Local artist commissioned to create tapestries

Go Ape at Itchen Valley

Go Ape- capturing the children and their families bravely navigate the tree top adventure. The sun was shining and the woods felt magical.

Foxgloves and meteor showers

A whimsical journey through the park, showcasing its different elements of what we know and love about the place. 

A day at Itchen Valley Country Park

I sat with my sewing machine and created a live recording of people in the cafe preparing bunting for the up coming- Queens Jubilee. I moved outside to find the petting zoo had come to visit on a beautiful May day.

Over summer 2022, Itchen Valley Country Park commissioned local artist Harriet Riddell of InStitchYou to pour her creativity into making three tapestries for us to display in the Woodland Café. Harriet is part of The Sorting Office - an artist studio space in the heart of Eastleigh run by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Harriet spent some time in the park from May - July 2022 gathering inspiration for her tapestries. Setting up her studio outside using a freestanding sewing machine she fuses free motion embroidery with narrative. Her work is one of a kind and always draws a crowd!

"My work is about capturing the real life and moving world onto canvas. I like to lift words that I hear, people, and nature into the art to create a document of the hear and now". 

From sitting under ancient oak trees amongst the hustle and bustle of summer events to being under Go Ape’s canopy of adventure trails and lastly, along our bridle route soaking up the flora, fauna and the sounds of summertime, Harriet captured the park at its busiest!

The Woodland Café is open 10.30-4.30pm daily, come and enjoy a tasty treat whilst taking a closer look at Harriet’s creations!