You may have come across some weird and wonderful scarecrow characters in your neighbours’ front gardens whilst wandering around Burton Joyce in June…
Well don’t worry, it wasn’t a cult, it was the Burton Joyce Scarecrow Competition!
The event was organised by Girlguiding leaders Emily Jephson and her mother Jane Jephson along with some other members, plus with help from the Brownies and Rainbows, in order to raise money for the Girlguiding Units in the village.
In early June, locals began planning and designing their own Scarecrows – the more bizarre the better!
Saturday 13th June soon came, and the Scarecrows were up. A map was produced and sold for £1 from the Co-op post office on 29 Main Street, 70 Main Street and 127 Church Road.
Over 50 Scarecrows were displayed around the village by 12noon and judged by Trent Valley Councillors Michael Adams and Sam Smith. They said, “We were delighted to judge the competition. It was great to see our village community come together, whilst abiding by social distancing, and get involved with the creation.
“The winner was the Crawford family on Padleys Lane for the pirate scarecrow and scene. Not only did they make a scarecrow, they decorated a scene with a sail, flag and treasure chest!
There was even and ice cream van plus the Little Schnauzer Coffee Company available at the Cross Keys car park. Rhubarbs Café also made themed cupcakes and kids goodie bags were made up and sold from 70 Main Street throughout the day.
Crochet master Sally Fletcher-Titterton from Burton Joyce, the maker of ‘the Professional Hooker’ Scarecrow, said “The scarecrow festival was an amazing day with a really nice buzz in the village, a real community event helping to raise much needed funds for the local rainbows and brownies. Well done to the people who organised it, here’s to next year!”
Congratulations to the Crawford family for winning the competition overall and all the great runners up.