For around a week each summer and again in late autumn, you'll be able to find scarecrow festivals all over England. You'll be given a map to follow the trail through the small towns and villages that these festivities tend to take place in.
Around each corner, on garden lawns, porches, and driveways, you'll find themed scarecrows. Some are dressed up as cartoon characters, others from popular tv shows. There will be historical and political figures too.
Although scarecrows themselves are ancient, the festivals are a modern tradition dating from the mid-1990s. The first one took place in Urchfont a rural village, and since then the festivities have spread across the UK.
Historically, scarecrows were created as a way to protect crops. Farmers originally asked children to chase away wildlife that would destroy their crops. But after the great plague in 1348, there weren't enough children to carry out this task.
As a solution, farmers made figures out of straw and wood with faces carved out of turnips or gourds, creating scarecrows to do the job instead.
Today, villages across England host scarecrow festivals for summer fun and autumn celebrations. Residents show off their skills by creating scarecrows from whatever they can find, then displaying them outside their homes and on the streets. Tourists can visit the scarecrow trail, and judge the scarecrows the locals have made.
For the last few years, I've visited the Alvechurch and Belbroughton scarecrow festivals with my companion. Being outdoors and family orientated means these events are dog-friendly too. My little pal enjoys our walks around the village, discovering what new scarecrow each twist and turn brings.
Scarecrow festivals can be tricky to find if you don't know where to look. Most villages that host them tend to do so annually but only promotes them locally. You'll need to keep an eye out for local signs, and tip offs from people in the know.
Where to find scarecrow festivals
FAQs
The first one took place in Urchfont a rural village, and since then the festivities have spread across the UK. Historically, scarecrows were created as a way to protect crops. Farmers originally asked children to chase away wildlife that would destroy their crops.
What is the Scarecrow festival in the UK? ›
Each year, for one week mid-August, hundreds of scarecrows holiday in the delightful Dales village of Kettlewell. Human visitors try to find them all, solving clues and puzzles as they hunt.
What is the tradition of the Scarecrow? ›
In Europe, scarecrows have long been tied to the supernatural boogeyman, a monster who is often depicted in tattered clothing. To a superstitious agrarian society, not only would scarecrows keep birds away from crops, but they could also scare children away from the fields where there might be strange things hiding.
Where was the first scarecrow festival? ›
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. The concept for the festival was conceived when Jean Thomas, a member of the Urchfont Village Hall Management Committee, was informed by a friend about a Scarecrow Festival in North Yorkshire.
Why do villages have scarecrows? ›
Everything You Need To Know
In medieval times children were employed to scare birds in order to stop them from eating crops. But eventually these children were replaced by scarecrows; a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human to scare the birds away.
What is the history of the scarecrows in the UK? ›
Historically, scarecrows were created as a way to protect crops. Farmers originally asked children to chase away wildlife that would destroy their crops. But after the great plague in 1348, there weren't enough children to carry out this task.
What is the big festival in England? ›
What is the UK's Biggest Music Festival? As you probably guessed, Glastonbury reigns supreme as the crowning jewel of the UK's festival scene. Renowned worldwide for its unparalleled lineup, diverse offerings, and captivating atmosphere, Glastonbury attracts music aficionados from every corner of the globe.
What do scarecrows symbolize? ›
Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops. Scarecrows are used around the world by farmers, and are a notable symbol of farms and the countryside in popular culture.
What does it mean if someone calls you a scarecrow? ›
a person or thing that appears frightening but is not actually harmful.
What is the Scarecrow history? ›
The first scarecrows in recorded history were made along the Nile River to protect wheat fields from flocks of quail. What was the first scarecrow made out of? Egyptian farmers put wooden frames in their fields and covered them with nets. The farmers hid in the fields and scared the quail into the nets.
A long time ago in Britain, scarecrows were burnt as sacrifices during Pagan ceremonies, to bring a good harvest. When Christianity arrived, this practice, like so many other old rituals, was stamped out because it was considered too debauched.
Why don t people use scarecrows anymore? ›
Now, most farmers have really big fields. A scarecrow will not keep all the deer away. Today, farmers use smelly or bad tasting sprays and fences to keep pests away from fields. Even in the garden, people today use other kinds of things to keep birds and deer away.
Which country has a scarecrow village? ›
Nagoro Village, aka Kakashi no Sato (Scarecrow Village), is a unique riverside town in Tokushima Prefecture on Japan's smallest island, Shikoku. Scarecrow residents outnumber humans ten-to-one in this remote Iya Valley hamlet.
How long does the scarecrow festival last? ›
Our thanks to everyone who visited Durrow over the course of nine full days of family friendly fun, and we look forward to doing it all again from July 28th to August 5th, 2024.
Who is the scarecrow character in the UK? ›
Worzel Gummidge is a scarecrow in British children's fiction, who originally appeared in a series of books by the English novelist Barbara Euphan Todd. It was the first story book published by Puffin Books. The books have been adapted for radio and television a number of times.
What is the Hay Festival UK? ›
The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, better known as the Hay Festival (Welsh: Gŵyl Y Gelli), is an annual literature festival held in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales, for 10 days from May to June.
