Tower of London poppies: should the WWI memorial be extended?

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, joined calls for the popular Tower of London poppies installation to be extended after crowds of visitors have "rushed to see it" before it closes on 12 November.

"The poppy field at the Tower is a unique and poignant focus of remembrance in this centenary year," Johnson told the Evening Standard.

"It has grown rapidly in popularity, to such an extent that it is now a global visitor attraction. I’m keen to explore whether we can keep the exhibition open for longer, to give as many people as possible the chance to glimpse something so incredible."

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As many as four million people are expected to have visited the installation, Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, before it closes, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Should the installation be extended?

Tory MP David Amess, told the Evening Standard that he backed calls for a "brief extension".

He said: "I think it’s just the most incredible exhibition and a brilliant idea. We will never see the likes of it again. I’m very much in favour of it being extended for a brief period. I think this was a remarkable way to commemorate the centenary. It has touched the hearts of the population. Given the huge effort that has gone into preparing it, I want as many people as possible to see it."

But Tower of London officials have expressed concern over public safety. A spokeswoman said that the public display has been so popular that organisers have struggled to contain the crowds, which often spill onto the busy roads around the Tower. "We have been overwhelmed with the public support and number of people coming down," she said. "We needed to ensure we were providing as safe an experience as possible."

Organisers say that it is unlikely that the exhibition will be extended, as the artist always meant for the memorial to be temporary. "November 11 is a very purposeful day," a spokeswoman said. "Armistice Day is a very important day for us. The artists wanted the installation to be quite transient to reflect the ephemeral nature of life during the First World War."

After the exhibit is taken down, the 888,246 ceramic poppies – each of which represents one of the British soldiers who died during the First World War – will be cleaned and sent out to donors who have purchased them for charity.

One of the beneficiaries of the poppies’ sale, the military charity SSAFA, backed the timetable for the closure of the exhibition. A spokeswoman said: “Its transience is part of the overall artistic concept".