Now THAT’S a hanging garden! Churchgoers knit ‘flower tower’ with 1,400 stunning DIY blooms

Now THAT’S a hanging garden! Churchgoers knit ‘flower tower’ with 1,400 stunning DIY blooms to brighten up village during pandemic

  • Retired art teacher Alison White, 64, was determined to cheer up her village 
  • She hoped to get up to 500 blooms but there are now 1,452 home-made flowers 
  • Volunteers made the flowers which are attached to netting that cascades tower

It started as a way to boost spirits in lockdown.

Now this church bell tower has really blossomed thanks to a drive that could be dubbed knit one, peal one.

Retired art teacher Alison White, 64, was determined to cheer up her village early this year and hit upon the idea of home-made flowers adorning the 50ft tower.

She hoped to get up to 500 blooms, but there are now 1,452 at St Margaret of Antioch in Barley, Hertfordshire.

Volunteers, including care residents and children, knitted, crocheted and sewed the flowers which are attached to netting that cascades down the tower.

This church bell tower has really blossomed thanks to a drive that could be dubbed knit one, peal one

The display is raising funds for the 12th century church with a target of £14,520 – £10 per flower.

Former church warden Mrs White said: ‘Everyone locally says it has really helped cheer people up.’

She added: ‘I started it because everyone was fed up when the lockdown started after Christmas and no one knew when it would end.

‘I wanted to start something that people could do together – although, of course, we could not be together.

‘The only directive I gave was that the flowers had to be bold and bright and 15cm across so they’d be big enough to see on the tower.

Volunteers, including care residents and children, knitted, crocheted and sewed the flowers which are attached to netting that cascades down the tower

Volunteers, including care residents and children, knitted, crocheted and sewed the flowers which are attached to netting that cascades down the tower

‘People came up with some imaginative ideas, adding ladybirds, butterflies and bumble bees. We also have a pigeon and a duck.’

The net that the flowers were stitched on to was donated by retired church warden Reg Cording.

Mrs White said: ‘Once we were allowed to meet again we stitched them on to netting in socially distanced groups of not more than five people at a time.. Royston Fire Service then kindly put the netting up on the tower for us by hauling it up with ropes.’

The church’s rector, Reverend Canon Ruth Pyke, said: ‘The generosity of people in putting so much effort into this beautiful creation has bowled me over.

‘The flowers are just another sign of their love for the village and its church. I hope we will inspire people from the wider community or who pass through the village to stop, admire our hanging and give generously so that the church can continue to give the village the space it deserves and needs, especially as we spend more time near to where we live.’

The display is raising funds for the 12th century church with a target of £14,520 ¿ £10 per flower

The display is raising funds for the 12th century church with a target of £14,520 – £10 per flower

She hoped to get up to 500 blooms, but there are now 1,452 at St Margaret of Antioch in Barley, Hertfordshire

She hoped to get up to 500 blooms, but there are now 1,452 at St Margaret of Antioch in Barley, Hertfordshire

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