Southwell knitters planning a colourful explosion

Southwell will be stitched up in style with dozens of colourful woollen creations on Saturday in a project to raise money for two charities.

Covers have been knitted and crocheted for more than 100 bollards in the town centre.

Benches and trees will also be decorated.

A yarn-bombed mini and a bicycle, which was displayed at Loft Handmade Shop in Edingley for the Tour of Britain visit, will be on show in Southwell.

The Southwell Yarn Bomb Project was started by town councillor Mrs Sue Rodgers.

It has involved the town’s schools. Children from Lowe’s Wong infants’ and junior and Holy Trinity infants’ schools wrapped wool around CDs that will be hung on railings outside the schools.

A group from Minster School has been busy knitting and crocheting and will yarn bomb the Market Place.

The Scouts, Beavers and Brownies have all been involved as well as those living in Moorfield Court Retirement Housing Scheme and South-well Court Care Home along with the Southwell Live At Home Project.

A willow frame of an elephant, made by artist Jessica Kemp, has been covered with knitted squares to make it look like the children’s book character Elmer The Elephant.

The squares include some sent from Australia by Mrs Rodgers’ great aunt, Patricia Dillon.

'A cross-generational project'

The elephant will be paraded through the town on Saturday and be given a home in Southwell Library.

“The whole community has got involved, from primary school children to care home residents. ” said Mrs Rodgers.

“This really is a cross-generational project.”

Volunteers will start the yarn bombing tomorrow evening and will be up early on Saturday with the hope that everything will be in place by 9am.

The woollen creations are due to stay for up to three weeks.

The event will raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and the Young Archaeologists Club (YAC) — both causes important to Mrs Rodgers.

She cared for her father, who had dementia, until his death in 2014 and received support and advice from the society, and she is a community archaeologist who has volunteered with YAC for 16 years.

The project has been supported by Southwell town, Newark and Sherwood district and Nottinghamshire county councils.

There will be buckets for donations on Saturday and ther will be a stall selling knitted and crocheted items.

Donations can also be made through Sue Rodgers' justgiving page