Scarecrows make Martham bird-free zone
MARTHAM became a bird-free zone over the bank holiday weekend when a multitude of mawkins descended on the village.So solitary is their usual role - standing alone and unvisited in the middle of fields - that no one is quite sure what the name is for a collection of scarecrows.
MARTHAM became a bird-free zone over the bank holiday weekend when a multitude of mawkins descended on the village.
So solitary is their usual role - standing alone and unvisited in the middle of fields - that no one is quite sure what the name is for a collection of scarecrows.
But the flock of straw creations attracted people from all over the county and beyond as villagers pulled out all the stops to improve on last year's efforts.
Although numbers were slightly down organisers said the quality of the displays - all 87 of them - surpassed the previous years.
Liz Carpenter, part of a five-strong team behind the event, said local residents had put on their thinking heads to create amusing displays which took scarecrows well beyond their bird scaring role.
The winner was a household in Black Street which had a painter up a ladder and a carpenter sawing wood - music blaring out from their nearby works van.
Most Read
- 1 'There will be a huge impact' - Councillor's fears ahead of 665 homes vote
- 2 7 famous faces with Great Yarmouth links
- 3 Man killed 96-year-old bystander in road rage crash
- 4 Where you can watch fireworks in Great Yarmouth this summer
- 5 Town road works extended due to depression in road surface
- 6 Everything you need to know ahead of Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival
- 7 Pupils put best feet forward to celebrate their school's 150th anniversary
- 8 Plans to revamp Great Yarmouth town centre gather pace
- 9 Care home says changes have been made after damning inspection report
- 10 Marine company feeling buoyant after securing pilot launch contract
Other examples included a mermaid in the pond - now home to a family of ducks, another astride a Harley Davidson motorbike and a vicar in the church.
Over 100 families took part in a treasure hunt. Stalls, sales of books and clothing, an auction and raffle also went well, with the event well supported by sponsors and visitors.
The committee comprising Julie and Steven Beales, Maggie Horrocks and Liz and Peter Carpenter hopes to have raised at least �500 towards the restoration of a tiny former school close to the church.
Preparations are under way for the Christmas craft fair and the committee is testing local opinion over a village garage/garden sale.