Yarn display celebrates beauty of town's rivers

Otters, voles, squirrels, herons and water rats take centre stage in the display

A town's natural beauty is being celebrated with a display of 100 yarn bomb creations.

The 140 members of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters have knitted scenes that showcase the area's four rivers - the Rib, Lea, Mimram and Beane.

Debs Bonfield from the group said: "We make beautiful things for the town to enjoy, and they embrace it."

The Parliament Square display will raise money for food bank charity Hertford Pantry, and feature a narrow boat called Lady Joan in memory of Joan Brandford, a member who passed away last year.

Narrow boat Lady Joan has been made to honour member Joan Brandford, who passed away in 2024

Mrs Bonfield said the group had raised money for a number of local charities since it began in 2017.

She hoped its latest display would raise more than £20,000 and take it to more than £200,000 in total.

It created a number of displays, including a celebration for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, King Charles III's Coronation and the Olympics.

Even kayakers feature, with three made in total

"It's a lovely craze that's taken off. We started with 12 members and now have 140, it's just grown from there," Mrs Bonfield said.

The river theme was chosen because Hertford "is unique".

"It has a chalk river bed, and there are only a few of those in the country.

"As a small town, it has four rivers running through it, which is quite rare.

"We wanted to celebrate the natural beauty of Hertford."

About 200 flowers have been created, as well as 380 bullrushes and 40 ladybirds

She said scenes including fish, ducks, coots, bees, butterflies and voles would "take over the whole of Parliament Square".

It also includes a depiction of the annual Hertford Duck Race, complete with 200 knitted ducks, and the winner on a podium.

"We're really proud of what we've achieved, we thoroughly enjoy it, we get together three times a week, we're all volunteers, we make beautiful things for the town to enjoy and the town embraces it", she added.

Two herons have been knitted along with nine cygnets and two swans