Plans are in place for a movie-themed scarecrow trail in Bratton this July. The summer event, which will raise money for Bratton Primary School, will see 40 homemade scarecrows spring up around the village.
Between Saturday 5th July and Sunday 6th July, people will be able to visit Bratton and follow a trail map between each straw creation.
The theme for the event is ‘Movies’, and the scarecrows on display will range from blockbuster Hollywood films to quirky retro options, as well as all-time family favourites for visitors to guess.
The Scarecrow Trail has been organised by Louise Bunce, Bratton Primary School’s health and safety officer, and Mrs Holstead, admissions and attendance officer at the school.
This is the third year the Bratton Primary School Scarecrow Trail has taken place and, following on from previous years, the organisers are expecting visitors from all the surrounding towns and villages.
Mrs Holstead said, “The village becomes a pop-art gallery for the weekend, and it’s truly a joy to witness! The trail route is flat, circular, and pushchair-friendly, winding through the beautiful village setting and starting and finishing at the school.
“My favourite memory from the past few years is seeing the joy on children’s faces when they visit the trail with their families and spot the creations they’ve made in school displayed in the village for all to see – such proud little faces!”
Louise added that her favourite memory is meeting an art collector from Salisbury who was so impressed by one of the creations on display that he reached out to purchase the scarecrow for his own private art gallery.
As well as the main scarecrow trail, Bratton Primary School is also hosting a smaller trail suitable for younger children, featuring hand-drawn pictures created by pupils.
All the money raised at the event will be used to purchase new resources for the children to enjoy in the school’s internal courtyard and to enhance their education.
Louise added, “Having the support and enthusiasm of parents, village residents, local organisations, and groups has been key. Without our wonderful creative volunteer makers, we simply wouldn’t be able to host the scarecrow trail. These amazing volunteers sign up for the challenge each January and then have the next six months to mull over ideas, source materials, and build their scarecrows, all ready for display in July.
“We have been blessed with some super-talented people joining in, and the standard of their scarecrows has been truly fantastic. But it’s the mixture of mediums, designs, and ideas that really adds the sparkle to the event. We run a public vote each year, and the results clearly show that people admire different aspects of each scarecrow—sometimes the most basic and cute designs are the most popular. This is a scarecrow trail for everyone to get involved in, regardless of any prior art, creative, or construction experience.”
The scarecrow trail has secured a main sponsor, MJ Building, which is also based in Bratton, to support the school with set-up costs and to provide the main cash prizes. Additional prizes have also been donated by local businesses and companies.
Trail sheet winners could win cash prizes of £100 for 1st place, £75 for 2nd place, and £50 for 3rd place. Children’s trail prizes include £25 for 1st place, £15 for 2nd place, and £10 for 3rd place. The creator of the Best Scarecrow, as voted for by the public, will also win £50 in recognition of their creative efforts.
Trail maps go on sale at the start of June for £3 each, with the children’s trail costing £1. Maps will be available from the school office, the village shop, or directly from the school over the trail weekend.
In addition, Bratton Primary School’s PTA will be hosting the school’s annual Summer Fete on Saturday 5th July, on the school grounds.
