Express & Star

Intricate embroidery of Cannock Chase nearly complete after four years

It has been four years in the making.

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Brenda Marshall with the embroidered panel

But now the finishing touches are all that are left to complete this intricate embroidery.

Members of the Chadsmoor Tapestry Group have been working on the piece, which measures 6ft by 4ft, since 2013 after being tasked by Hednesford Town Council.

It is now nearly finished – and was shown off to members of the public at a preview event over the weekend.

Brenda Marshall, 81,who is the tapestry group's chairman, said: "We were commissioned by Hednesford Town Council to create this embroidery.

"They wanted us to use the theme 'Hednesford – Gateway to the Chase'.

"So they wanted the map of the Chase, which we've done, and we've also done all the flora and fauna that are on the Chase, as well as the activities and attractions."

The group took on the mammoth task just over four years ago, and 20 people have been involved in creating the embroidery.

Group members created smaller areas of the tapestry which have been painstakingly pieced together.

Mrs Marshall, a retired teacher, said the assembly process has been ongoing since the start of this year.

She explained: "What people do is work on single element, such as the flowers.

"They would do a single flower then that's put on a background along with all the other flowers.

"It's quite time consuming."

The embroidery is bordered by some of the flora and fauna indigenous to Cannock Chase and the surrounding area.

When finally completed it will be on permanent exhibition in Pye Green Community Centre, from early next year.

But it has already proved a hit at its preview event, according to Mrs Marshall.

She said: "There were some very nice comments, people thought it was absolutely beautiful.

"Each one of our four major projects has been different.

"There were lots of very positive comments and very good reactions, which was lovely.

"It includes some very fine, very detailed work and I'm extremely proud of what the group is doing and what we've achieved."

The Hednesford embroidery is the fourth major community project that the group has undertaken, amongst which is the Cannock Embroidery, which can be seen in Cannock Chase Civic Suite.