THE POPPY FACTORY
Craig Moore visits the home of the Remembrance Day wreaths and discovers there is far more to the organisation behind the commemorative symbol than meets the eye
Since 1926, the Poppy Factory that supplies the wreaths sold on behalf of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has been based in Richmond-upon-Thames in London. Each year, the facility produces the thousands of floral tributes required for remembrance parades taking place each November not just across the UK, but also around the world.
More than that, the factory meets a constant demand for commemorative wreaths throughout the year, with tributes tailored for specific events, anniversaries and occasions. Next year there will certainly be a spike in demand to mark the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and the Normandy campaign, the liberation of Belgium and Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, ahead of the 80th anniversary in 2025 of the VE and VJ celebrations.
