A local Yarn Bomber group, based at the Methodist Church in High Littleton, have taken to the villages of Hallatrow and High Littleton this summer to spread a two-mile-long trail full of colour and cheer.

The group, who started the annual yarn bombing five years ago following a lot of expressed interest, have spent the year readying their impressive yarn animals to fit in with this year’s theme, A-Z animals.

There was an overall entry of fifty animals in this year’s trail, with most of those being from the villages’ yarn bombing group, where there are as many as ten members who, before the pandemic, met weekly to decide on which charities to knit and crochet for.

Mary, one of the yarn bombers, told The Journal: “We create for charity all of the time, if they contact us asking for help, we will do whatever we can.

“One year we knitted scarves and hats for the homeless in Bath; we have knitted and crocheted baby hats for the RUH and every year, we come together to cover the church with poppies for Remembrance Day, something we will be starting when this year’s trail has finished.”

Last year, the group of volunteers designed the trail around children’s books, much to the delight of children from the local primary schools.

This year you can spot reoccurring faces with some of the characters being recycled to fit in with A-Z animals theme. Maybe you spotted Hedwig watching over the village?

Chris Wootten, the Chairman of the High Littleton and Hallatrow Village Day, said: “The yarn-bombers bring the community together. To do twenty six different creations is quite a feat, I do not know how Sandra Roberts, and the other yarn-bombers do it. She started it all and together with her husband, John, organises the whole trail, this year being 26 animals, each in order from A-Z. She was the one who went around and got the pubs, shops and fish and chip shop involved, and now they are a solid part of the trail which is great for the community to see.

“If you added up all of the hours put into creating and setting up the trail, it would be hours! People put in so much effort which is so lovely to see.”

Although Chris does not knit himself, he offers up his creativity by creating all of the wire bases and inner bodies for the creations, which he recycles out of old clothes hangers and chicken wire, to make sure they stay in the right shape.

The fun-filled yarn trail finishes on Friday and the winners will be drawn out of a hat on Saturday afternoon. If you would like to take part, you can pick-up a form from the giraffe, opposite the Methodist Church in High Littleton.

All you need to do is fill in what you think each letter represents and give it back to the giraffe.

All participants with the most correct answers will have their names put into a hat with the chance to win £25 courtesy of the Parish Council. Runners up will receive a Bookbarn voucher.

The group are deciding on next year’s theme and would love to hear any ideas you have. What would you like to see yarn-bombed in your village?