Bolton’s Armed Forces Champion is backing the new major redesign of Remembrance poppies.

The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2023 is launching a new poppy – the first redesign of the historic symbol for a generation.

Remembrance poppies will be plastic-free and recyclable for the first time this year in a move to reduce single-use plastics.

And Cllr Ryan Bamforth, Bolton Council's Armed Forces Champion, said he thinks it is a great move.

The Bolton News: New poppy designNew poppy design (Image: Royal British Legion/PA)

He said: “In the last 100 years the Poppy has been made from numerous materials, silk, metal, felt, cotton, and plastics.

“2023 sees the Poppy turning to fully recycled paper, I see this as a good move and shows how the Royal British Legion and by extension the Poppy Appeal are evolving with the times.

"Many old poppies end up in general waste, these new poppies can go into a recycling bin.

"The process of making these is also friendlier to the environment, getting rid of single use plastics is always a good idea when possible."

The British public will be able to buy the plastic-free version from thousands of volunteers across the UK or from major supermarkets.

They will also be able to purchase existing poppies with plastic, which can be recycled at Sainsbury’s supermarkets, as the charity looks to clear out its remaining stock.

The annual campaign calls for the public to wear a poppy as a show of solidarity towards the armed forces community in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday, which falls on November 12 this year.

It also raises vital funds to support veterans, serving personnel and their families all year round.

The Bolton News: There have been several versions of the poppy since 1921There have been several versions of the poppy since 1921 (Image: Royal British Legion/PA)The charity said it has been developing the plastic-free poppy for the past three years as part of its efforts to become more sustainable and reduce its use of single-use plastic.

The new flowers are made from 100 per cent paper, produced from a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources and The Royal British Legion said 50 per cent of the paper also comes from the offcuts created during the production of paper coffee cups.

The poppies feature a black centre embossed with the words “Poppy Appeal”, and no longer have a plastic stem or centre.

They can be fastened with a pin in the stem, worn in a buttonhole or a stick-on version is available.

It is the first redesign of the poppies since the mid-1990s and the latest in a series of designs since it was first used to raise funds in 1921 following the First World War.

There have been more than 10 versions of the poppy throughout the years, including those from hand-crafted red silk with wire stems in the 1920s and a cardboard “austerity poppy” in wartime in the 1940s.

Andy Taylor-Whyte, director of the campaign, said: “We’re so proud that this year we have our new plastic-free poppy too, so that the public can wear this poignant symbol of remembrance with less impact on the environment.

“Since the first Poppy Appeal in 1921 to today, public donations have provided a lifeline for service people and their families, and last year, we helped more than 27,000 people in the armed forces community.

“As a veteran myself, I am grateful to the public for giving what they can to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal this year.”

The charity worked alongside designers Matter and bespoke paper supplier James Cropper on the new design.

All funds raised will support serving personnel, veterans, and their families in a range of ways, from help with the cost of living, mental wellbeing, and housing, to support with recovery after trauma or illness.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.