Neighbours battle it out to win annual scarecrow competition

The winners of Oliver’s Battery’s annual scarecrow competition have been announced, with entries ranging from puns and satire to classic creations. 

The competition has been running for the past four years, and this year ran during the school half term.

Marianne Foster, a member of the Oliver’s Battery events group, says the event is important to the community and bringing neighbours together. 

“We started it because as an events group we try to find ways to creatively gather people from the community to strengthen those community bonds,” she said.

“This has been a real hit with the people of Oliver’s Battery, it’s gotten bigger and bigger every year so it’s a really fun way to involve children and their families, and adults and older people to do something creative and fun in the community.” 

This event is one of four that the events group puts together each year for the people of Oliver’s Battery to allow them to bond with others in the neighbourhood. 

First time winners

“Why do I enjoy doing this? It’s just a bit of childish fun and people in the community really get behind it,” one entrant said. 

“I still have the stuff left over,” another entrant joked, “[the scarecrow] lives in the garage each year and I try to think of something to do with it each year.” 

The scarecrows at the top of their fields in each category were announced on Sunday; the family award went to the entry titled ‘The Grave Robber’ with a true crime twist on their scarecrow, representing the case of the Burke and Hare murders. 

The other winners were a little less spooky, as the group winner was awarded to the Winchester City Rainbows and Brownies for their “Very Hungry Caterpillar” creation, while the adult winner went to Colin Stride for demonstrating his love for Wallace and Gromit through his “Feathers McStraw” piece, a play on the classic penguin character. 

All the winners had entered the competition every year of it running, but this is the first time winning for them all.

They have received certificates for their efforts and had their photos taken with their creations.