Poppies arrive at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Chancellor George Osborne visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park as work began to install hundreds of memorial ceramic poppies.
25 Aug 2015....... Technicians during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27b25 Aug 2015....... Technicians during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27b
25 Aug 2015....... Technicians during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27b

The poppy sculptures, which went on display at the Tower of London to honour soldiers who died in the First World War, will be displayed at the park from September 5 until January 10.

And the West Bretton park is one of only three venues to exhibit a section of the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation this year.

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The arch segment, also known as the wave, is being installed over a bridge at the park’s historic Lower Lake.

25 Aug 2015....... A technician during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27a25 Aug 2015....... A technician during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27a
25 Aug 2015....... A technician during the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27a

Mr Osborne said: “Each one of these poppies, made in Derby and displayed at the Tower London last year, represents a British and Commonwealth soldier who answered the call from their country a century ago and made the ultimate sacrifice. But not everyone who wanted to see them could come to London, so I agreed to provide £550,000 of support to help take part of this extraordinary display on a tour around the country.

“I’m delighted that people here in Yorkshire, as well as others across the country, will be able to see these fantastic displays and pay their respects to those who sacrificed everything to protect British freedoms.”

The concept of Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was created by artist Paul Cummins, who named the display after a line written by a soldier who died in Belgium.

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It featured 888,246 poppies, one to honour every death in the British and Colonial forces during the war.

25 Aug 2015....... Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looks at the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27e25 Aug 2015....... Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looks at the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27e
25 Aug 2015....... Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looks at the installation of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/27e

The installation, designed by Tom Piper, was displayed at the Tower of London from August to November last year.

Peter Murray YSP’s founding and executive director, said: “We’re very pleased to help extend the life and impact of Wave by offering a completely different setting for the public to enjoy this iconic work.

“The sculpture will rise from Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s historic lake, surrounded by 500 acres of stunning Yorkshire countryside and woodland. The calmness and nature of the park will offer visitors an ideal space for contemplation and reflection.”

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Another part of the original installation, known as the Weeping Window, go on Display in Northumberland and Liverpool as part of the tour, organised by 14-18 NOW.

Most of the poppies, handmade in Derby, were sold to members of the public, raising millions of pounds for six military charities.

Wave and the Weeping Window, which together have more than 10,000 poppies, were bought for the nation by charities Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation, who gifted the displays to 14-18 Now and the Imperial War Museum.