More than 1,000 primary school pupils joined forces on Thursday to create a giant human poppy in Soham.

Ely Standard: The human poppy from the skies above Soham. Picture: ANDY CROWHURSTThe human poppy from the skies above Soham. Picture: ANDY CROWHURST (Image: Archant)

Ely Standard: Soham Schools ‘Human Poppy’ as part of Soham Museum World War I ‘Remembrances Project’ All three Soham infant schools came together to form a ‘human poppy’ with 1,000 children taking part, to remember the start of World War I. Picture: Steve Williams.Soham Schools ‘Human Poppy’ as part of Soham Museum World War I ‘Remembrances Project’ All three Soham infant schools came together to form a ‘human poppy’ with 1,000 children taking part, to remember the start of World War I. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The carefully co-ordinated event took place at the village college with pupils from

Ely Standard: Soham Schools ‘Human Poppy’ as part of Soham Museum World War I ‘Remembrances Project’ All three Soham infant schools came together to form a ‘human poppy’ with 1,000 children taking part, to remember the start of World War I. Picture: Steve Williams.Soham Schools ‘Human Poppy’ as part of Soham Museum World War I ‘Remembrances Project’ All three Soham infant schools came together to form a ‘human poppy’ with 1,000 children taking part, to remember the start of World War I. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The Weatheralls, St Andrew’s and the newly opened Shade Primary School taking part,

The Weatheralls children wore red T-shirts to represent the petals, St Andrew’s, black to represent the centre, and The Shade green to represent the stalk and the leaves of the poppy.

The idea for the poppy came out of meetings between Soham Museum and Laura Beasley, history teacher at The Weatheralls, and Sue Howe, history teacher at St Andrew’s School, and is amongst a number of activities the schools have taken part in to mark the centenary of the start of World War I.

Donna Martin, chairman of Soham Museum, said: “I wanted to praise all the children, who were impeccably behaved throughout, as well as the staff who took the time and trouble to participate.

“It was a really moving event with some of the staff almost in tears and bursting with pride at the thought their classes had taken part in something so special.”

The poppy was photographed from the air by a specialist aerial photographer from a drone. Andy Crowhurst, an experienced photographer from Berkshire drove all the way to Soham to provide photographs of the event.

There will be a special display of the Soham Remembrance poppy and the children’s work as part of Soham Museum’s World War I exhibition at Soham Pumpkin Fair on September 27.