Lymington sculptor Michael Turner holds 10th Great New Forest Poppy Hunt
ROYAL British Legion super-fundraiser and stainless steel sculptor Michael Turner hopes to raise thousands for the charity this year with a community-wide treasure hunt and auction on Remembrance Sunday.
Now in its 10th year, the Great New Forest Poppy Hunt will see the internationally renowned artist continuing his annual tradition of hiding 11 hand-crafted flowers to raise money for the RBL.
To mark a decade of fundraising, Michael has created an additional 11 stainless steel poppies which will be auctioned alongside a number of experiences and vouchers, in the hope of exceeding last year’s fundraising total of £6,000.
The stunning collection of poppies include stemmed blooms featuring Spitfires, a wren and a naval anchor, as well as four poppies that have been mounted on beautiful cushions created by Natasha Rowland Designs.
“We were looking for something a little different and Natasha very kindly offered to make cushions to match the service colours,” said Michael.
Each of the bespoke poppies is also linked to an auction prize donated by a local business. These include an overnight stay at the Chewton Glen Hotel, a bespoke spa day for two at Lime Wood Hotel, £100 vouchers for The Gun at Keyhaven and The Haven in Lymington, a pizza oven, afternoon tea vouchers and a family photo shoot.
The second part of Michael’s fundraiser, the Great New Forest Poppy Hunt, will see him hide 11 poppies around the New Forest and Christchurch areas before posting clues on his Instagram and Facebook pages on Remembrance Sunday 10th November.
“I’ve been organising the poppy hunt since 2015 so it’s become pretty well known in the Forest and people always really love getting involved,” said Michael.
“This year’s hunt will mainly take place around the New Forest, but I haven’t ruled out hiding a couple in the Highcliffe and Christchurch area.”
With more than 26,700 Instagram followers and 5,400 fans on Facebook, there is potential for hundreds or even thousands of people to get involved.
“I usually post the first photo clue around 7am and try to do the final one by around 4pm when it is getting dark,” said Michael. “I ask everyone who finds a poppy to make a donation to the Royal British Legion.”
This year’s collection includes one purple flower to honour service animals killed during conflicts, with all blooms mounted on a gold frame and marked with a 2024 stamp. The hidden poppies will also come with a prize donated by a local business including restaurant and café vouchers.
Michael began the poppy hunt back in 2015 as a tribute to his two grandfathers who fought in the Second World War.
He said: “The idea is two-fold, really. I’m hoping to raise some money for the RBL but also inspire children to get involved in the treasure hunt so hopefully they can learn a bit more about the importance of the poppy day in a fun way.”
Michael specialises in creating life-sized stainless steel sculptures depicting animals such as horses, alligators, mythical creatures and birds of prey. Famous clients include celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay who has a full-sized gorilla sculpture in his flagship London restaurant.
The auction of poppies is open now and will run until 11th November. To view the poppies and bid visit https://airauctioneer.com/michael-turner-friends-poppy-auction
To join the Great New Forest Poppy Hunt, follow Michael on Instagram @michaelturnerstudios or visit his Facebook page at facebook.com/Michaelturnerstudios