Visitors to the world-famous Eden Biomes will get the first chance to find one of five WI corgis being hidden across the site on 1 May. Each corgi will have a special tag which will enable finders to win one of the five prizes on the day.
Supported by the Eden Project’s Big Jubilee Lunch, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) initiative has invited their members and the general public to knit and hide corgi creations in communities around the UK, starting at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 1 May and running until the 5 June.
Each corgi will feature a special tag which will allow members of the public to map where they have found their corgi on the WI’s website and will also detail how to check what each finder has won.
WI member Julia Havard from Ludgvan, near Penzance in Cornwall heard about the craft competition as she started planning her Big Jubilee Lunch which takes place on 5 June. Liaising with Cornish crafters and WI Federation members, Julia is one of the WI members who has helped with the hiding of the first corgis at the Eden Project as the initiative launches UK-wide at the start of May.
Julia Havard, Cornwall Federation of WIs member, said: “The ‘Where’s WInnie’ competition and Big Jubilee Lunch are both wonderful opportunities for people to get creative and have fun together as part of the extra special community celebrations marking The Queen’s platinum year.
“It’s brilliant to kick off the hunt for corgis at the Eden Project, before it rolls out across the UK in May which means that people everywhere can join in. Corgis will start popping up in communities wherever people embrace the idea, just like Big Jubilee Lunches that people can hold on streets, in their neighbourhoods, parks or gardens on 2-5 June!”
Finders of the corgis hidden at Eden are being given a special pack including everything they need to put on their own community Big Jubilee Lunch between 2-5 June or anytime during the Month of Community.
Peter Stewart, Eden Project Executive Director, said: “Eden is at the heart of the community in Cornwall, and welcomes guests from around the UK and the world, so we’re delighted that the WI is making this the first place to hide corgis to honour The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“The Eden Project’s annual Big Lunch has this year become The Big Jubilee Lunch – part of the official celebrations to mark The Queen’s momentous 70 years - and invites people everywhere to come together for friendship, food and fun on 2-5 June. That’s why we’re teaming up with the WI to offer visitors to Eden the first chance to find the corgis hidden across our amazing site. Great things are up for grabs! If anyone finds a corgi at Eden we’re going to give them everything they need to join in The Big Jubilee Lunch this year so they can be part of the celebrations!”
In addition to the five WInnie corgi kitted pups being hidden at the Eden Project, crafted corgis are being hidden around the country between 1 May and 5 June, and will include one uniquely special corgi entitling the finder to a seat at the flagship Big Jubilee Lunch in London on the 5 June.
Ann Jones, Chair of the NFWI, said: “We’re delighted to hide the first of the WI’s #WheresWInnie corgis at the Eden Project, an organisation with a parallel mission and ethos to the WI - to inspire and create a greater understanding of the environmental challenges caused by climate change.
“Our Where's WInnie initiative is about the love of craft, extending the hand of friendship and bringing Jubilee joy to others. The extra prizes just add even more excitement! Collaborating with The Big Jubilee Lunch means our members can get behind inviting the whole community to have fun together whether knitting, crafting, finding corgis or holding Big Jubilee Lunches to celebrate The Queen’s momentous platinum year on 2-5 June.”
The pattern to knit WInnie the corgi has been designed by Woolwich and Plumstead Roses WI member Hannah Joyce who can be found on Instagram and Tik Tok at @hannahjoyceknits. Hannah has created WInnie with sustainability in mind and knitters are encouraged to use up their yarn/fabric stash and other recycled materials to make the corgi.
The WI are inviting anyone who wants to get crafting the chance to make and hide their own corgi using the pattern to knit WInnie here.
The project is supported by The Big Jubilee Lunch which is an idea from the Eden Project made possible by The National Lottery Community Fund that has been bringing people together on the first weekend in June each year since 2009. This year it becomes The Big Jubilee Lunch as an official part of HM The Queen’s Platinum celebrations on 2-5 June.
To find out more and get your free starter pack go to www.thebigjubileelunch.com
