What The Flock ?

Origins and Vision

What the Flock? began as a joyful, imaginative community art project in August 2021, supported by BarrowFull and the Roseland Trust. The idea was simple but powerful: bring people together through craft, creativity, and community spirit. The medium? Pom poms—over 40,000 of them, sent in from across the UK and around the world.

The heart of the project was a unique flock of handcrafted sheep, each one made by a different community group or organization, with pom poms used as fleece. The sheep became symbols of unity, creativity, remembrance, and fun.

Meet the Flock

Each sheep was lovingly made by local groups, each bringing their own identity and message:

• South County Girl Guiding – 3 sheep

• DropZone

• Stitch Different

• YouthAbility

• ArtWorks – Created an unforgettable red pom pom sheep, with each pom pom carrying a message in memory of those lost during COVID-19.

• Barrow and Millom Social Prescribing

• Furness Creative

• Space2Create, Kendal

• Moorfield Learning Centre

• Birkhill House CIC, Earlston, Scotland

The Grand Finale

On May 23, 2022, the full flock—16 sheep strong—was brought together for the first time at Barrow Park as part of ParCreative, an event produced by BarrowFull. Each group that had made a sheep hosted their own stall, and the day was filled with creativity, fun, and meaningful encounters.

Highlights included:

• Alpaca yoga with Rachel

• Pom pom displays

• Art activities

• Community group showcases

Feedback from the day included:

• "What...the....Flock... Brilliant afternoon" – Heather Leeder

• "Absolutely brilliant day" – Samantha Campbell

• "It was a beautiful day" – Laura Fieldhouse Leigh

• "So much going on, atmosphere was so positive and welcoming." – Emma Broadbent

• "The alpacas were particularly popular!"

• "As a charity we met lots of people, hopefully made people more deaf aware." – Nicola Alloway, Barrow Deaf Club

What the Flock? Calendar (June–October 2022)

To keep the project alive, a calendar was created featuring each sheep in a different local setting. This calendar:

• Raised £1,500 for Duddon Inshore Rescue

• Was supported by Hadfield Trust

• Took the sheep out on tour, visiting communities and events

The flock also made an appearance at Duddon Inshore Rescue’s open day, where attendees could meet the sheep and take part in craft activities.

A Sheepish Encore – September 17, 2022

In collaboration with Barrow BID, What the Flock? A Sheepish Event took over Barrow town centre:

• “Find the Flock” sheep trail

• Clubbercise dance fitness

• Face painting

• Art activities

• Meet-the-alpacas sessions

• YouthAbility Photo Booth

• Calendar sales

• Public engagement by Duddon Inshore Rescue

Legacy

Even after the official project ended, What the Flock? inspired others:

• Age UK created Harold and Hilda

• Ford Park and Greengate Junior School made Britney Shears

More Than Pom Poms

What the Flock? was more than a craft project—it was a celebration of resilience, collaboration, and creativity. It connected generations, sparked joy, and reminded everyone that even the smallest threads (or pom poms) can create something truly powerful when woven together by a community.