Visitors to Romanby over half-term were wowed by 85 homemade scarecrows, with the festival raising more than £2,900 for charity.
During the the Romanby WI Scarecrow Festival took place this October half term, local residents competed to win cash prizes by building and displaying a scarecrow in their front gardens.
Members of the public could then buy a trail map and explore the area, finding all of the scarecrows along the way, voting for their favourite.
Organiser and WI member, Samantha Jennings, said: “The participants have really surpassed themselves this year. Many of the scarecrows are part sculpture, part engineering.
One village has never seen so much papier-mâché.
“Some scarecrows have been weeks in the making, and months in planning. On the Saturday we had torrential rain and we were worried all our efforts would go to waste. But people put out gazebos and taped up umbrellas to protect their creations.
“As the day went on more and more people came out to explore on foot or in cars. Then on Sunday the weather was glorious and people were everywhere! The normally quiet streets were bustling with people getting outside, walking, talking to neighbours and strangers alike.
“That’s really what the event is about, bringing the community together. Young and old, those people born and breed here and the new residents. We sold 782 maps, so estimate that over 2,000 people enjoyed the event, as one or two maps are often shared in family groups.”
The WI set the ball rolling this year with a Calendar Girls themed scarecrow.
Making naked, sorry nude, scarecrows was no easy task, and certainly turned a few heads.
The winning scarecrow was built by the MacDonald Boys of Aysgarth Grove depicted the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The book celebrates 50 years since its publication this year, clearly still a firm family favourite. The display included everything from a papier-mâché cocoon, to the various fruits and foods, as well as a large caterpillar and butterfly.
Second place, £50 prize money, went to a joint entry from the Charlton and Bailey families on the corner of The Close and The Link.
Their theme was Peter Pan. Scarecrows of Wendy, John and Michael were suspended from upstairs windows appearing to fly over the road to Neverland where a huge Captain Hook stood astride the jaws of the crocodile.
Third place went to the Fewell family who produced a display inspired by Mary Poppins and included a smoking chimney pot and a trail of kites around the village hinting at their theme. The Fewell family are donating their £25 prize money to the Restarting Hearts Northallerton charity which works to provide access to defibrillators across the town.
On the event Facebook page Stuart Bradnam, chairman of Romanby Parish Council, said: “A huge well done and thank you for once again running this brilliant event. Our tagline is Proud to be Romanby. And this weekend, once again, we are because of you all.”
The money raised will go towards the refurbishment of Romanby WI Hall, which serves as the village hall supporting many local groups and activities as well as the WI.
Romanby WI Scarecrow Festival will take place again in October Half Term 2021, the event takes place every other year.
This year’s event was kindly supported by a grant from Broadacres Housing Association.
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