Thousands of forget-me-nots made for dementia week

More than 9,000 knitted forget-me-nots have been created to raise awareness of dementia action week.

People from across the UK have taken part in the project, knitting and crocheting handmade woollen flowers, which now adorn the Museum of East Dorset in Wimborne.

Franesca Hollow, director of the museum, said: "It really is something that is making a lot of people stop and pay attention."

The flowers have been posted from as far away as Glasgow and Lancashire, many with notes about how they were knitted in memory of a lost loved one who grew up in Wimborne.

Ms Hollow said: "There's so much personal connection people have with dementia, it's really impactful.

"We are so proud of the many dementia-friendly initiatives we run here at the museum and in the community."

Sally Palmer works in the tea room in the museum and has volunteered there in some capacity for 13 years.

She said she approached people while they were having their coffee to ask if they knitted or crocheted.

"If they said yes I shoved a pattern in front of them and said 'would you like to knit some for me?'" she said.

"It really worked. People were taking their patterns away and getting their friends and getting their knitting groups and social groups involved and that's how we got a lot more."

Ms Palmer has also knitted delightful dementia teddies as part of the campaign.

The blue and white flowers have become synonymous with the Alzheimer's Society.

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