13 Dec 2023
Posting a Christmas card has not been the same in St Albans over the past six years, thanks to the efforts of a determined group of volunteer knitters.
Dozens of pillar boxes across the city and beyond are transformed over the festive season with handmade and uniquely crafted toppers that tell stories, each a testament to the community’s creativity.
The St Albans Postboxes project dates back to January 2018, when a meeting took place between founder Clare Suttie and a member of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters following the town’s yarnbombing initiative.
That December saw the first St Albans Postboxes campaign with just 23 toppers scattered across the city centre.
But after it proved an overwhelming success, raising more than £4,000, the team realised its amazing potential, and have now raised more than £100,000 for local charities with toppers on 80 postboxes in St Albans, Harpenden and Wheathamstead for Christmas 2023.
The project now boasts a diverse team of volunteers, including skilled crafters, business sponsors, and dedicated postbox topper installation and maintenance crews. Organisers Clare, Lucy and Candy, meticulously ensure adherence to rules and permissions, avoiding private property and safeguarding the environment. Postbox toppers are lovingly preserved, repaired, and repurposed for sustainability, ensuring a minimal impact on the surroundings.
This year’s campaign kicked off at the start of the month with a launch attended by St Albans Mayor Cllr Anthony Rowlands and MP Daisy Cooper, as well as more makers, business sponsors, and enthusiastic supporters than ever before.
Attendees heard moving speeches from representatives of this year’s two chosen charities, Cancer Hair Care and Hertfordshire MIND Network, and founder Clare emphasised the infectious joy that yarnbombing brings to the community, especially during the winter months.
This year’s highlights include toppers crafted by toddlers at Toddlers Inn Nursery and a piece by Matilda Stuart, created during her Duke of Edinburgh award project at age 14. Group contributions from Herts Belles WI, children from the Woodcraft Folk St Albans and the Sopwell Knitters showcase the collective spirit of the community.
The team know that every year, toppers go missing and are damaged. So far one topper has disappeared, which featured Santa’s legs going down a chimney, but it was replaced within a few days. A couple of sock monkeys from another topper were removed – and one was retrieved by a kind member of the community who reprimanded a group of children who had stolen it! The team do stress that the toppers are not toys, and are full of wire, staples, glue, and even concrete – their only job is to sit on top of a postbox for a month!
For those eager to be part of the festive yarnbombing magic, by creating, sponsoring, supporting, donating or purchasing Christmas cards (new for 2023) more information can be found at www.stalbanspostboxes.org.uk, and updates can be followed on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Please donate whatever you can and help them to smash this year’s target of £20,000: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/st-albans-postboxes-2023.
