Praise for six-year tapestry task

The chairman of Cannock Chase Council has heaped praise on a tapestry created for the people of the area.

It has taken Chadsmoor Tapestry Group six years to create the three-dimensional 11ft x 6ft embroidery depicting Cannock Chase.

It will be officially unveiled on Saturday. More than 50,000 hours went into creating it and it has been estimated it would have cost around £1million to create commercially because of the cost of craftwork and materials. It pictures aspects of Cannock, paying attention to its present and past.

It also features the flora and fauna of Cannock Chase.

Councillor Ray Easton, chairman of the district council, said: "It is an enormous credit to the town and surrounding area that we have inspired such a unique and priceless work of art.

"Cannock Chase has a fascinating history and is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cannock Embroidery reflects this in a spectacular way."

Members of the group made individual fabric sections which were then brought together on a flat canvas.

All but two of the volunteers are pensioners and five are aged in their 80s.

Tapestry Group project co-ordinator Brenda Marshall said: "This has been an absolute labour of love for everyone involved.

"We believe it is unique, and a tapestry expert who has seen it in production has said there is nothing like it in the world.

"I have seen some excellent 3D tapestries but nothing this ambitious or on this scale."

She added: "Everything on the piece has been individually crafted and stands clear of the tapestry. We have used an amazing variety of materials and techniques and the members have had to learn new skills as they have gone along."

The Cannock Embroidery will initially go on display at Cannock Chase Council's civic centre, where it will be unveiled at 1.45pm on Saturday.

It will be displayed under strict environmentally controlled conditions in an oak and sycamore display cabinet created by Church Eaton master craftsman Tony Lendon.

The tapestry will eventually find a permanent home in the Avon Plaza leisure and retail development.