29/09/2023
NEWS RELEASE MARSHFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON THE GWENT LEVELS
Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival is in a Field of its Own!
Gwent Levels community is brought together through creativity and festive fun.
John Lennon, Mary Poppins, Lily Savage and the Hulk are some of diverse famous characters being hand-crafted into Harvest-time scarecrows as part of village festival on the Gwent Levels.
Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival is a 3-day event (September 29 - October 1) where youth, community and social groups make and display traditional and alternative scarecrows around the village.
Coordinated by Marshfield Community Council and sponsored by Greenmoor Nurseries of St Brides, scarecrow-makers of all ages are meeting the community-wide ââbuild a scarecrow challenge.ââ
Toddler groups, pupils at Marshfield Primary School, Marshfield Scouts and Brownies, members of Marshfield Women's Institute, Marshfieldâs churches, pubs and local residential homes are all creating scarecrow characters and joining in the Festive fun.
Flamboyant and surprising scarecrows
Local residents have also crafted traditional pumpkin-headed scarecrows. Others have created more flamboyant and surprising scarecrows ranging from 1960s hippie pop idols, John Lennon, Jack Sparrow and Dolly Parton to Marvel super heroes, sporting champions and legendary wizards. The largest scarecrow towers to over 8 feet tall.
Festival Highlights
Weekend highlights of the Festival are focused on the Masons Arms pub in Marshfield where events include a scarecrow fancy dress, Morris dances performed by the Isca Morris Dancers and a Things You Never Know About Scarecrows charity quiz.
Scarecrow burgers, corn-on-the-cob and âscarecrow fingersâ chips are being served throughout the Festival.
Cllr Cath Davies Chair of Marshfield Community Council, said: âThis is the first time Marshfield has turned its creativity to a
Scarecrow Festivalâ.
Weâre delighted by the way community groups and residents have entered the collaborative and light-hearted spirit of the event.ââ
Phil Thomas of Greenmoor Nurseries said:
ââWeâve had a horticultural association with the Council for some time, but we wanted to broaden that support to a Festive event that can be enjoyed by Marshfield residents of all agesâ. We wish the first Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival every success.ââ
Pupils at Marshfield Primary School made 8 scarecrows for the Festival as part of their art and craft lessons. Headteacher, Lisa Lewis, said: âOur pupils enjoyed the Festivalâs creative scarecrow-making challengeâ.
They worked together using their imaginations to craft amazing scarecrows. The Festival was also a way of learning more about Harvest
time and the countryside around our village.ââ
Residents and staff at Pentwyn House Residential Home in Marshfield created a scene from the tv series ââCasualtyââ featuring scarecrows.
Andrew Lawence, Assistant Manager at Pentwyn House, said: âWe wanted to create something that was focused on sharing and caring, but still had a comic side to itâ.
The festive scarecrow atmosphere has
been a real tonic for our residents.ââ
Marshfield Community Councilâs Community Scarecrow Festival Sponsors and
Supporters
Main sponsor: Greenmoor Nurseries of St Brides and Tony Borg from Trade Price Tyres Newport, Simpson Estates, Blue Diamond Cardiff, The Masons Arms in Marshfield. Kk
More information is available from Cllr Patrick Legge, Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival Coordinator on: 07547 433122
Note on photography:
Written permission has been gathered by staff at Marshfield Primary School and Pentwyn House for the attached photos to feature
pupils and care residents.
