I called in at Eastwood Park today, which was donated to the local council by Alderman George Eastwood and opened in 1913. Source
There's about 15 acres in the park and located in a village that is just a ten minute drive from me. I wanted to see the poppy display at the entrance to the park and on the war memorial. Every November 11th, Remembrance Day marks the day the peace treaty was signed to bring an end to World War I, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. It honours the people in the armed forces who have died since World War I.
The memorial also commemorates the people who lived in the village but was sadly killed or went missing in World War I and II.
During WW1, most of the fighting was in Western Europe including the Battle of Flanders in Belgium. The author John
McCrae was so moved by the beautiful poppies he saw growing on the battlefield surrounded by devastation, he wrote the poem:
'In Flanders' Fields'.
In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses,
row on row,
That mark our place:
and in the sky
The larks, still bravely
singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the
guns below.
We are the dead. Short
days ago
We lived, felt dawn,
saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.
Take up our quarrel
with the foe;
To you from failing
hands we throw
The torch; be yours to
hold it high,
If ye break faith with
us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders' Fields. Source
The red poppies I saw on the gate had been croquetted.
The purple poppy is also to remember the animals that were lost in service. It is up to the individual whether they buy a poppy or not. All proceeds go to the Royal British Legion. There are white poppies as well which not only remembers the fallen but also challenges the glamourisation of war with a commitment to peace. SourcePersonally, I much prefer the white poppy, but I rarely see it being sold.
Afterwards, I had a quick stroll around the park. A lot of activities can be done here from crown bowling greens, tennis, football, cricket, crazy golf. There's also a children's play area, a wardens house, sports changing rooms and the village hall where a lot of other community based activities take place. It's a nice green space for the villagers to visit.
