Black Isle competition scares up smiles during coronavirus lockdown
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A FUN scarecrow competition aims to scare up some smiles during the lockdown.
Groam House Museum's volunteers have set up a Black Isle Scarecrows activity to help keep people occupied while stuck at home.
The Rosemarkie-based museum's volunteers had the brainwave after the lockdown prevented their traditional Open Gardens trail from going ahead this year.
Scarecrow-making was one of that event's activities, and they were determined to make sure this continued in order to raise a few smiles. The fun is open to anyone living on the Black Isle.
A spokesman for the museum said: "People of all ages are asked to let their imaginations run wild to create wonderful and weird Wurzels to cheer up their community and then share their creation online for everyone to see.
"As our Open Gardens trail for this year is not going ahead, our group of volunteers agreed to find a way to continue with the scarecrow making element as it would bring joy to our community in these uncertain times. Anything we planned had to be achievable within the restrictions of lockdown and social distancing. So, we put together a plan for Black Isle Scarecrows.
"The idea is simply to make a scarecrow, display it for your neighbours and passers-by to see, then take a photo and post it to our Facebook group ‘Black Isle Scarecrows’. By posting a picture of your creation online we can all see scarecrows from across the Black Isle without having to travel.
"As well as providing a project to occupy both youngsters and adults during the coronavirus lockdown, we want to cheer up the Black Isle and get people smiling as they go on their daily exercise.
"We know that other groups in the area have also had to cancel community events and some villages are already making scarecrows. So, we opened this initiative to anyone in the area who would like to take part. Also, many of our volunteers and museum members live across the Black Isle area and are excited to get involved.
"A traditional scarecrow is made with threadbare overalls stuffed with straw, perhaps an overfilled sack for a head with an old hat on top. The secret to making the best possible scarecrow is being creative to recycle, reuse and repurpose old clothes and other props you already have.
"During lockdown, people have time to have a good rummage around their house, shed or garage where they’ll find all they need to make the most inventive and inspiring creations.
"The possibilities are unlimited."
Full details can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/BlackIsleScarecrows
Participation is free, but any donations to the Groam House Museum would be very welcome. For more information on how to do so visit the museum's website at http://www.groamhouse.org.uk/index.asp?pageid=430757
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