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8 November 2024

Local pupils create a sea of poppies at Dryburgh Abbey

Over 1,000 pupils made poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day at the burial place of Lady Haig

A girl holds the stem of a fake poppy that's been created out of plastic bottle bases which are painted red and stuck to a metal stem. She crouches as she places it into the ground. There are more of these poppies planted into the grass and a ruinous stone abbey is visible in the background.

Robyn Thin, a Steward for Dryburgh Abbey, places the last of over 1,300 poppies created by school pupils to commemorate Remembrance Day

Dryburgh Abbey will be free to enter from 9 November to 17 November for locals and visitors to enjoy the unique display for Remembrance Day, created by pupils from 14 local schools.

Over 1,000 pupils participated in workshops run by the Dryburgh Abbey team to turn recycled plastic bottles into more than 1,300 beautiful poppies, which have been spread out across the Abbey’s wildflower meadow. The meadow is wintering at this time of year, but the poppies bring a bright splash of colour to the landscape and are a stunning display of remembrance.

This is the first time Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has run its Poppy Appeal Project, working with local schools to learn about Anna Guérin, the inventor of the remembrance poppy, and Lady Haig, who ran the first poppy factory in Scotland. Lady Haig’s paper poppy factory employed men disabled by war, carrying on the spirit of Guérin’s idea – that the poppy should support veterans and the families of the fallen.

The Poppy Appeal Project shows one of the many ways in which Scotland’s historic environment can bring communities together and be used creatively for learning.

After the poppies have been displayed at Dryburgh Abbey, pupils who wish to retrieve their poppy may come to collect it. Any remaining poppies will be held in storage to repeat the project next year, potentially with a larger display.

The schools involved were: Earlston Primary School (P6/7), St Peters Primary School (P6/7), Melrose Primary School (P6/7), Tweedbank Primary School (P6/7), St Boswells Primary School (P6/7), Edenside Primary School (P4/5), Langlee Primary School (P6/7), Denholm Primary School (P4/5 and P6/7), Burgh Primary School (P7), Lauder Primary School (P6/7), Knowepark Primary School (P7), Newtown Primary School (P6/7), and Drumlanrig Primary School (P6/7).

The HES team provided paint and tent pegs; all that the pupils needed to bring was a recyclable plastic bottle from home. The variety of bottles used gives each poppy a unique shape and size.

Michael Kay, District Visitor Community Manager at HES, said:

Our first trial of the Poppy Appeal Project has been incredibly successful, and we’re definitely looking to do it again. It’s been wonderful getting to work so closely with the communities and to show them that Dryburgh Abbey is relevant in many different ways.

“I am very grateful that my team here at Dryburgh and so many fantastic teachers and pupils across the Borders have really embraced this project. There’s been so much enthusiasm, both within our team and from everyone we met, and it’s just been an absolute joy to work on. Getting to speak to so many schools about Earl and Lady Haig, and the incredible story of the remembrance poppy, has been a privilege.”

To ensure that everyone who participated in the project can view the final display and pay their respects if they so wish, Dryburgh Abbey will be free for admission from Saturday 9 November to Sunday 17 November. The display will be taken down from Monday 18 November, and regular admission fees will be in place from then.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES) 

  • We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
  • Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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For further information, please contact:

Laura Ely
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot

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