A KNITTING and crochet group have created a Yarn Bomb installation around the trees of a York park.

The colourful bunting, flowers and flurry of bees will hang on branches around Homestead Park until Monday. The installation was created by the group, known as the York KnitWits, to coincide with Voluntary Arts Week, a country-wide celebration of creativity.

York KnitWits also aim to raise awareness of bee decline in the UK, and the massive impact this could have.

The installation took around a month to create in addition to weekly group knitting sessions. According to Claire Canavan, 29, a PHD student at the University of York, “frantic pressure” was involved in making the masterpiece.

She joined the group after discovering them through social media. “I heard about it through Facebook," she said. "There’s about 15 to 20 of us who meet up weekly."

Fellow member Amy Bayliss, 26, a children’s healthcare assistant, said: “I started knitting blankets for flood victims. Through that, I got to know Alice Riley and we joined forces. I love knitting. I’m passionate about it.”

The installation has caused quite a stir, and Amy said: “I’ve noticed a few people must have come along and stuck on more bees and bunting."

The group is planning another installation later this year with a Winter Wonderland theme.

For more information about KnitWits meetings, https://www.facebook.com/Yorkknits or http://yorkknitwits.wix.com/theyorkknitwits