Muston prepares for scarecrow season
13 July
Villagers in Muston are counting down to THE
internationally-acclaimed scarecrow festival which takes place
between 23 and 31 July.
The Muston Scarecrow Festival, which takes place in the village
of Muston, near Filey, North Yorkshire opens at 9am on Saturday 23
July and runs until 5pm on Sunday 31 July.
Last year’s festival showcased over 100 scarecrows including the
Prime Minister, David Cameron and his number two Nick Clegg,
Wallace and Gromit, Peppa Pig, Postman Pat, Freddie Mercury,
Captain Jack Sparrow, Braveheart, morris dancers and Beatrix Potter
characters.
Cllr Godfrey Allanson, one of the organisers of the festival and
a member of the Muston Millennium Committee, said:
“During the festival the village is taken over by scarecrows of
all shapes, colours and sizes. There is a real sense of village
pride in the event, which last year attracted well over 10,000
visitors, despite the inclement weather.
“Most of this year’s scarecrows remain a closely guarded secret
and will not be complete until the day before the festival opens,
but I am aware of one entry - you could say Muston really goes in
for sustainability by harnessing horse power to plough the
fields!”
If you visit Muston now, you are likely to be met with hastily
closing garage shutters and shed doors, as villagers attempt to
keep their scarecrow creations under wraps until the start of the
festival.
This year’s temporary inhabitants will be judged by the BBC
Radio York presenter, Jerry Scott and his wife, who will award the
owner of the winning scarecrow a cool £50.
Visitors to the festival can also enter a competition to guess
the first, second and third placed scarecrows, with the nearest
correct answer to the judge’s decision also winning a cash
prize.
The Ann Stevenson Shield, donated by Brian and Margaret
Stevenson in memory of their daughter, will also be awarded.
As well as the scarecrows, there are also some special displays
in the village’s parish church, based around the theme of
‘countrylife’. These can be viewed each day of the festival, from
10.30am to 6pm (except on Sunday 24 and 31 July when the display is
on view from 11am).
The Muston Scarecrow Festival is sponsored by “IDENTITY –
Embroidery at its Best” and Scarborough Borough Council.
Money raised from the festival goes into a number of
organisations and projects in Muston, including the village cricket
club, village hall, the Monday Club and young farmers’ group.