Home   News   Article

High Wych Scarecrow Festival a 'triumph' after organisers dedicate event to Queen Elizabeth II




Mary Poppins dropped in via her umbrella and Harry Potter conjured up his magic for the children at the High Wych Scarecrow Festival over the weekend.

The annual festival went ahead after "careful thought" by organisers following the death of the Queen on Thursday.

St James' churchwarden Sam Clark posted on Facebook: "After careful thought as to what we feel appropriate, particularly given the abiding emphasis the late Queen gave to bringing communities together as mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, we have decided to continue with the scarecrow festival but move the focus to the playing field."

The festival was rebranded in dedication to the Queen (59268964)
The festival was rebranded in dedication to the Queen (59268964)

The festival held on Saturday and Sunday was rebranded as being held in dedication to "our beloved Queen Elizabeth II" and the 45 stalls planned for St James' churchyard were moved to the village playing field. This enabled the church to be open for the community to reflect and remember the life of the Queen.

Visitors to the festival were greeted with colourful tortoises made by the community in workshops held at the church from recycled materials. And the scarecrows were peppered throughout the village, all along High Wych Road and beyond.

Besides Mary Poppins and Harry Potter, who had a scarecrow and a Hogwarts Express in his honour to mark 25 years since the first book, creations included those for Peppa Pig, Miss Piggy, Postman Pat, Wallace and Gromit, Mr Bean and the characters and the house from the movie Up!

Sonny 3 at the Up House - the scene from the Disney movie Up! won first prize. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249696)
Sonny 3 at the Up House - the scene from the Disney movie Up! won first prize. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249696)

Those popping into the playing field could visit stalls for local charities and the local history society and Rivers Heritage Site and Orchard which was selling bottles of juice from apples picked there.

The consensus of opinion was that it was a great success with one visitor posting on Facebook that it was a "triumph" adding the use of the field had made a big difference.

First place in the scarecrow competition went to the scene from Up!, second was Little Red Riding Hood and third Bertie Bassett. Peppa Pig family, Looking for Moles, Mary Poppins and Where’s Wally? were highly commended.

A tortoise for Elton John (59268962)
A tortoise for Elton John (59268962)
Ruby and Madison meet Peppa Pig at the village hall. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249615)
Ruby and Madison meet Peppa Pig at the village hall. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249615)
Ava and Lily with one of the giant tortoises dotted around the village. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249616)
Ava and Lily with one of the giant tortoises dotted around the village. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249616)
Tess makes a new friend at the festival. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249622)
Tess makes a new friend at the festival. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249622)
Ellie and Kitty drop in to Granny's cottage. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249624)
Ellie and Kitty drop in to Granny's cottage. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249624)
No idea if the bus ever arrived... Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249626)
No idea if the bus ever arrived... Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249626)
Rohan and Neave join Pooh Bear for a picnic in the 100 Acre Wood. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249627)
Rohan and Neave join Pooh Bear for a picnic in the 100 Acre Wood. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249627)
A dog is fascinated by a lady scarecrow at the festival. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249628)
A dog is fascinated by a lady scarecrow at the festival. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249628)
Tortoises were made from recycled material by members of the community. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249629)
Tortoises were made from recycled material by members of the community. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249629)
Harry, two, is not too sure about Postman Pat. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249647)
Harry, two, is not too sure about Postman Pat. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249647)
Ooops - a horse rider comes a cropper. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249648)
Ooops - a horse rider comes a cropper. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249648)
Noah, three, checks out the dinosaurs at Jurassic Park. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249655)
Noah, three, checks out the dinosaurs at Jurassic Park. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249655)
Minions! Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249656)
Minions! Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249656)
Maggie and Isabella try to get their pressie back from the Grinch. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249695)
Maggie and Isabella try to get their pressie back from the Grinch. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249695)
Peppa Pig and George get ready to splash in puddles. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249697)
Peppa Pig and George get ready to splash in puddles. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249697)
A depiction of the village's old windmill. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249698)
A depiction of the village's old windmill. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249698)
A right royal tortoise. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249699)
A right royal tortoise. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249699)
The Hogwarts Express steams through the village. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249700)
The Hogwarts Express steams through the village. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249700)
The very hungry caterpillar meets a very hungry dog. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249780)
The very hungry caterpillar meets a very hungry dog. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249780)
Peter Rabbit grabs a sneaky snack at the allotments. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249781)
Peter Rabbit grabs a sneaky snack at the allotments. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249781)
Giant flowers made from recycled materials by the community. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249782)
Giant flowers made from recycled materials by the community. Pic: Vikki Lince. (59249782)

4

Got a story? Contact newsdesk@stortfordindie.co.uk



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More