Tulips offer to honour airborne forces

Eye-catching maroon tulips are being offered for planting across the District as part of a growing international Airborne Tulip Memorials trail.

It’s part of South Kesteven District’s Council’s ‘Soldiers from the Sky’ project, funded by National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund to commemorate a unique chapter in the District’s military heritage.

Men of the British 1^st Airborne Division trained with allied paratroopers from America and Poland and flew from airfields at Barkston Heath and Saltby for Operation Market Garden – the Battle of Arnhem – in September 1944.

Tulips colour-match the distinctive beret worn by British airborne forces.

The first bulbs have been planted in Grantham’s Heroes Commemorative Orchard with more going into the town’s Council-owned Wyndham Park, Grimsthorpe Castle, Harlaxton Manor and village churchyards.

A number of free bulbs remain available for visitor sites, schools, parks, parish councils, public spaces and members of the public, possibly with family links to airborne forces.

Cllr Rhea Rayside, SKDC Cabinet member for People and Communities, said: “It’s a wonderful tribute and we are grateful to National Lottery players who have enabled us to carpet South Kesteven with these beautiful flowers.

“We look forward to creating this living memorial to remember and commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of so many.”

Cllr Dixon Warren said: “Airborne forces gathered here in 1944 to train and eventually depart for Arnhem from local airfields. These tulips will add their own colour to a story forever linked to South Kesteven.”

Cheshire man Darren Kaye, whose grandfather fought at Arnhem, started the memorial trail in the Netherlands at sites around Arnhem. 

Airborne Tulip Memorials have taken root in the UK at The Royal Chelsea Hospital, Merville Barracks in Colchester and The National Arboretum.

To request bulbs, please email armedforces@southkesteven.gov.uk with quantities requested and proposed planting sites.