More than 8,500 hand-knitted and crocheted forget-me-not flowers have been created by the people of Dorset as part of a community campaign led by the Museum of East Dorset. The woollen blooms – in cheerful blues and yellows – are the centrepiece of the museum’s upcoming display for Dementia Action Week (19th–25th May), created in support of those living with dementia and their families.
The initiative, based on the Alzheimer’s Society’s symbolic Forget-Me-Not flower, invited people of all ages to take part. Free patterns and wool were offered by the museum, and the response has been remarkable – with handmade flowers arriving from as far afield as Glasgow and Lancashire. Many came with notes, dedicating the work to loved ones, often with personal connections to Wimborne.
Now, thanks to the sheer volume of flowers that have arrived, the museum is in need of help to turn this incredible outpouring of creativity into a finished display. On Monday 12th May, from 1.30pm to 4pm, the Garden Room at the museum will become a ‘Forget-Me-Not Factory’ – complete with glue guns, sewing kits, tea and plenty of good company.
No crafting experience is required – just a willingness to lend a hand and be part of something meaningful.
Volunteer Sally Palmer has played a key role in the campaign. A regular face at the museum for 13 years, Sally has helped with everything from serving in the tearoom to running Craft and Chat sessions and dressing as a Victorian kitchen maid for visiting schools. She also volunteers with the museum’s Reminiscence outreach project, which supports people living with dementia through memory-based sessions in care homes and day centres.
Sally said: “I just asked everyone who came into the tearoom if they knitted: if they said yes, I handed them a leaflet! My friends alone made about 500 flowers.”
She’s also created ‘Freddy the Teddy’ – a knitted toy available from the museum gift shop for £9.95, alongside forget-me-not pins. Proceeds support the museum’s dementia-friendly work.
Museum Director Francesca Hollow said: “We’re thrilled by the generosity and enthusiasm of our community. The Forget-Me-Not display is a beautiful testament to the power of collective action in raising awareness for dementia.”
Volunteers are invited to help assemble the display, share stories and enjoy a cuppa while supporting a vital cause. The event is part of the museum’s broader commitment to dementia-friendly activities, and is supported by Dementia UK and the Wimborne Minster BID.
