Crocheted poppies create stunning tribute to the fallen in Hartlepool

The Heugh Gun Battery has been turned into a blaze of red flowers thanks to yarn bombers who chose the site for a poignant tribute to Britain’s fallen.

Battery museum manager Diane Stephens said: “We arrived on site and there was a cascade of beautiful red poppies from our command post.

“They are cascading down on to the grass bank. There are hundreds of them and it must be more than 30ft-long and 10ft-wide, and it is here for Remembrance Sunday.”

Diane does know a little of the background to how the poppies appeared at the site.

A group of people was planning a remembrance day tribute and started a project to create crocheted poppies. But then the public joined in and volunteers created even more.

However, what Diane did not know was that the target for the tribute was the Battery itself.

The display is only one aspect of a busy festive period for the Battery.

It is also taking part in the Wintertide Festival which will run from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, and will be involved in an art trail.

On the Saturday, the Battery will host performances by Indie bands.

It will also be involved in the Turkey Trot event on Sunday, November 27, at 11am.

It is a sponsored family fun run which is made up of a lap of the Town Moor in aid of the hospice.

But there’s a twist – as everyone who takes part will receive a novelty turkey hat to wear as they run around the short course. The Battery will be the start and finish of the run.

The historic site is famous for its actions in the bombardment of the town, in which 130 people died.

The battery, along with the nearby Lighthouse Battery, defiantly replied to the attacking German ships on December 16, 1914.

For more details on the Battery, in Moor Terrace on the Headland, should contact (01429) 270746, or email [email protected].

People can also find out more by visiting the website at www.heughbattery.