Residents at a care home are creating their own weeping wall of poppies to honour the fallen.
The 1,500 poppies will go on display at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham ahead of Armistice Day on November 11.
The spectacular tribute will be draped from one the upper windows of the Penybryn care home and stretched down to the side of the main entrance doors.
The display is the brainchild of enrichment and activities co-ordinator Elaine Lee.
The residents of Penybryn, centre of excellence for younger people with neurological problems caused by acquired brain injury and conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and stroke, are well on the way and have already made 500 of the poppies.
Elaine explained: “We saw what they did at the Tower of London and Caernarfon Castle and I thought why can’t we do something similar?
“We are going to hang poppies, made from laminated paper, onto green mesh which we will hang from one of the upper windows of Penybryn and stretched down to the side of the main entrance doors.
“We started out making poppies which are then cut out and laminated so they will be weather proof.”
“It’s a long process and so far we have made just over 500 of the 1,500 poppies we need. Residents and staff are involved and it’s going to look pretty spectacular.
“We need to honour those that gave their lives for us all in the two world wars and all the other conflicts since. By taking on a project like this we can involve residents.
“They are taking ownership of the weeping wall and are determined to produce all the paper poppies we need. It’s been a good way to stimulate them and we have been discussing wars and conflicts as we have been working.
“It’s been quite a laborious task in many ways but residents have all been keen to play a part and do a little bit each.”
Resident Steve Gregory, 65, a former history teacher who hails from Llay suffers Huntington’s disease and has lost his ability to speak.
However, Steve has played an active part in producing poppies for the weeping wall and, although unable to speak, indicated how much he has enjoyed the project.
Stroke victim Mike Blakely, 58, who hails for Holywell said: “I think it’s a great idea to make a wall of poppies for Remembrance Day. We have already made quite a lot but still have a long way to go before we have made enough.
“We need to do a good job. We should remember soldiers who gave their lives in the wars. I have enjoyed helping make the poppies and can’t wait to see the project finished. It’s going to look brilliant and I’m quite proud.”
Fellow resident, Tony Ithell, 59, of Ellesmere Port who also suffered a major stroke, said: “It’s a great idea, putting on a display for Remembrance Day. I think we should definitely remember all those that fought in the wars as well as things like he Falklands and Iraq.
“It’s going to look impressive and people are going to be proud of what we have done. I like doing things with my hands and it’s been good getting involved.”
Penybryn care practitioner Mark Woodward said: “Making the poppies and cutting them out is quite hard work but it’s going to look amazing when it’s finished and hanging at the entrance to the care home.
“It’s been good for some of our residents to get involved and play a part in the wider project. Everyone is keen to see the weeping wall of poppies once it’s finished.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE who added: “We believe passionately that the arts can and do enrich lives across the generations and the weeping wall project is a perfect example of this.
“The importance of remembering the fallen has been brought into even sharper focus this year with the commemorations of the centenary Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War when 3,000 Welsh soldiers died, among them the poet Hedd Wyn who was posthumously honoured at the National Eisteddfod in 1917 when he was awarded the Chair a few weeks after he perished on the frontline.”
