A life-sized witch, a cheese-loving inventor, and a diver in the deep blue sea recently took over the streets of Romanby.They were part of the Romanby WI Scarecrow Festival, held over the weekend of October 25 and 26.This year’s event saw 42 scarecrow creations pop up around the village, delighting visitors and earning praise from organisers.The festival was supported by the Broadacres Community Development Fund.Trail maps were sold from the WI Hall, guiding visitors through the scarecrow displays.The...
A life-sized witch, a cheese-loving inventor, and a diver in the deep blue sea recently took over the streets of Romanby.
They were part of the Romanby WI Scarecrow Festival, held over the weekend of October 25 and 26.
This year’s event saw 42 scarecrow creations pop up around the village, delighting visitors and earning praise from organisers.
The festival was supported by the Broadacres Community Development Fund.
Trail maps were sold from the WI Hall, guiding visitors through the scarecrow displays.
The event featured familiar faces from children's books and television, all brought to life with straw, fabric, and a touch of creativity.
Visitors were also tasked with choosing their favourite scarecrows, with cash prizes of £100, £75, and £50 on offer for the top three entries.
First place went to Emily Knott and her family for their reimagining of Room on the Broom, the much-loved children’s book by Julia Donaldson.
Emily Knott said: "It was a family job, lots of members of the family helped make it possible.
"I think we’ll use our prize money for a treat for the extended family to celebrate and say thank you."
Second place was awarded to Diane and Brian Jennings for their Wallace and Gromit display, which charmed visitors with its playful nod to the iconic characters.
The couple, who volunteer with the local Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) group, plan to donate their winnings to the charity.
In third place was a group effort by children from Romanby Primary School.
Their Under the Sea-themed scarecrow display featured a diver, a shark, and colourful fish, earning them praise from festival-goers and organisers alike.
Photos from the event are available to view on the Romanby WI Facebook page.
The event raised over £3,500 for the ongoing upkeep of Romanby WI Hall.