The Poppy: Survival in a Devastated Battlefield Landscape

Shortly after the terrible death and destruction of First World War finally ended, the bright red corn poppy was adopted as the international emblem of war service ‘Remembrance’. Poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders and their brilliant red colour made them symbolic of the blood spilled in prolonged trench warfare. Wearing the red poppy badge showed that people recognised the enormous sacrifice that had been paid by so many.

Local botanist, Dr Ralph Forbes talks about the biology of the poppy, its relatives and other colourful cornfield weeds, examining how they reproduce and thrive in disturbed ground. The talk will end with information from the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) on how you can identify and record plant life near you.