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Scarecrows still 'bringing community together'

Phil Shepka,BBC News, Cambridgeshire, Abbotsleyand
Harriet Heywood,BBC News, Cambridgeshire
News imagePhil Shepka/BBC A bearded man wearing a black T-Shirt is standing in front of a large green piece of plastic while drinking out of a mug. The plastic has been made to look like a Jägermeister bottle on its side. A huge 'female' scarecrow is sitting astride the bottle wearing blue shorts and a white top. The straw creation is more than twice the man's height. Phil Shepka/BBC
News imageDJ McLaren/BBC Two life sized scarecrows are kissing, one wearing a sailor uniform, the other wearing a green skirt and jacket. There is a Union Jack flying behind them. A patterned green and burgundy model spitfire plane - with a scarecrow pilot inside - appears to be flying from left to right. In the distance are empty fields trees and grass.DJ McLaren/BBC
Randall Wisson, 26, landlord of The Eight Bells pub, said: "We go big or we go home", adding they may have to make next year's scarecrow "four storeys" tall
Andy Harris made a Spitfire, with a moving propeller, and added two more scarecrows in a nod to a famous wartime photo of a kissing couple

Villagers say a 25-year-old scarecrow festival "brings their community together" , with some people even starting their creations at Christmas.

Lynn Norris, from Abbotsley in Cambridgeshire, said a resident introduced the idea of scarecrows to the Feast Week festivities in 2000.

She believed the village was the first in the area to include scarecrows and said people were often amazed by their number and size.

The scarecrow festival, which typically takes place in the middle of July during Feast Week, is held in honour of St Margaret of Antioch, Patron Saint of its 13th-century church.

News imagePhil Shepka/BBC Mr and Mrs Dixon are smiling. He has his right arm around her shoulders. Mr Dixon has a shaved head and some facial hair and is wearing a white top. Mrs Dixon is wearing sunglasses and has long blonde hair. They are standing in front of a white marquee.Phil Shepka/BBC
James and Sonya Dixon created an Abbotsley Home Guard scarecrow in tribute to Dad's Army and VE day

James Dixon, 45, who moved from London 12 years ago with his wife Sonya, 50, said it was lovely being part of a community tradition.

"We have come to the village and been really looked after since moving here so I think it's really important to get involved in a tradition like this," he said.

News imagePhil Shepka/BBC Mr Harris is smiling at the camera while outside. He has a grey beard and grey short hair. He is wearing a grey and blue top over a salmon pink T-shirt.Phil Shepka/BBC
Andy Harris, who has been taking part for about 21 years, said his scarecrows were used to commemorate VE and VJ day

Andy Harris, 74, said he started off by making a Spitfire and added two more scarecrows in a nod to the famous photograph of a kissing couple taken in New York's Times Square in 1945.

He previously won first prize with his scarecrow recreation of the barricades in Les Misérables and has also been a judge for the competition.

"I just enjoy doing it," Mr Harris said.

"I feel I'm quite artistic and like doing these sorts of things, I'm now retired so I've got time to spend a bit more time doing it and I enjoy the reactions from people who see it."

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