Wetwang scarecrow festival opens

THEIR traditional role was as guardians of the crops, scaring off unwanted visitors.

However, dozens of scarecrows in Wetwang are having the opposite effect, drawing in visitors to the village.

Hundreds of people flocked to the opening weekend of the annual scarecrow festival, where everyone from Three Blind Mice to Dr Who greeted visitors.

The event, which started on Saturday, finishes on Sunday, June 2.

Melanie Moss, one of the organisers, said: "It has been one of the busiest openings I've known – I've never seen so many people at the festival.

"One of the ladies making sandwiches in the village hall says she has never made so many sandwiches."

This year, there are 52 official entries being judged by members of the public this week.

Mrs Moss, who started organising this year's festival with the committee in January, said: "This year's main theme was nursery rhymes, although the second category is open to any ideas.

"It is quite a task organising the festival.

"This year's entries are excellent and are everywhere.

"There are spiders in front of people's houses and other scarecrows sitting on people's walls.

"It is such a social occasion. You see faces from the village that you rarely see all year round, that always come out for the festival."

Such is the success of the festival, people from Scarborough, Driffield and Preston have entries competing for a prize.

"We've seen an increase in visiting scarecrows from outside the area, including one from Scarborough and school entries from Langtoft, Driffield and Preston," said Mrs Moss, who herself has made an auctioneer scarecrow.

"I think it is because we are quite central and the festival takes place for nine days during half-term.

"Wetwang isn't usually a destination stop, other than for fish and chips.

"The scarecrow festival is a great opportunity for people to stop and have a good look around. We have some great buildings."

Among those taking part was Mandie Webb, from the Victoria Pub, in the village.

"It's good fun and is a way the village pulls together to do something together," she said.

"For us, it is usually one of the busiest weeks of the year.

"Each year I try and do a scarecrow related to Victoria – the name of the pub.

"This year I've gone for a pun on the Olympic cyclist, Victoria Pendleton. I borrowed my son's old mountain bike and dressed the scarecrow similar to what was worn in the Olympics.

"I've given her a gold medal and put a crown on her helmet for Queen Victoria."

Money from the scarecrow festival goes towards the upkeep of the village hall.

Mrs Moss, chairman of the village hall committee, said the event is the big fundraiser for the venue, raising about £6,000 a year.

"It raises about 50 per cent of what is needed to keep the hall open," she said.

"It is a popular venue used by people of all ages, from craft groups to youth groups."

Miska Stark and husband Steven, of Driffield, took two of their children Preston, three, and Mackenzie, eight, on Saturday.

"It is absolutely fantastic," said Miska.

"I went to the festival by chance last year and had such a fantastic time I had to come back again this year.

"I love it. There is such a good community spirit. They open up the village to the visitors and make us feel so welcome.

"The scarecrows are brilliant. My favourite is probably the spiders' training camp.

"The kids thought it was brilliant and were excited about running off and finding the scarecrows."