Yes, you’re right – that is a post box – with a topper! The brainchild of St Albans Post Boxes who top no less than 50 postboxes all around St Albans each year to raise money for two charities:
Open Door who work to ensure that no one needs to sleep rough in St Albans and the St Albans and District Food Bank.
And here is Santa atop another….
The toppers are knitted, sewn, crocheted and assembled by the 30 creative YarnBombers of St Albans who then, at the beginning of December, fan out across St Albans, topping the postboxes.
And here is Jen, a leading light among the YarnBombers and the creator of our lovely new FreeFrom Food Awards website, topping the last of her consignment.
LOADS more images to be found on their Instagram site.
I asked Jen whether – because their toppers were so delightful– they got nicked. She said:
‘We usually lose about 3 – of 50. I suspect that as fewer people will be out on Christmas drinkies this year, it may (we hope) be better. We had one nicked in Year 1 and never found. The new topper was nicked from the same location nicked in Year 2 – and replaced with the Year 1 one! One was torched in Year 1 – but caught on CCTV and the peeps got arrested. The good folk of St Albans were all for bring back corporal punishment…
All the money raised goes to Open Door and St Albans Foodbank – we sponsor the one then do all the tech, the app, their website and their Twitter feed pro bono. The trail is on the EYES on St Albans app (available from Apple & Google stores) and there will be a list of the prizes on the postboxes and on the DigitalJen website shortly.’
You can donate at www.stalbanspostboxes.org.uk – or at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stalbanspostboxes
They are so pretty! I wonder if the posties mind?!!
I’m sure they give them a giggle!
What an amazing and brilliant idea, all of which brightens our world. Not sure how many cards will be posted this year 65p 2nd class 76p Ist!
Given that most cards cost £2-3 that makes card sending seriously expensive Christmas indulgence.
I admit: I donate now and just send a few special family ones and to people I might think would miss one if I’m not seeing them. That’s many this year then!
The posties don’t mind – as long as we don’t obstruct them in their duties in collecting Her Majesty’s Royal Mail all is good… and they’re really good about keeping an eye on them for us too