A team of crochet enthusiasts, the Hurst Hookers, produced a moving display of poppies which had drivers stopping to take photos.
The group is celebrating its first birthday this week, having spent the past year making stunning outdoor displays of their work in wool.
Crochet involves using a hook, rather than needles as in knitting, to make articles out of wool or other yarn.
During the past year the group has gone from strength to strength with their displays, sometimes known as yarn bombing, to mark important events.
A focal point for some of their work is the junction of School Road with the A321 road from Wokingham to Twyford.
For Remembrance this year they produced cascades of red poppies sweeping down from the top of the village sign at the junction. Heather Howarth created the post box topper of crocheted poppies nearby at Whistley Green.
A Hallowe’en post box topper outside the Post Office by Geraldine Eglington and others included an amazing display of a witch with her cauldron, cat, mice, ghosts, pumpkins and bats.
At Christmas, the same post box was home to little figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. There was a splendid royal crown for the Queen’s jubilee. Heather Howarth produced a remarkable royal corgi. Later a topper marked the Queen’s death.
At Easter, there were chicks and flowers.
Philippa Etheridge who started the group said: “We’ve had lots of lovely comments about the poppies, the post box toppers and also the little ‘Random acts of kindness’ our members make for children to find.”
One of the ‘random acts’, a mini ghost left at the children’s playground, had a label attached saying: ‘I am not lost, just all alone. If I make you smile, please take me home’.
A two-year-old found this one.
Phillipa explained the start of the Hurst group: “I went to the Barkham Hookers where Gaynor White taught me to crochet. I then started the Hurst group with our first meeting at the Green Man pub. But we’re now at Hurst Cricket Club every other Thursday,” added Philippa.
“We have a core of about 15 members. But we welcome more people. There’s a £2 a session fee towards the cricket club hire. Anyone interested can find me on Facebook.
“It’s a lovely pastime, really relaxing and mindful. We mainly do crochet, but we do have a few knitters. Our members have such creative, fantastic ideas.
“People really like seeing all the things we make. And we’re inspiring people to have a go. A pupil at St Nicholas Primary is doing so well with her crochet.”
The group invites people who enjoy their work to contribute to charities.
