Pink poppy display returns to Cardiff Castle to honour loved ones
By Charities Correspondent
A sea of handcrafted pink poppies has returned to Cardiff Castle, with a special celebration marking the opening of City Hospice's annual Forever Flowers display.
Thousands of handcrafted pink poppies are now on display at Cardiff Castle as City Hospice's annual Forever Flowers campaign returns for a sixth year.
The display, which is open until Sunday 16 August, gives people the opportunity to celebrate and remember loved ones by dedicating a handcrafted metal flower.
This year's pink poppy symbolises love, compassion, peace and admiration.
The official opening took place on Wednesday evening with a Celebration of Life event, bringing together supporters, families and members of the local community at the castle.
Visitors can also see artwork created by pupils from schools and nurseries across Cardiff as part of the Garden of Memories project.
The displays explore themes of remembrance, care and community and feature work from Birchgrove Primary School, Bryn Celyn Primary School, Busy Bees Nursery Llandaff, Howell's School, Roath Park Primary School and St Joseph's RC Primary School.
The opening event included performances by Rock Choir and harpist Rhiannon Dutt-Yeung, alongside readings and reflections from supporters whose families have been helped by City Hospice.
Among them was Rhodri Beynon, whose family dedicated a pink poppy in memory of his father.
He said: "It was an honour to deliver a reading at the Celebration of Life. Through the care they provided for my dad, and the wider support for us, I know the positive impact City Hospice can have on families.
"We began supporting Forever Flowers while Dad was being looked after by City Hospice and have chosen to dedicate a pink poppy this year in his memory. It made us smile to see our poppy with so many others. Seeing the flowers on display and everyone coming together for the event shows just how many people City Hospice helps."
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Dr Liz Booyse, Chief Executive of City Hospice, said the Celebration of Life was a fitting way to open the display.
She said: "Forever Flowers is all about celebrating the lives of our cherished loved ones together, so opening the display with our Celebration of Life event was an incredibly special moment and the perfect tribute to those represented by each pink poppy.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors from Cardiff and beyond to experience this wonderful display over the coming week."
Forever Flowers raises funds for City Hospice, Cardiff's only provider of home-based specialist palliative care.
The charity also offers services including welfare advice, complementary therapies, bereavement support and counselling for people living with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families.
