Belper Woollen Woods is coming to town
Come and join the trail!

15th-23rd May 2021

Belper Woollen Woods started in The Deer Park Wood in 2015. It was part of Corridor Arts ‘Here and There’ Art Walk, during Belper Arts Festival. In the first year about twenty people knitted and crocheted pieces to decorate the trees which stayed up for a long weekend. The public enjoyed it so much that in 2016 the event grew with more people taking part including schools and craft groups.

The feedback from the public was fantastic and slowly the event grew and extended to around ten days. More of the community became involved … as did contributors from further afield extending to schools, nursing homes and numerous groups and individuals. Underpinning it too was a mindfulness of Belper’s Heritage, with the Deer Park at the heart of it. Last year the Covid Pandemic meant that the event couldn’t be held and so when forward planning it was decided to bring the event into Belper Town and the early Strutts housing area to include more heritage for visitors to enjoy and enable easier social distancing.

Belper Memorial Gardens – A variety of arts and crafts will be on display on what was Belper’s original market place and gardens to Green Hall – to include Poppies and Dementia Care.

St Peter’s Church – This year the gardens will host a variety of exhibits created by the extended community. As an eco church members are creating 3 trees with a focus on ‘Creative Care’, quite relevantly at the Green Lane Gates. Belper’s heritage of Street Dressings and Rope Making will welcome visitors at the Chesterfield Road entrance.

Long Row and The Clusters – The community have come together to celebrate our heritage past and present. The community’s latest street dressings will be a feast for the eyes as you wander our rows. You will also learn about the area’s rope making heritage.

Belper Mills – Belper’s water powered mill site includes the Grade I listed North Mill and gangway over the road built by the Strutt family. It’s also home to Millie the Mouse… can you find her in St Peter’s Gardens?

Beaurepaire Gardens – A part of the gardens was used by the patients of the Cottage Hospital developed by Agnes Strutt from three cottages opposite the site. A fitting heritage area for a focus on Florence Nightingale, her owl, tortoise and a tribute to our NHS.