WW1 poppy campaign to go ahead in spite of snub

The 2014 Real Poppy Project, an idea that originated in the Greenhithe and Swanscombe branch of the RBL, was singled out by the Prime Minister last October when he announced around £50m would be spent commemorating the conflict.

But the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) turned down funding for the local project to provide poppy seeds in the Kent area, saying it was experiencing a “high level of demand”.

The HLF said it assessed a £92,900 grant application from the Greenhithe and Swanscombe branch for its Kent-based campaign, but “it was decided that unfortunately the fund could not support this application in a highly competitive funding round”.

An HLF spokeswoman said: “Demand for our funds is high and we are unfortunately unable to support every application. We remain deeply committed to helping people to learn about and tell the stories of the First World War, and have already invested more than £28m into projects marking the centenary.”

The RBL confirmed it was continuing to roll out its UK-wide project in partnership with “a national retailer”.

Conservative MP for Dartford Gareth Johnson, whose great-grandfather died in the war, condemned the HLF’s position, telling the House of Commons: “This project has received support from Prince Charles and numerous charities and respected organisations.

“It was therefore surprising that the Heritage Lottery Fund failed to support this project when it came before them last month.

“I very much hope it will, in due course, reconsider what I believe was an ill-judged decision by them.”

Bruce Simpson, chairman of the Western Front Association, said: “This absolutely has to be rethought. I cannot understand the thinking behind it.”