Get Wild and Woolly at Beacon Hill

Knitting with eight foot long needles is just one of a host of activities taking place on Sunday to encourage people to take part in a pastime popular with likes of Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts.

Beacon Hill Country Park’s first ever Woolfest aims to encourage people to follow in the footsteps of the Hollywood A-listers and find out more about a hobby which is no longer associated with grannies – knitting - as well as spinning and weaving.

The beauty spot, which is run by Leicestershire County Council, will become a woolly wonderland between 10am and 3pm at the free event when there will be a chance to watch, learn and have a go at a bundle of wool related crafts.

Visitors can have a ball of fun, test their team skills and try not to drop a stitch with the giant knitting needles - or unwind by having a go at tree dressing by adorning branches with woolly items and other bright colours.
There will also be an opportunity to take a short walk with the Beacon Hill Country Park rangers to meet the resident sheep and alpacas who play an important part in the heathland management of the site, and whose wool will be spun by experts on the day.

As part of Charnwood Arts’ Artzone initiative, there will also be a Peg Loom Workshop taking place for 8 -14 year olds (£5 per person to be booked in advance) so they can create a woven sheep.

Mike Preston, Cabinet member for Climate Change at Leicester County Council, said: “The Woolfest provides a unique hands-on opportunity for people to learn more about knitting – as well as spinning and weaving.  

“I knit – my mum taught me when I was small – so it’s nice to know I am up there with these Hollywood A-listers!

“As well as following the footsteps of the “in-crowd”, by learning to knit and weave you can pull on a jumper you have created yourself, turn your thermostat down by one notch this winter and save money and energy at the same time!
“The Woolfest is a really unique event and I would urge people to come along and find out more.”

The Woolfest can be accessed by Beacon Hill’s lower car park (Breakback lane, Woodhouse Eaves). For more information and to book a place on the Peg Loom Workshop call 0116 305 8790, or email beacon@leics.gov.uk

Celebrities who have reportedly made knitting “cool” again:

• Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker has been spotted click-clacking away in between filming after reportedly being taught be her co-star, Kristin Davis
• Russell Crowe has helped spread the idea that macho men can knit following the distribution of photos of him apparently taking part in the woolly pasttime
• Catherine Zeta Zones was said to have sent home-made scarfs and ponchos to friends at Christmas and taught Zorro co-star Antonio Banderas the skill to pass the time when he was laid up with an injury
• Julia Roberts, who starred in the film The Friday Night Knitting Club apparently is a big fan too
• Cameron Diaz has been well documented as being nifty with the needles