A part of a nationwide exhibition made its way to Alton for visitors during Heritage Open Days.

The Quaker Meeting House on Church Street had 40 textile panels on display from the Loving Earth Project on September 13 and 14. It is an initiative by the Quaker Art Network that helps people express their concerns about the climate crisis through their own creations. 

The panels are made by people from across the UK, from children to adults, and from a variety of materials. Quaker Jenny Ballinger, who set up the exhibition, said that each panel tells a story. Every panel is accompanied by a short statement from the maker.

Jenny said: “I believe there are several thousand and when you look at the back they are numbered, this one is 1,411.

“It went to COP26 and the exhibition won an award and they took them to Portcullis House. Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he wanted the members of Parliament and people from the House of Lords to see them.”

Its presence at the Scottish Maritime Museum for COP26 was commended as one of the “best cultural events”.

Sir Hoyle described the exhibition as “fantastic” and that he wanted Parliament to see how people are thinking about what their vision is and what vision the UK should have going forward.

Textiles show issues such as the bushfires in Australia, animal numbers declining, cutting down natural spaces, the ocean and more.

Quaker Arts Network clerk and project co-founder, Linda Murgatroyd said: “The project aims to help people engage creatively and constructively with loss and environmental breakdown, without being overwhelmed.

“It illustrates a variety of actions individuals are taking, and their concerns that much more is needed."

Because the exhibition is made up of thousands of creations, it will be shown across the UK for everyone.