passed away as families pay tribute in The Northern Echo

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