Yarn bombers' charity Christmas tree

The Castlefields Yarn Bombing Crew has knitted more than 130 colourful woolly hats to decorate a Christmas tree in support of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

The Shropshire yarn-bombing group set aside traditional tinsel and baubles to create a Christmas tree with a difference and the fruits of their labour can now be enjoyed as part of the Christmas Tree Festival at Shrewsbury’s St Chad’s Church.

‘When we heard about the Castlefields Yarn Bombing Crew we thought this might give us a golden opportunity to do something a bit different with our tree this year,’ said Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. ‘They’ve done a really superb job.’

‘This project has been a real labour of love for us,’ said Clare Bear, one of the yarn bombers and project manager for Lovelyland, a not-for-profit social enterprise working with schools and community groups across Shropshire.

She said: ‘The 130 brightly coloured woolly hats knitted to decorate the tree represent many months of hard work by our amazing yarn bombing crew. I’m sure people will enjoy the tree. It’s also a particular pleasure for us to be supporting Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin who do such a fantastic job in helping older people across the county.’

The Shrewsbury Christmas Tree Festival runs from 10 December 2022 until 3 January 2023.