Cambridgeshire villagers’ textile project holds climate message

An eco textile project created by villagers from Waterbeach, Landbeach and Milton is on display at a church until Tuesday (October 4).

Residents have worked on the pop-up installation, which can be found at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Waterbeach, since last Christmas and it is due to travel on to Landbeach and Milton.

It began as a community commitment to the environment and celebration of creation, before morphing into a symbol of the new king’s concern for sustainability.

The installation celebrates Creationtide (September 1-October 4), when churches gives thanks for harvests but also reflect on environmental responsibilities. The bright colours of the leaves represent biodiversity, water drops represent water-stress concerns, and sharp reds indicate climate change.

It was muted by mourning garlands when the churchyard became a location for floral tributes to the Queen. Inside is a modest display about other organisations and businesses committed to eco-friendly practice and products.

Angela Brown, one of the organisers, along with Jane Oakes, said: “Two strands of energy came together. One was the enormous community co-operation which had produced the Remembrance poppy installations last autumn.

“So we knew that there were people all across the Waterbeach community who liked the idea of community textiles, but obviously a Remembrance poppy installation looks to the past. In recent years, Waterbeach and Landbeach have had a group that has long been concerned about climate change and other issues of sustainability, and that concern has never gone away.

“And we realise that churches now have something called Creationtide when they urge people not just to celebrate harvest festivals, but also to challenge us to think about our responsibility for the planet.

“So I floated these ideas with particularly young people groups in the community: the Brownies, the Guides, the Cub Scouts, the Army Cadets, Waterbeach Action for Youth (WAY), the youth club in Waterbeach, and they were willing to participate.”

WAY excelled themselves, Angela notes, with a panel of netting derived from non-biodegradable food-netting. Some “secret knitters”made red rectangles which became the “surprise element” for the netting panels. “These indicate the rising temperature graph,” explains Angela. “It’s signalling climate change.”

[Read more: Knitted poppies to adorn two Cambridgeshire war memorials, Greenway route for cycling and walking won’t be ready until two years after Waterbeach New Town opens]

The installation also stands as a tribute to Trevor Thorn, who has campaigned about climate change in the three villages for more than 20 years. Trevor celebrated his 80th birthday around the time that the display was put in place.

“As far as we know, this is unique,” said Angela, “but the point is that what we’re making is sustainable and can go on being used to decorate but also to celebrate and remind us of our responsibilities.”

The installation may yet move elsewhere in Waterbeach, before going on to Milton “early next year, for a community event”.