Bright ‘Happy Hen’ toys mysteriously appearing around Denmead ‘bringing so much joy’ to the community in lockdown

An unknown crafter has been creating the rustic hen toys from bright coloured fabric and secretly leaving them all over Denmead

Often found early in the morning, the homemade Happy Hens have been spotted on lamp posts, hedges, gates, signs, and on people’s cars.

Each hen is made with fabric, ribbon, stuffing and beads, and has been wrapped up in a plastic bag to protect them from the weather.

They come with a handwritten note telling the finders that they are loved and have been strong over the past difficult year.

Paul Baker, who lives on Hambledon Road, said: ‘It’s such a lovely, altruistic thing to do - it gives people a little bit of joy. A lovely act.’

So far more than 60 Happy Hens have been found by Denmead residents, and the community continues to speculate on the identity of the anonymous “Hensy” (like Banksy) leaving art around their streets.

Trish Earle, who lives on Closewood Road, found a pink Happy Hen with a message tied to her front gate on the evening of her birthday.

She said: ‘It is hanging in my kitchen now alongside my inspirational message and gives me a little jolt of happiness each time I see it.’

Village schoolchildren were met with a box of nine Happy Hens - one for each classroom - when they returned to school on March 8.

Trish said: ‘They are bringing so much joy to children and adults alike.

‘Whoever is doing this anonymously has a heart of gold.’

The hunt for the hens has inspired families to get outside and continue the search for the homemade toys, which sometimes appear along with chocolate treats such as Mini Eggs.

Trish added: ‘Now everyone is out in the village taking their permitted daily exercise and looking for Happy Hens.

‘The village of Denmead would love it if we could let our special Happy Hen maker know how happy he or she is making our community and that he or she are also loved’.