Sunny Saturday

Fabulous Saturday. Glorious weather. Load of visitors. Sold out of trail guides, so printing some more this evening. Including the sale of raffle tickets, so far we have raised about £800.00 for All Saints’ Church, Loughton. 

Well Done Everyone!

There is a rosette for everyone who entered a competition. I’ve not had time to deliver these round the village yet, but I’ll be taking them up to the church with me today. If your trail number has not featured on the list of competition prizewinners, please collect your ‘Well Done’ rosette from me, and don’t despair as there is still the ‘Visitors’ Choice competition to be decided, and all is yet to play for!

The Organiser’s Special Mention

In any competition, some deserving entries get overlooked by the judges, and this competition is no different in that particular respect, so here are my ‘Organiser’s Special Mention’ awards to six more scarecrows that I know visitors to the trail will particularly appreciate, for their creativity and fabrication skills 9, 11, 17, 22, 23 and 54.

Here's what you have all been waiting for!

The judges have spoken. Here are the winners. I’ll be posting photos and feedback later this weekend or early next week, but for tonight I am planning to deliver rosettes and (where applicable) prizes to all of the winners listed below. Everyone else will receive a rosette over the course of the weekend and, as a word of encouragement to those whose entry numbers do not appear below, remember, all is still to play for in terms of the Visitors’ Choice.

Children’s Competition

Winner - 32

Runners Up - 21 and 48

Special Mention - 52

Children’s Organisations

Winner - 35-38 inclusive, taken as a group

Runners Up - 44 and 57

Special Mention - 56

Organisations and Businesses

Winner - 26

Runners Up 28 and, taken as one entry, 30, 47 and 49

Special Mention - 45

Adults and Families

Winner – 51

Runners Up – 33 and 34

Special Mention – 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 18, 24, 29, 40, 42 and 55

A-ma-zing!

I’ve just been round the trail to photograph the entries to help the Judges shortlist their favourites. The scarecrows are amazing. I’m so glad I don’t have to judge them, as every one is a winner!  However, I have observed some recurring themes, such as bottles…….

And birds, of the feathered kind………

Judges arrive in 15 minutes. I'm so excited! Hope to see you all over the weekend (or next) and do give yourselves a pat on the back, scarecrow builders, for providing such a talking point in our village. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so lively!

Are we downhearted? No we are not!

Despite the rain, scarecrows are springing up all over Loughton. Some lucky builders have delayed putting theirs out until this period of heavy rain has passed, but in any event most builders have waterproofed their ‘crows’, to take account of the unpredictable nature of a typical British summer. MK News and The Citizen have publicised our event. The church is filling up with books and crafts, plants are arriving for the plant swap, and trail guides are selling like hot cakes. Several people plan to host parties for family and friends over the coming week, and the forecast for Saturday is looking good. There’s so much to celebrate that we refuse to be cast down by a few drops of rain.

Alternative Short Trail for the Less Intrepid!

As I've got some friends coming up from London who are not great walkers, I've suggested a shorter trail for those who do not have the time or the inclination to walk the longer route.

Follow the Official Trail from 1 to 10.

Turn RIGHT at the bottom of Church Lane and go around the corner to Lucy Lane, to pick up 16 to 13 in that order! After viewing number 13, turn right onto the footpath that goes into the linear park and follow the path round to the left as far as the T-junction where there is a bridge over the brook. Do not cross this bridge, but turn left up the narrow public footpath to view number 12. Cross over the Bradwell Road to see 11. Then turn right down the Bradwell Road, walking on the right hand side of the road, to see number 50.

Carry on along the Bradwell Road past Clover Close and turn right down The Meadway to see 47. At the end of The Meadway take the footpath that leads on into the Sports Ground and cross over to the other side of the field to see 46 at the Sports and Social Club. Now cross over Linceslade Grove to Loughton First School to see 45 and 44. Then turn around and walk back up Paynes Drive, picking up 42 and 41 on the way.

At the intersection of Paynes Drive and the Bradwell Road, turn right to view scarecrows 39-36 at Loughton School. Walk up on the right hand side as far as the Talbot Inn and then cross over the Bradwell Road and walk back down the other side of the road, to see 33-40. These are now on your right, as you have turned around.

Continue down the Bradwell Road keeping to the right hand footpath, to see numbers 48-51. You have now re-joined the Official Trail. Turn right down Leys Road at 51 and head down as far as the Wheatsheaf, where Leys Road meets School Lane. Turn left into School Lane, missing out number 52, and return to the church using the trail guide, viewing 53 to 58 as you go. 

Poor George

Yesterday evening I took Farmer George down from his tree in the Bradwell Road, where he has been doing sterling service over the past two months by advertising our Scarecrow Trail to passers-by. Poor George! One of his ChucK Taylors was missing, along with his foot. George’s head was so floppy that he had to gaze at the stars, and his clothes were dirty and covered in bird droppings. Today I’m rebuilding him, so that he will be fit to meet his admiring public, who have been following his progress on my blog, when the trail opens on Saturday. George must be the only scarecrow ever who has had his clothes laundered!

Gifts and Promises Auction

The following ‘gifts and promises’ will be auctioned at the Scarecrows’ Supper on the evening of July 6^th. If you would like to place a bid for any of these items but will not be attending the Scarecrows’ Supper, you can do so by giving a sealed envelope containing your maximum bid to the Trail Organizer at any time before the evening of July 6^th. This will be opened at the auction as a ‘commission bid’.

A commission bid is the maximum amount up to which the auctioneer may bid on your behalf. However, it will be executed at the lowest possible price having regard to any reserve and competing bids.  If two potential buyers submit identical commission bids, the auctioneer will give preference to the first bid received. The auctioneer at the Scarecrows’ Supper will execute any commission bids directly from the rostrum, clearly identifying the successful bid as a commission bid.

Daytona Motorsports Prize, Senior 1.5 hour Team Endurance Race

Daytona Motorsports Prize, Junior Practice Gift Voucher

Daytona Motorsports Prize, Senior Practice “Arrive and Drive’ session

3 hours gardening from local gardening expert Roger Blackburn

3 hours gardening from local gardening expert Roger Blackburn

An afternoon trip out to The Shuttleworth Collection in Mr. Toad’s Classic Car

An afternoon trip out to Canons Ashby in Mr. Toad’s Classic Car

'Bathing Belles' bath set, with Aloe Vera bath products

‘Pink Elephant’ 400 x 400 mm Indian style contemporary embroidered wall piece. Reserve of £25.00

‘Orange Elephant’ 400 x 400 mm Indian style contemporary embroidered wall piece. Reserve of £25.00

A stylish contemporary quilt. Reserve of £80.00

Stop Press.

Also,  almost new and little used.  Full size table tennis table. It can be folded vertically and stowed automatically on a fully portable storage trolley and frame. Buyer collects from Medbourne.  Reserve price £50.00 Generously donated by Hussein and Ashifa Khimji. 

Raffle Prizes

First prize of £100.00 in Gift Vouchers to a leading MK department store

A Stylish Contemporary Quilt

The Compello Group Prize, £50.00 in Love2shop vouchers

Daytona Motorsports Prize, Senior Practice ‘Arrive and Drive’ session

Daytona Motorsports Prize, Junior Practice Gift Voucher

A Summer Picnic Hamper

A 1000 gram Tray of Assorted Luxury Chocolates

A hour’s gardening or gardening advice from local gardening firm 'Prune and Plant'

National Badminton Centre Prize, a month’s free membership to Fusion Fitness

£20.00 John Lewis' Vouchers

‘His and Hers’ Bottles of Sherry and Whisky

For the Children : Ant World and Bug Safari

Sold Out!

Tickets for the Scarecrows’ Supper are now sold out and the Variety Show has six ‘acts’ by local talent, including a surprise demonstration by a local Guinness World Record Holder. The mystery deepens! When all the ticket money comes in we will have raised £240.00. Thank you so much!

See the Trail by Car

I’ve had a very kind offer from some friends at All Saints’ Church that they would be happy to take older or less mobile visitors who would like to visit the scarecrows but who are unable to walk around the whole of the grueling five mile route, around the trail in their car, by prior arrangement, either during the week or on Sunday 30^th in the afternoon. What a lovely and generous gesture. Thank you so much!

Going, going, gone!

I’ve just sold the last Adult ticket for the Scarecrows’ Supper. I’ll convert some of the last few Children’s tickets to Adult ones, but if you want to attend this amazing celebrity supper (only joking) don’t delay, buy a ticket today.

Needle-sculped head

Finished the latest ‘crow’s’ needle sculpted head on Friday. Compared with some of the freaky faces I’ve made previously, I think this one is quite pleasing. She has doll hair and long false eyelashes! 

The Trail Guides Are Being Printed

Even as I write, David is in his office printing off the first batch of Trail Guides. At last the trail has come together, and we have a complete picture of all the entries, together with all their locations. Excited or what? I’ll be selling them for £1.00 each up at All Saints’ Church whilst the trail is open, but if you can’t wait until then, please contact me at 01908 696072 to order your copy, or email me on j.hanson@ucl.ac.uk. All we need now is some sunshine!

Brilliant Bubble Wrap

One of the attendees at my Scarecrow Building Workshop suggested using surplus bubble wrap to pad out the Mr. Softee torso, as an alternative to scrunched up newspaper. This week, I’ve been building another soft bodied scarecrow and I though I’d put bubble wrap to the test. It really works! As well as being more mouldable and waterproof, especially when well secured with parcel tape, bubble wrap is much lighter than newspaper so the whole ‘crow’ is more manageable.

 This ‘crow’ is female, with a figure to die for but at present she’s headless. 

I’ve made her some calico hands; the fingers have been stuffed with pipe cleaners so that they can be posed, and her palms are filled out with a small amount of bubble wrap. She has realistic, false fingernails! 

Her feet are also made from calico; her toes have stuffed with pipe cleaners and her feet with bubble wrap. False toenails complete the picture. 

Her torso has been sheathed in a flesh pink vest and long-janes. Stylish or what? I'll trying out a needle-sculpted head for this scarecrow, of which more in the next blog. 

The Trail is Set

Finally, the last few details have slotted into place, the Trail Map is finished, the Trail Guide has been written, the Voting Slips for the Visitors’ Choice have been made and the Quiz is nearly complete. I’ve begun sending out Trail Numbers by post (for those who live outside Loughton and Great Holm) or delivering them by hand (to those living in the village) so if you are building a ‘crow’ and have not received yours within the next day or two, please let me know. Trail Guides will be available soon for £1.00 each. All proceeds from the sale of Trail Guides will be donated to All Saints’ Church, Loughton. 

Selling Like Hot Cakes

Over half the tickets for the Scarecrows’ Supper have already been sold. We’re going to have a ball!

Scarecrows’ Supper Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets for the Scarecrows’ Supper hosted by All Saints’ Church to celebrate the close of Loughton’s first Scarecrow Trail on the evening of Saturday 6^th July, have been printed and can now be purchased from Julienne, at a cost of £4.00 for an adult’s ticket and £1.00 each for up to two children. After the first two children, additional children come free, so a family of four can have a good evening out for £10.00. All proceeds from the sale of tickets and the evening itself will go to All Saints’ Church. 

 The Scarecrows’ Supper will begin at 7.oo p.m. with a ‘bring and share’ meal. Fancy dress is optional! This will be followed by a short programme of light entertainment featuring local talent, a Scarecrow Auction and an Auction of Gifts and Promises, after which the Grand Raffle Prizes will be drawn. The evening will close at about 10.00 p.m. with an announcement of the winner of the Visitors’ Choice Competition.

Crisps & nibbles, pickles & chutneys, bread, butter & spread, tea & coffee, and squash will all be provided, but everyone who attends should bring their own favourite alcoholic and / or fizzy drinks. Adults’ tickets are marked as either savoury or sweet, with a list of suggestions as to what to bring along to contribute to the communal feast. If everyone brings a little along, we are sure to emulate the ‘miracle of the loaves and fishes’ so that everyone will have plenty of choice of delicious treats to eat and drink!

Ticket entry will be limited to a maximum of 72 people, and are available to all on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so don’t delay, buy your tickets today!