On the trail of Sheffield's straw stars

Imaginative scarecrows themed around children's book characters will be the straw stars in a new Sheffield trail.
ScarecrowsScarecrows
Scarecrows

Residents are being urged to take part by crafting their own characters for the trail as part of the Broomhill Festival. .

The June event will include a scarecrow trail, with weird and wonderful figures to be perched on buildings, in gardens, up trees and peering out of windows.

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Characters of the type to be displayed could include Harry Potter, James Bond, Alice in Wonderland or Willy Wonka.

Prizes will be awarded to the best efforts within four categories; businesses, schools or children’s group, adult group, and family.

Kathy Harbord, events organiser at Broomhill Library said: “This is the first Scarecrow Trail to take place in Broomhill. There will even be a scarecrow wedding at Broomhill Library inspired by Julia Donaldson’s book of the same name.

“So get creative and make your own scarecrow. The choices are endless; how about a Pooh or a Gruffalo, Peppa Pig, or a cheery Postman Pat; then there’s the witch from Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom.”

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It costs £5 for businesses to enter the competition, £2 for others. Entries must be made by June 1 and scarecrows displayed by noon on June 8 to June 18.

There are some rules of construction which apply to the competition.

Scarecrows can be rigid with a frame fixed in the ground. Or they can be soft and fixed to a building or a tree, or tucked in a window recess.

Size wise, the scarecrows can be life-size or smaller. For helpful hints on how to make your model visit Broomhill Community Library or log on to the library’s website.