Express & Star

Poppy power hits Birmingham

Visitors to Birmingham are paying tribute to war heroes by decorating the black public realm protection barriers with poppies.

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Yanto Evans, community fundraiser, retail BID deputy chair Lisa Williams and Wayne McCloughlin, business patrol officer

Trees on New Street, High Street and Lower Temple Street will also be lit red for the duration of Birmingham’s Poppy Appeal until Armistice Day, Sunday, November 11 – in support of the The Royal British Legion.

The steel barriers, known as National Barrier Assets, were re-painted in black and dressed with decorative planting by Retail BID during the summer.

The barrier painting is one of several cleaning projects carried out by the BID in the city centre retail area.

The Royal British Legion, which has a branch on New Street, provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community.

Sophia Snell, community fundraising manager,West Midlands, said: “Each day our Armed Forces provide an incredible service to our country in all kinds of ways, many of which we don’t necessarily see, but all of which impact our lives. The unseen sacrifices they make on our behalf deserve to be recognised so wear your poppy with pride and show your support for our Armed Forces community, past and present.”

This is the second year that the Retail Business Improvement District and its members have shown their support for the Royal British Legion.In 2018 BID invested £97,000 in the new tree-lighting system to help decorate the city centre for Christmas and other seasonal events.

Retail BID deputy chair Lisa Williams, said: “It is really important to the BID and the retailers in the city centre to support the Royal British Legion by installing the floral tribute and turning the trees red to help raise funds during the Birmingham Poppy DayAppeal.”

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