Delay in switch to paper poppies in Jersey

Poppies in Jersey will continue to have plastic elements, the Royal British Legion said

As the UK shifts from plastic to paper poppies, Jersey's Royal British Legion (RBL) will not be joining them, appeal organisers have said.

The symbol of remembrance has been redesigned by the James Cropper factory near Kendal, with the plastic stem and core replaced by paper.

Because of Jersey's location and "in case the boat doesn't come in" it is always sent enough poppies to last "for two appeals", the charity said.

This has led to a backlog of plastic poppies for use in 2023, said Alison Opfermann, Jersey's poppy appeal organiser.

She said they plan to move to the new poppies, but need to sell out of the plastic ones first.

Ms Opfermann said: "The actual direction was to make use of old stock before we use the new sustainable poppies.

"You can imagine in Jersey, we're an island, we've always had to have enough kit for two full poppy appeals just in case the boat doesn't come and we don't get the kit, so it's going to take us a little bit longer. "

Funds from poppy sales are used to help serving and former service personnel.

Organisers said the appeal was a big logistical operation on the island, and involved the building of flatpack poppy boxes and the distribution of 150 wreaths to organisations.

The Poppy Shop at 25 Market Place in St Helier will be open until 11 November.