Tag: New Forest poppy hunt

The New Forest Poppy Hunt 2026:  Sunday 8th November

Once again, it is that beautiful time of year when our thoughts turn to the New Forest Poppy Hunt 2026.

A few weeks ago, Jenny and I decided to pack a cool bag with a few drinks, hop on our bikes, and head down to our lovely local beach at Milford on Sea to enjoy the early autumn sunshine. These beach visits are often when we find ourselves brainstorming, dreaming up new concepts for upcoming sculpture projects. With the hunt now just weeks away, it didn’t take long for the poppies to enter the conversation.

Every year, we face the same creative challenge: How do we evolve the design? Should they be bigger? Smaller? Our ultimate goal is always to create something completely distinct from the year before, ensuring each hunt feels fresh and unique.

This year, the inspiration came from a deeply personal place. I lost my mum very suddenly earlier this year. In the difficult days that followed, a wonderful friend gifted me a small candle holder and a pack of candles. It allowed me to light a candle each night next to Mum’s photograph. I can’t quite explain why, but that simple ritual deeply touched me and brought immense comfort as I remembered her.

Sitting on the beach, it got me thinking. What if our poppies could serve a similar, comforting purpose? What if I designed this year’s poppies to be beautiful candle holders? We could encourage people to light them at home, creating a quiet moment to reflect not only on personal loss but on all those who have fallen in the name of peace.

To take the idea further, I wanted to make the poppies translucent, allowing the gentle glow of the candlelight to shine through the metalwork and illuminate the poppy from within. As we spoke, the vision clicked. Jenny and I both knew instantly that we had found our design for the 2026 New Forest Poppy Hunt.

I am incredibly excited to bring these unique sculptures to life. As always, I will be crafting the first 11 poppies to hide across the Forest, with another 11 set aside for our annual charity auction.

Believe it or not, this is now our 12th year running the hunt! As you can imagine, finding fresh hiding places across the New Forest has become a bit of a puzzle. Because of that, I’ve decided to branch out this year. I’ll be hiding the poppies a little further afield than my usual go-to spots, so prepare for a proper adventure! 

I am continually thrilled by how engaged our community is—it has truly become a cherished local tradition.

We will be keeping the same format as previous years, and you can find all the details on how to get involved listed below.

Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey. It is a project incredibly close to my heart, and I am forever grateful for your wonderful support.

The New Forest Poppy Hunt Rules & Guidelines

The format this year remains mostly the same as our previous hunts, but with a few exciting twists! Here is everything you need to know to get involved, stay safe, and secure your piece of 2026 art.

🕵️‍♂️ The Hunt: Sunday 8th November 2026

I will be hiding 11 unique poppies across the New Forest and local areas.

The Clues: Starting at 7:00 am on Sunday 8th November, I will post the first clue on my Instagram page for Poppy Number 1. From there, expect new clues—ranging from photos to cryptic riddles—approximately every hour throughout the day.

Be Ready: Don’t be fooled into thinking you can lounge around in your dressing gown, sip your coffee, and casually stroll out to find one. The “die-hard” poppy hunters will be sitting in their cars or on their bikes, engines and legs primed and ready to move the second a clue drops!

📸 What to do if you find a Poppy

Snap and Share Immediately: If you are lucky enough to spot a poppy, please take a photo of yourself with it right then and there. Post it to our Instagram or Facebook page immediately. This lets the community know the poppy has been successfully found so others don’t keep searching that spot.

Support the Cause: Once you get safely back home, I would be incredibly grateful if you could make a donation to my JustGiving Page. Please remember to reference your poppy’s number in your donation comment so I can track them. Every single penny raised goes directly to The Royal British Legion.

🐎 A Gentle Reminder: Stay Safe

I know the adrenaline gets pumping and everyone wants to be first, but please remember where we are. Do not speed. Keep a very sharp eye out for our New Forest ponies and wildlife that like to hide around blind corners, and please remain courteous to your fellow hunters and local residents.

🔨 The Online Auction: LIVE NOW until Sunday 8th Nov

If you aren’t able to join the hunt or miss out on a hidden poppy, don’t worry! You still have a fantastic chance to take one home while supporting a great cause.

The Other 11 Poppies: I have crafted a separate set of 11 translucent candle-holder poppies explicitly for our charity auction.

The Timings: The auction is live and will officially close at 7:00 pm on Sunday 8th November.

How to Bid: Head over to our official ‘Michael Turner Poppy Candle Holder Auction’ to place your bids.

🛑 One Final Note

Every year, I am kindly asked if these poppies are available for direct purchase. To keep this tradition truly exclusive and special, I do not make these poppies to sell privately. The only way to own one of these 2026 editions is to successfully find one in the forest or win one through the online charity auction.

Good luck to everyone—let the countdown to November 8th begin!

New Forest Poppy Hunt ‘2025’

Once again, this time of year has come around so quickly! Get ready for the 11th Year of the Poppy Hunt. What makes me really smile is all the people getting in touch asking if its definetely going ahead, and the answer is of course a big Yes!

As with last year, I have used military buttons inserted into each poppy. Ive gone back to the more traditional types with a poppy on the stem, which will be hidden. With an addtional 11 to be auctioned off like other years, starting Monday 2nd November. Please see below for more details on the Auction.

The Poppy Hunt Rules

This year is mostly the same as previous years. I will be hiding 11 poppies around the New Forest and local areas, and posting clues on my Instagram page from around 7 am on Sunday 9th November.

First things first – Follow me on Instagram and make sure you log in from 7 am on Sunday 9th November, where you will be given the first clue of where to find Poppy Number 1. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can sit in your dressing gown, drink your coffee, and pop out to find one. The Poppy ‘die-hard’ hunters are sitting in their cars on thier bikes, engines/legs at the ready to get that poppy! I will be posting a different clues on my Instagram page, some pictures and maybe some ‘other’ type clues approximately every hour through the day.

If you find a poppy, please take a photo of you and your poppy as soon as you find it, and post this on my Instagram or Facebook page. This lets everyone know it has been found. When you can, preferably when you get home, I would be grateful if you could donate to my Just Giving Page. Pleaes reference the poppy number, which makes it much easier for me. All proceeds will go directly to The Royal British Legion.

I know it can be really exciting to try and get to the poppy first. If I can please ask that you don’t speed, look out for the New Forest Ponies, and Wildlife, that hide around corners, and generally be courteous to others.

If you are not lucky enough to find one of the poppies hidden, don’t worry, you will have the opportunity to bid on the other 11 special poppies I have made. This is going live from 7am Monday 2nd November, to give everyone a chance. Bids will close on the 9th of November 7pm. Here is the Online Auction Link ‘Michael Turner Poppy’s’

One last note: I am asked every year how much it would be to buy a poppy. I’m afraid I will not make them to sell. The only way you can get one of these poppies is to either find one on the hunt or bid on one on the online auction.

New Forest Poppy Hunt 2024

Get ready for a truly special event! As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the New Forest Poppy Hunt, we’re excited to announce some incredible additions to this year’s hunt and auction.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, we’ve managed to secure some fantastic prizes that will be up for grabs. Their support not only helps make this event a success but also contributes to the vital Funds needed for the work of the Royal British Legion.

Our Friends this year……

Chewton Glen Hotel, Limewood Hotel, The Gunn Inn, The Haven Bar and Restaurant, Carrie Bugg photography, Jack in the Wolfe, Bonds Barber, Ray’s Italian Restaurant, South Lawn Hotel, Gozney, Toots Sweets, Mellford, Coastal Bakery, The Brew Forest, No 64 Biscuit house, Cottinghams, coffee, interiors and Gifts, Stanwell House

As with last year, I have used military buttons inserted into each poppy. This year I have the pleasure of collaborating with the amazing Natasha Rowland of NR Designs, who designed and created the fabric backings for 4 of the poppies, making them truly beautiful.

The Poppy Hunt Rules

This year is mostly the same as previous years. I will be hiding 11 poppies around the New Forest and local areas, and posting clues on my Instagram page from around 7 am on Sunday 10th November.

First things first – Follow me on Instagram and make sure you log in from 7 am on Sunday 10th November, where you will be given the first clue of where to find Poppy Number 1. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can sit in your dressing gown, drink your coffee, and pop out to find one. The Poppy ‘die-hard’ hunters are sitting in their cars on thier bikes, engines/legs at the ready to get that poppy! I will be posting a photographic clue on my Instagram page approximately every hour through the day.

If you find a poppy, please take a photo of you and your poppy, and whatever little gift that you may have in addition, and post this on my Instagram or Facebook page. This lets everyone know it has been found. When you can, preferably when you get home, I would be grateful if you could donate to my Just Giving Page. All proceeds will go directly to The Royal British Legion.

I know it can be really exciting to try and get to the poppy first. If I can please ask that you don’t speed, look out for the New Forest Ponies, and Wildlife, that hide around corners, and generally be courteous to others.

If you are not lucky enough to find one of the poppies hidden, don’t worry, you will have the opportunity to bid on the other 11 special poppies I have made. This year I’m a bit more up-to-date with the technology and have gone and put the Auction Online so that everyone knows what’s being bid for. This is going live from 11.00 25th October 2024, to give everyone a chance. Bids will close on the 11th of November 11:59pm. Here is the Online Auction Link ‘Michael Turner and friends Poppy Auction‘

Each of the 11 poppies has incredible gifts and experiences alongside them to bid for. So please go and have a look at the Auction and start bidding when it opens…

One last note: I am asked every year how much it would be to buy a poppy. I’m afraid I will not make them to sell. The only way you can get one of these poppies is to either find one on the hunt or bid on one on the online auction.