In
the small park near our flat there is a wildflower meadow, about 8m
square, which is now full of Shasta daisies and poppies.
A
construction company building new apartments nearby wanted to use this
land for their portacabins. There was a public outcry. For many local
people, this park is their “garden”.
In
these pandemic days I like to stop by the meadow and watch it abuzz
with bees. It is unlikely there are beehives in streets just off the
Holloway Road so I suspect these are mason bees. They are as happy as
I am to be here because poppy pollen contains few fungi and the bees
like to line their brick nests with poppy petals.
When
I arrived there yesterday, a young couple were taking photos of their
two-year-old daughter who was sitting among the wild flowers. While
the delighted mum clapped her hands, their daughter scythed her arms
through the poppies. Dad took photos.
Recently,
I signed a petition to keep the portacabins out, and I am ashamed to
say that I did nothing but stare at the destruction these parents
were commemorating. I should have drawn their attention to what they
were doing.
One
day I hope this little girl will come across these photos and explain
to her now-elderly parents that these poppies were for everyone.
This year the poppy people have extended their 'patriotism' to a photo of three kids carrying giant poppies. - for soldiers of the past, soldiers of the present and soldiers of the future. So now it is going to be never-ending poppies alongside never-ending wars. I gave a talk on 'Left Field' at my old school, Canford, last week. The 200 sixth formers sitting in front of me was a sea of poppies. I didn't want to be rude as they were a lovely audience and the school was more than friendly to this old rebel. But I had to say something. I told them my father had been one of the first Allied doctors to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and I had witnessed war at first-hand. Both experiences meant I think poppies should stay in the fields. Read this about veteran Harry Smith - a true patriot.
