"The Swanage Middle School knitting club saw the Knitted Garden at Durlston. They decided they would like to join the project to let the country know about their knitting club and leave a lasting legacy for their school, which is closing in July 2013, due to a review of school provision in Purbeck.

The project is therefore called "The final picnic at Swanage Middle School" and depicts the girls' themselves, supervised by one of their teacher's Mr Tubb.

Lucy, Kerry, Alana, Ella, Hollie and many other nutty knitters, ages 9-11. Helped by adults; Julie, Jean and Kim"

Halifax - last week to see it for 2012.

The knitted garden is still at Bankfield museum until 10th September.

The local knitters have been making a Yorkshire garden - looking forward to seeing it!

Just received this comment from Bankfield Staff.

"It has been fantastic, the Yorkshire garden we have made is also brill, we did a hillside with sheep the flock must be 2 dozen strong at least,  it has been one of the best exhibitions we have had for a long time, people have just been coming back again and again to see it, all the children have loved it".

Bankfield Museum
Akroyd Park
Boothtown Road
Halifax HX3 6HG

Telephone: 01422 354823 / 352334

Email: bankfield.museum@calderdale.gov.uk

And the latest contribution to the knitted garden is from Yorkshire. Love the sheep! Thank you Calderdale ladies!

The knitted garden goes into hibernation for the winter but will be  exhibited again in February 2013.

http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?series_id=504793358

The Knitted Garden appeared on the Welsh Language TV programme S4c last week.
Here is the link. (above)
Our bit starts at about 15 mins into the programme.
Click on Episode 5 to watch it.

The Welsh Garden addition

Wherever the knitted garden is exhibited the local knitting and craft groups make work to add to it.


Here is the Welsh addition- many thanks!!      It is wonderful.


The bird table garden is the creation of the ‘Popeth Cymraeg: Chelf a Chrefftau’ group (translated as ‘Everything Welsh: Arts and Crafts’.  The group incorporates learning the Welsh language through creative activities. Here is picture of the group with their leader, Haf Parry, sat in the centre in pink.  Haf runs a farming business but is also involved in various creative and musical groups. This picture was taken on the day the group installed the piece and were filmed doing so by Cwmni Da for S4C’s ‘Byw yn yr Ardd’ (Living in the Garden); in the centre back of the picture is Russell Jones, one of the programme’s presenters who’s a keen promoter of gardening and living from the land as well as being a gifted knitter.  He created a little bird made from the wool of an alpaca called Humphrey, which is now part of the ‘bird table garden’.  He’s well-known for his trade-make hat and if you look carefully, there’s a little knitted ‘Russell’ in the bird table garden.  Everyone in the group played a part in the making of the garden but the biggest contribution was one lady who worked tirelessly and roped in her family to pull the whole thing together in time.  She’s also the one who made all the witty little additions such as the mini Russell and mini Morrigan and was determined to make sure that the garden had lots of Welsh references in preparation for its ongoing tour.
  

Hello Wales

Well we had a rather wet and windy trip to Wales - camped on site but the tent broke in the strong East wind so we stayed B&B in Rhyl the next night.

But we received a very warm welcome from all the Welsh staff and volunteers at Bodelwyeddan Castle in Denbyshire  http://www.bodelwyddan-castle.co.uk/contact.html.

It is a sister of The National Portrait Gallery London. Bodelwyddan holds the collection of Welsh Portraiture.

And it is haunted!

We had lots of great volunteers helping us on both days - made installation very easy and it looks beautiful. BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!

Welsh TV were filming it today as local knitters from a Welsh language speaking group have knitted a bird table, Welsh flag and garden hose. Sadly we didn't get to see all of these but I expect it looks really good. I love the fact that the garden keeps on growing at every venue. We don't know when it will be shown on TV but will let you know.

I am creating a new section on the blog called The Different Gardens and Their Makers which will show sections of the garden with the stories of the people behind them.

Good bye Durlston

Big thanks to Durlston Country Park and all the staff and volunteers who helped in set up and take down and for taking such good care of the garden while you had it. It was lovely to meet you all!!

Latest pics from Durlston

Apparently we are the talk of Swanage!

The knitted greenhouse made by Purlesque knit and stitch group, the Lighthouse, Poole

The first showing of the completed knitted Greenhouse.
Thank you to all the ladies who contributed and to Marion for overseeing and finishing the project.


I spent 4 hours at Durlston Country Park yesterday mending some bits of the garden and re stuffing the sagging plant pots and flower baskets. I also sewed on Daisy's five little black flies - put them on the plate of sausages in the picnic - looks very life like.

It is a very busy exhibition and the children love it!

Durlston have done a children's activity sheet which is a great idea and we got through about 50 sheets from 12 - 3.30!

It is very very busy because it is Easter Hols and it needs tidying on a regular basis. It is stewarded by Durlston volunteers, but if anybody reading this goes to visit please can they have a tidy and repair please.

Some beautiful comments in the visitor's book - almost made me cry!

I will be over again later in the week.

More photos to follow.

News from Durlston Country Park Swanage

Big thank you to the Durlston Staff and Ali and his girlfriend Caroline for all their help in setting up and for providing us with a great team of volunteers who got the garden up in record time and even managed to assemble the greenhouse without the printed instructions - they seem to have got lost so need to colour code the joints!
We were just starting to flag when the ladies hockey team turned up to help and they erected the grape vine in under an hour when it took one volunteer a day last time.

I would get very fat if I worked at Durlston as they sell Purbeck Ginger ice cream - had to have one everyday we were there!

Garden looks great! Nice to see it up again.

Open until 24th April
11.00 - 4pm each day

Going over tomorrow to re stuff the flower pots as they are sagging and to take photos. Might have to have another ginger ice cream too. Spotted a lovely pair of sandals in Swanage.

The Lighthouse, Poole's greenhouse looks good - its first showing since it was finished and we have put lovely things in it and plants growing up it.

Durlston is a great place to walk and the finished revamp of the castle looks good.
Dolphins around at the moment too.

Spring is here and the knitted garden is about to bloom again

Yes, yippee, Spring is here and how beautiful it is.

I have a garden pond bursting with frog spawn.

The knitted garden is just about to be retrieved from storage and begin its second year of touring the UK.

I am installing it at Durlston Country Park, Swanage on 31st March and 1st April.

I desperately need volunteers to help set up on both days please.

Hard work but fun and satisfying.

Even a few hours of your time helps.

Just applying for free parking for us.

Anyone free please call me on 01202 392055 or 07729829209.

Many thanks

Pauline

Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset
2nd April - 24th April
Helpers needed to set up on Saurday 31st March and Sunday 1st April and take down Wed 25th April.

http://www.durlston.co.uk/index.php?nid=2&id=1

Bodelwyddan Castle Museum, North Wales

1st May - 8th July
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Bankfield Museum, Halifax, Yorkshire

21st July - 9th September

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