Post boxes across Kidderminster have been fitted with magical knitted decorations just in time for Christmas.
The crotched delights are featuring in every housing estate in the town, including Birchen Coppice, in a tradition known as ‘yarn bombing’.
They have been created by many different community groups including Brownies, Guides, churches, schools and knit and natter groups as a way of bringing festive joy.
The yarn-bombing is also running alongside the ‘Adopt a Post Box’ scheme organised by the Community Christmas Initiative Group whilst pupils from local schools are designing Christmas cards for care home residents.
Chair of the Community Christmas Initiative Group, Heather Prangley, said: “Our simple aim was to put a smile on as many faces as we could in these dark and sometimes difficult days for some.
“Connecting people and enabling conversation is so important for our mental health and well-being. Kidderminster looks so colourful, bright and festive but none of this would be possible without the support of local councillors Tracey Onslow, Julian Phillips and Edward Stokes.”
One of the crafters, Julie Hooper, added: “The yarn-bombing project is about connecting communities, promoting well-being, celebrating local talent and loving where you live.”
In addition to the post boxes, creative crafters and residents have also yarn-bombed the front window of The Radcliffe Arms.
The pub is one of the few remaining estate pubs in Kidderminster with the popular tavern also releasing a song called ‘The Radcliffe Boys’ to commemorate its 70-year existence and its association with the WWII U.S. army base at the nearby Burlish Top.
The song has been written by ‘The Tuttlers’ comprised of Kathy, Pete and Raphael Jezukiewicz.
Ms Hooper added: “The lyrics echo the memories of local resident who still talk about life there in the 1950s.”
A video of ‘The Radcliffe Boys’ is due to be released before Christmas and features very talented musicians and singers from the area as well as local residents joining in with the recording.
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