PREVIEW

A group of nannas from the North East have been involved in some monkey business over Christmas - knitting toys for sick primates in South Africa.

The pensioners, based at Hazelgrove Court Care Home in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, stitched together more than a dozen handmade woollen toys and blankets for the animals.

The Knitting Nannas group, whose members are all in their 70s, 80s and 90s, are no strangers to unusual knitting projects. In the past they have turned their needles to blankets for South African rhinos and tiny jumpers for Australian penguins.

This time, however, it was monkeys that caught their attention after the group discovered International Primate Rescue, which has been caring for rescued primates with behavioural issues and other disorders since 1996.

Hazelgrove Court activities coordinator Sharon Lewis came across the charity online and raised the idea with the Knitting Nannas before getting in touch with its founder, Sue Mousley.

Sharon said: “One of our residents, Judith, said she had heard monkeys like to play with toys just like children. Apparently they are called enrichment toys. So we thought it would make a great next project for the Knitting Nannas.

“I emailed Sue Mousley, the founder, and our residents were delighted when she emailed back and said their monkeys would love the toys and also knitted blankets. Our residents could not wait to get started.”

With needles clicking into action, the group completed their latest batch of woolly creations and sent them off to South Africa in time for Christmas, with Sue planning to hand them out to the monkeys as gifts on Christmas Day.

Sue said: “We are deeply touched by this amazing gesture and are very grateful to your residents. The beautiful hand written letter brought tears to my eyes.”

For resident Judith Pearson, 81, the project was an unexpected but welcome surprise.
“It is great to be part of this project. I never thought when I mentioned toys for monkeys we would be making them,” she said.
Fellow resident Joyce Baxtrem, 94, added: “I love telling people what I’m knitting and, when I say toys for monkeys, they laugh.”
The monkey project is just the latest in a long line of charitable knits. In December 2024, the group made headlines after producing blankets for orphaned baby rhinos in South Africa – including three-week-old calf Hercules, who had been attacked by hyenas.
Then, in May 2025, they turned their talents to Australia, knitting miniature jumpers to support The Penguin Foundation, which protects a colony of 40,000 birds on Phillip Island, south of Melbourne.
Altogether, the Knitting Nannas have taken on around a dozen projects over the years, not all animal-related. Their first, back in 2019, was a knitted dressing gown for Knit for Peace, supporting women’s refuges and homeless projects across the UK.
For Sharon, the appeal of the projects goes far beyond wool and needles.
“I love getting residents involved in knitting projects,” she said. “Not only does it give them a great sense of achievement but it’s a great conversation starter with families and friends that visit the home – especially when you say you are knitting toys for monkeys.”