Scarecrows returning to Bradley Stoke

Mayor Cllr Tony Griffiths is inviting all to take part in this year’s fun-packed Scarecrow Trail which will be a summer holiday activity for the whole family. The previous events have highlighted the local creative talent within the town and the aim is to provide an affordable local event for everyone.

Scarecrow trails in previous years were successful and raised nearly £2,000 for the mayors’ charities. This year, it will be returning for two weeks during the 2022 summer holidays from Saturday 13th August to Saturday 27th August.

Bradley Stoke will host various scarecrows dotted around the town, all will be designed to fit in with this year’s theme “Superheroes and Villains”. We hope this will excite and engage all age groups within the community and this year with no Covid restrictions we hope it will be even bigger and better than the last two events. The characters can be anything from Marvel characters, Star Wars Theme to Fireman Sam.

Prizes will include 1st £100, 2nd £75, and 3rd £50. Trail followers can vote their favourite scarecrow on the bottom of the map and there will be an additional Quiz Prize for all completed answers identifying each scarecrow. On top of this, the mayor will give a prize for his own personal favourite scarecrow.

Scarecrow Trail Maps will be available for trail followers from the 1st of August. Maps will be on sale at the Council Offices at the Jubilee Centre, Baileys Court, and Brook Way. The price of the Scarecrow Trail maps will be £2.

Scarecrow committee organisers are hoping to create a launch event starting with a picnic on the Jubilee Green on the 13th of August, to get everyone in the community spirit. The aim is to invite a “Shanty Band” music, ice cream and coffee vans, and a celebrity guest appearance.

All Scarecrow Trail maps will need to be handed to the Council Office by the 31st of August, so all entries can be checked and counted.

An awards ceremony will be held on Saturday 3rd September at the Jubilee Centre, if possible, with the scarecrow to display. Prizes will be given out and there will be a photo opportunity with the mayor.

We would love it if you would make a scarecrow for the trail. All local schools, businesses, community groups and all Bradley Stoke residents are asked to join in.

If you would like to be a scarecrow creator, please email Del: odile.mcintosh@yahoo.co.uk or call 07796190794. There is an entry donation fee of £10. If you want a specific character, please let us know as soon as possible, we try not to have duplicate characters and there are so many to choose from.

On application you will be given a character and information on how to make a scarecrow, a question sheet will also be sent out to you, this sheet is to be near or on your scarecrow and makes up the quiz part of the trail. Sadly, the elements leave some scarecrows not looking as they did, so the question will back up the identity of your character if it gets adjusted by wind and rain.

All entries will need to be in by Friday the 22nd of July, this allows us the time to plan the map, create the design and get the scarecrow maps printed for sale.

Any local business wanting to sponsor this event, please email cllr.tom.aditya@gmail.com or angela.morey@bradleystoke.gov.uk.

Mayors’ charities for 2022-23 are Great Western Air Ambulance and St Peters Hospice.

Scarecrow committee members – Mayor Tony Griffiths, Cllr Tom Aditya, Cllr Angela Morey, Mrs Odile McIntosh.

Scarecrow Trail 2022 Creator Entry Form (Word)