"She always makes a beeline for it whenever we're in town" - February 2025
Whenever we're open (and it's not raining!) we yarn bomb 15 of the black bollards around the pedestrian piazza in front of the shop.
The yarn "bombards" are constructed from knit and crochet squares that were originally made for a huge rainbow textile installation around Huddersfield Train Station for the WOVEN in Kirklees textiles festival in 2021.
In 2023, the leftover squares were made into bollard covers to decorate Huddersfield for the coronation. Ever since, we have used them to decorate the fairly dull street features to bring colour and joy to passers-by.
Bringing Colour and Fun
During a recent shift, I noticed one little girl having fun running around the bollards and hugging one of them. I went out to say hello. Her Dad told me that she always makes a beeline for a little knitted bee that is attached to one of the knitted squares.
I gave her a little knitted flower as a gift and she immediately ran to match it up with her favourite bee and continued running between the bollard covers. She was having a great time!
Other passers-by were smiling too, watching the girl enjoying her interactions with the colourful yarn covers.
The Future of the High Street
With the mass-departure of national retail chains from towns up and down the country, we have an opportunity to re-write the rules for our high streets:
What do we want to experience in a town centre?
How can these spaces best serve us?
How can they bring out the best in us?
As we work to figure it out, let us prioritise and never underestimate the importance of creativity and community to give people joyful and unique experiences.
However small they may bee.
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