Hundreds of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, businesses, and tourist destinations will ‘Light Up Red’ to raise awareness of the 2022 Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland is calling on buildings from castles to council buildings, schools to statues, to show their support in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday – 13 November.
Last year, around 300 locations took part from Stornoway to Selkirk, including the Kelpies, Smeaton’s Bridge in Perth, Stornoway Town Hall and the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. The charity is calling for mass involvement to surpass this record-breaking total in 2022.
Any building with external lighting can take part simply by adding red gel filters to the lights to join in this very visual representation of remembrance. Previous locations include castles, abbeys, war memorials, bridges, lighthouses, cranes, and fountains.
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising campaign, raising more than £2 million for the charity’s welfare work with veterans, servicemen and women and their families.
Three million poppies, handmade by veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, are already on their journey around the country.
Austin Hardie, Director of Poppyscotland, said:
“It’s always wonderful to see so many Scottish landmarks lighting up red for the Poppy Appeal. This is a fitting and poignant tribute to our Armed Forces community and we know it means a lot to them to see this visual support for their contribution, past and present.
“We’ve been delighted how this idea has captured people’s imaginations and are very grateful for the support of so many businesses and other organisations.
“Of course, with current concerns over energy costs, we understand that not every building will be lighting up this year. But if they already have external lighting, then we’d encourage them to consider adding red filters in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.”
For more information about how to Light Up Red for Poppyscotland and the 2022 Scottish Poppy Appeal, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/light-up-red or contact Clare Shaw at c.shaw@poppyscotland.org.uk
