Featherstone town celebrates its first scarecrow festival

The idea began just two weeks before the event, when Steph Miles, a Colliers Court resident wanted to bring a scarecrow festival closer to home.

Steph said: “I'd driven though Ackworth on May 15, and saw how hard the village had worked on their scarecrow festival.

“Every year, as a family we visit annual scarecrow festivals, and have done from being a small child. We were disappointed that due to lockdown, we weren't able to visit these events so I asked the town of Featherstone to create one.

“Having two children myself who are vulnerable with differing disabilities, we decided we needed something to look forward to, that we could all do, safely, and as part of our daily exercise.

“I created a Facebook page 'Colliers court scarecrow festival' and quickly it gained followers, with people further a field asking if they could join in.

“I contacted a farm in Methley, who agreed to deliver 34 bales we'd ordered, to my drive and on May 26 it arrived.

“People from all over the estate came with wheelbarrows, empty pushchairs, carried hay home, and laughed about the unexpected size of the large hay bales.”

The week-long festival began on Monday June 1 and one of the scarecrows had a donation box where visitors could raise money for Radio Aire’s Cash for Kids Appeal.

Plenty of visitors came to visit the Colliers Court scarecrows throughout the week, children were provided with sweets and colouring books by residents.

Steph’s husband, Daniel, dressed up as Spider Man for the event, waving at visiting families and handing out sweets to the children.

Councillor Graham Isherwood and Coun Stephen Vickers came on the final day to judge the festival and the winners were announced on the Featherstone Town Council Facebook.

Coun Vickers, Featherstone Town Mayor, said: “The idea of the scarecrow event was an inspiration to our community and I applaud Steph for her ingenuity and forethought to start an event which took the community to a happy level in these difficult times.

“The Town Council and myself were thrilled to be included and hope to help make this an annual event."

Coun Isherwood said: "It was a wonderful initiative from one of our residents, Steph Miles, taken up by over 50 people following coverage on social media.

“Well done everybody involved and hopefully we can build on this in years to come, Featherstone Town Council will be happy to support any future plans.”

Due to Steph’s efforts in bringing the community together, the council asked her to join the town's events team, to which she accepted.

There is also speculation as to what scarecrows everyone on the estate will be making next year, Steph says.

Steph said: “I'm incredibly proud of our town, and hope this becomes bigger, everyone agrees it should become an annual event, as does the Mayor and councillor.

“In such an isolated time, this town has shown care and compassion, community spirit and so much talent, this really has been the rainbow that followed the storm.”