THE iconic poppy sculpture ‘Wave’ by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper opened to the public on Friday at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson in Portsmouth.

The work will be on site until June 24 as part of the final year of 14-18 NOW’s UK-wide tour of the poppies.

The presentations by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, give people across the UK the chance to experience the impact of the ceramic poppy sculptures in a range of places of particular First World War resonance.

The sculptures have already been displayed in 14 locations since the tour started in 2015 and viewed by more than three-and-a-half million people.

At the end of the tour, they will become part of the Imperial War Museum’s collection.

Royal Armouries Fort Nelson is part of a large ring of forts built to defend the naval base of Portsmouth, and one of five forts built on Portsdown Hill in the 1860s.

The use of artillery became a major part of the soldiers’ experience during the First World War, and Fort Nelson now hosts large artillery pieces from the Royal Armouries’ national collection.

General the Lord Dannatt, chairman of the Royal Armouries, said: “It is an honour to be presenting Poppies: Wave at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson, a site of such special significance to the First World War.

“The sculpture will be set among Fort Nelson’s imposing defensive ramparts with their spectacular views out across the Solent.”

“We look forward to seeing the reaction to Wave from the public, our staff and volunteers in the weeks to come,” added Lord Dannatt.