Worzel Gummidge will be taking over Ford End this weekend and encouraging residents to visit open gardens dotted around the village – not to scare them away!
The much-loved TV and book character will be in the village as part of the Scarecrow Festival, on Sunday. The event has been put on to raise money for the village hall.
Along with the real-life Worzel, there will be nearly 40 scarecrows created by residents. Some arty villagers have even given their scarecrows a disguise – so do not be surprised if you see Harry Potter in Ford End!
There will also be a dozen “not-so-serious” open gardens and rumour has it that visitors to Worzel’s garden might be in for a tea party and a food fight.
Pupils from the primary school have been getting into the spirit of the occasion by making their own hay-men.
Visitors will be able to buy a programme on the day for £5, which will list the locations of the scarecrows and gardens. By buying a programme, they will be entered into a raffle with the chance of winning a scarecrow-themed cake.
There will also be a First World War exhibition in the village hall, which was originally a Red Cross hut and auxiliary hospital. Tea and cakes will be sold in the churchyard, as well as a second-hand book sake and craft table inside the church.
Organiser Sandra Brown, who is making a Dobby scarecrow, said: “I hope it is going to be a really fun day for all residents. I have been so overwhelmed by the support in the village and everybody has been really excited to make their own scarecrows. It will be great to see what everyone has created on the day.”
Programmes can be bought from the church and from various gardens.
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