The final product of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (CRP)’s ‘Stitch Train’ tapestry project has been installed at Alvechurch Library.

The ‘Stitch Train’ project was a collaboration between Worcestershire CRP and Woolly Mammoth Stitch Works CIC. The partnership wanted to use the large-scale community tapestry project to bring together existing Worcestershire CRP volunteers with new people across the county during Covid-19 restrictions.

A tapestry for each of the region’s 18 railway stations was created, with an estimated 678 volunteer hours spent across the county making each unique tapestry.

The individual train tapestries have now been linked together to produce the final display.

Colin Major, Vice Chair of Worcestershire CRP, said: “We were so overwhelmed by the response from volunteers across the county, that we had to arrange additional sewing kits for the project! This clearly demonstrates how much our communities identify with their local station.”

Cllr. Keith Wiseman, Alvechurch Parish Council, welcomed the tapestry as a record of the alternative types of activity that kept residents motivated during the pandemic. He said: “The Parish Council were very pleased to receive the tapestry on behalf of the residents of Alvechurch.

“The trains are the only major form of public transport to and from the village, and this significance will not be lost on our local community. The tapestry also makes a wonderful addition to the local memorabilia section in the library.”

The ‘Stitch Train’ tapestry can be viewed during Alvechurch Library’s opening hours.

Keep up to date with future news, projects, and events from Worcestershire CRP via their website.