Crafter starts new craze in Fenland town
A crafter from March has started a craze aimed at helping children beat their worries and get them outside too.
Linda Richardson, who loves crocheting, has been making 'worry worms' and leaving them around the town for children to find.
The idea came from an article Linda read on the internet and she has set up a 'worry worms' Facebook group and has since been joined by fellow crocheter Michelle Powell.
The pair of them are making as many of the colourful worms as possible and they have been leaving them across the town for children to find and keep.
The have also seen demand for private orders too, but because they are not allowed to sell the worms they have decided to raise money for Westwood School and are asking people to make donations to the charity instead.
Posting to the Facebook page Linda said: "I am Linda Richardson from March, and I crochet worry worms for the children to find around March, I have made several so far, and will continue to make these, if your child is lucky enough to find one, please take it home. Will be scattering them about March some time over the next two days. Happy finding.
"Michelle Powell also from March will also be crocheting these to place around March too.
"Unfortunately due to safety regulations we are not able to sell but are OK to gift. If you would like to donate a small fee towards the charity, please feel free to do so.
"I have been inundated with messages to ask if I could make some to sell. But sadly we are not allowed to. So keep your eyes peeled whilst out and about but please if you find more than one, please be kind and leave for someone else that needs a comforter in the worry worm."
Lockdown has seen a rise in anxiety among children and the aim of the worry worms is to help alleviate that.
Each worry worm comes with a little handwritten poem: "Keep me close, keep me near. When a worry pops in your head, hold me tight, whisper in my ear. I will take away your worry, so you have nothing left to fear.”
It is hoped the craze will spread beyond March and will continue to encourage local children to get out and about on a hunt for their very own worry worm.
