Rejoicing in Ripon: Ripon Community Poppy Project’s spec‑tacular displays add to city centre’s attraction

Thanks to Ripon Community Poppy Project’s non-stop knitters 🧶 and sponsorship from BID member Specsavers 👀, the city centre is looking fabulous in time for the Easter holiday 🐣.

Dozens of beautifully handcrafted knitted designs featuring bunnies, chicks, eggs and flowers 🐰🐥🥚🌼 are now adorning railings and mailboxes around Market Square, while Specsavers and Yorkshire Building Society both have eye-catching window displays 👏.

Hazel Barker, who with former city mayor Stuart Martin co-founded the Community Poppy Project in 2017, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“We hope that our displays bring a smile to the faces of residents, visitors and people working in Ripon 😊, while adding to the attraction of the city that we all love ❤️.”

Hazel, who was made a Freeman of the City in April 2019 for her tireless community work, added:
“We are now working on our new creations for later this year, and the sponsorship that we receive, such as that from Specsavers, is enabling us to be even more ambitious in our plans for what we have coming next!” ✨

Stuart Martin, who provided photographs for inclusion in this story 📸, served consecutive terms as Mayor of Ripon between 2004 and 2006 and was in office when the late Queen Elizabeth II visited the city in 2004 to mark the 400th anniversary of Ripon receiving its Royal Charter from James I 👑.

Hazel Barker putting up a display on railings at Ripon Town Hall.

The window display at Specsavers.

Four further railings displays