Everything You Need To Know

In medieval times children were employed to scare birds in order to stop them from eating crops.  But eventually these children were replaced by scarecrows; a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human to scare the birds away. They have been used for many years and are usually made from old clothes and straw in order to look like a person.

Although some are still used by farmers currently for their traditional purpose, in the UK there has been a steady increase of scarecrows across villages, towns, and even in the cities due to increased participation in Scarecrow Festivals during the British summertime.

These festivals have been cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown but this isn’t stopping people from displaying their own creations. A scarecrow can be a great addition to an allotment, a front garden, or any public space you think people could do with a bit of company.

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Click here for a guide on how to make a Scarecrow

You can make a scarecrow any time of the year, but traditionally these are made in the late summer (when the crops are most at risk from birds).

Scarecrows can be made with pretty much anything to hand, but a good supply of stuffing (grass cuttings, hay, shredded paper), some old clothes, some sticks (bamboo, twigs, mop stick), and something to hold them together (duck tape, sellotape, garden wire) are useful.

Scarecrows For Indoors

If you can’t get out of the house, you can still liven up a space indoors (and keep away the birds) by making a wooden spoon puppet, or a clothes peg doll (watch the video below). This is perfect for if it rains or you don’t have a garden.