The picturesque village of Urchfont in Wiltshire has transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity and community spirit with the return of the Urchfont Scarecrow Festival, which commenced on Saturday. This year marks the event's 26th edition, showcasing around 55 uniquely crafted scarecrows themed around "titles".
Villagers dedicated considerable time and effort to designing "brilliant and artistic" representations of notable figures. Among the creations were Professor Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series, renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, and the beloved Count von Count from Sesame Street. Each scarecrow is accompanied by a clue designed to engage visitors in a guessing game related to the identity of the figure.
Steve Osborne, the 50-year-old chairman of the Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity, noted the variety in the scarecrows, stating, “All of the scarecrows for this year will have some kind of title in them, so they could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess.” The theme was decided upon by the festival committee last September, with villagers beginning their creations as early as December.
Sustainability has been a noteworthy focus for many participants. For instance, the Dumbledore scarecrow’s robes were crafted from old curtains, while straw was creatively plaited together to form his hair and beard. The Count von Count scarecrow was built using recycled items, including carpet tubes for his organ and a pallet for structure.
Osborne also contributed by adapting an existing scarecrow to create his version of rap artist Dr Dre. “I used someone else’s scarecrow and adapted it and I’m quite pleased with it overall, but he’s clearly a bit too short for Dr Dre,” he commented, revealing that his children inspired him to pick this particular figure.
The festival has evolved over the years, with previous themes focusing on Hollywood icons and classic advertisements. It has faced interruptions, including pauses for the Covid pandemic, yet it continues to grow in popularity, drawing thousands of visitors from across Wiltshire and beyond, including cities as far away as Bristol and London.
According to Osborne, the positive impact of the festival extends to villagers and visitors alike. “It’s such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them,” he expressed.
The event also plays a significant role in supporting charitable causes, having raised approximately a quarter of a million pounds over the years for organisations such as the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity and Devizes Opendoors, which assists individuals experiencing homelessness in the area. The Urchfont Scarecrow Festival exemplifies community engagement through creativity, fostering connections and support within and outside the village.
Source: Noah Wire Services