Twitch & Stitch
Crochet hooks and knitting needles at the ready: craft a robin to help support Yorkshire’s wildlife
Help us create a wilder future…
This winter, we’re celebrating one of Britain’s most cherished birds as the Yorkshire Robin Festival returns to Potteric Carr for its second year.
And we need creative crafters to help us make it even bigger! We’re looking for knitted and crocheted robins of all shapes and sizes to help decorate the Nature Discovery Centre at Potteric Carr nature reserve ready for this year’s festival in December.
Your robin will help bring the Centre to life and create a warm and welcoming display for everyone to enjoy. But it won’t just be part of the decorations – it will also help raise vital funds for Yorkshire’s wildlife and wild places. Festival visitors will be encouraged to donate and take a crafted robin home with them as a little reminder of the festival.
So, whether you make one robin or a whole blush of them, we’d love you to get involved and help us make this year’s Yorkshire Robin Festival something special.
Why do you need my help?
Even the most familiar of species need our help, and with our gardens making up nearly 30% of the total urban area of Yorkshire, festival goers will discover how they can make a welcome home for robins and other feathered friends in their own yards and gardens. Play your part in making a difference today and get knitting and crocheting. Funds raised from our robin donations will go towards protecting Yorkshire’s precious wildlife as part of our Woodlands for the Future campaign.
How can I get involved?
Robins of various shapes and sizes are all welcome. You can choose to use a pattern of your own or follow one of the free patterns linked to below. You can make one or a whole blush of robins!
Your robin needs to be complete and delivered to Potteric Carr nature reserve by 4pm on Sunday 15th November ready decorate the Nature Discovery Centre for the festivities.
What do I do once I have finished my robin?
Once you’ve finished your robin attach your name and the village/town/city it was created and place it in a sealed bag/envelope and either drop-off at our Potteric Carr nature reserve or send in the post using the address: Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, Mallard Way, Doncaster, DN4 8DB. Enjoy a free cuppa* in the Nature Discovery Centre when dropping off your crochet or knitted robins so we can say ‘thank you’!
*One free mug of tea or Americano per person.
If you need help to get started, you can find some free patterns here:
Free crochet robin pattern:
Make a festive crochet robin in this free project
Free knitting robin pattern:
Our events programme is made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Robin by Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography
Robin Festival
Join us for the Robin Festival (5th-6th December) to spot your robin in the Nature Discovery Centre and take time to enjoy nature’s winter wonderland at Potteric Carr.
For more information about the Yorkshire Robin Festival please visit