Why dozens of scarecrows have appeared in Woolston

Colourfully clad scarecrows and even a Minion from Despicable Me are lined up along Victoria Road.

Woolston Scarecrow Festival, which runs until November 2, is the brainchild of the Victoria Road Gardeners, a group of seven volunteers with a passion for brightening up Woolston.

Lyn Cox, 73, has lived in the area since the 1980s and decided to take matters into her own hands last year.

Lyn Cox and the Victoria Road Gardeners (Image: Lyn Cox) She said: “We took over the six flower beds in Victoria Road last year after they were left to become a bed of weeds and litter.

“We managed to get a lot of the independent traders involved in the ownership and they have been very supportive.”

The group is funded by donations with people encouraged to donate £3 or a pack of bulbs.

But after a year, Lyn was keen to take a different approach and get residents involved beyond donating.

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She said: “The volume of bulbs we need to make any impact in the public space is a lot.

“People get bored if you only ask for bulbs or donations, so I thought, why not do a scarecrow festival?

“To enter, all people had to do was donate £3 or some bulbs then bring their scarecrow to the flower beds for the launch of the festival on Saturday, October 26.

“The winners then received prizes, which were generously donated by businesses in the high street.

“We expected around 12 to 18 scarecrows, but we have 34 on display, with ones created by shopkeepers, the library, Cubs and Guides, and lots of individuals.

“Everything has been done by donation, it was absolutely mind blowing.”

Scarecrows in Woolston (Image: Lyn Cox) The aim of the festival – and the group as a whole – is to encourage people to enjoy the area and want to make it a better place.

Lyn said: “We are simply gardeners; we are not trying to run a company.

“We want people to enjoy it. And we are looking for volunteers to help us plant all the bulbs we received on Saturday.

“I believe there are over a thousand bulbs.

“People can get involved by following our Facebook page Victoria Road Gardeners or popping into Kookies Crafts."