The Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion has designed and planted a flowerbed to commemorate 100 years of the charity’s work.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) has been supporting those in the armed services and ex-servicemen and women for a century and the Knaresborough branch wanted to recognise this locally.
The branch has worked with Harrogate Borough Council for more than two years to create the design, which features two poppies on either side of “100”, for the space next to the bowling green.
A total of 4,000 plants were used in the flowerbed including 3,900 polyanthus in red, white and blue and some black grass for the centre of the poppies.
The flowerbed can be found in the grounds of the castle near the bowling green.
The RBL was formed on May 15 1921 by bringing together four national organisations of ex-servicemen that had been set up after the First World War.
That was also the the first year poppies were sold, with the appeal raising more than £106,000 to help veterans with housing and jobs.
Alan Pitchfork, the chair of the Knaresborough branch, said:
“The Legion was as important now as it was 100 years ago.
“Throughout the last 100 years service men and women had served their country and in many cases this had left them scarred for life, both physically and mentally, with many more losing their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
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Each year town residents raise around £30,000 for the RBL, but the branch is hoping more people will join as currently there are just a handful of active members.
Mr Pitchfork added:
“For the branch to keep functioning we do need more people to join.
“The fear also is that soon there simply will not be enough members to sustain the branch, which would mean retiring the Standard and an end to the Parade through the town on Remembrance Sunday.”
Anyone who is interested in becoming a member can call him on 07984700429.
The branch already has further plans in place for this centenary year, including the return of its pop-up market stall and the knitted poppy tribute at Knaresborough Castle this autumn.