Scarecrow Festival at Rufford Old Hall

History of the Scarecrow in the UK

Scarecrows have been used as a protector of crops for many years. Farmers originally asked children to chase away wildlife that would destroy their crops, and were known as bird scarers or bird shooers.

When the Great Plague of 1348 wiped half the population in Britain, landowners couldn’t find enough children to employ to protect their crops. It was then that instead they stuffed sacks with straw, carved faces in turnips or gourds, and made scarecrows that stood against poles.

Scarecrow Festival dates

This October the grounds here at Rufford will be filled with scarecrows, and we would like to invite everyone to get involved. The festival will run from Fri 18 Oct to Sun 3 Nov (we are closed on Wed & Thu). If you would like to create your very own scarecrow for display here in the grounds, all details can be found below.

How can I get involved?

The theme for 2024 is ‘Scarecrows on the Box’ giving everyone the opportunity to pick characters from your favourite movies and TV shows.

You may choose to work on your own or get a team together. Once you've decided what your scarecrow will be, confirm your entry by emailing – ruffordoldhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

There are limited places, so please sign up early.

The scarecrows need to be completed and delivered to Rufford Old Hall by Mon 14 Oct. They will be installed in the garden and woodland by Thu 17 Oct.

The scarecrows will be taken down on 4 & 5 Nov. If you want to keep your scarecrow, they can be collected no later than 7 Nov. On 8 Nov, any items left onsite will be disposed.

What can we provide?

We can provide stakes (free of charge) for propping up your scarecrow. Stakes are limited so please let us know if you require these and we can let you know the dimensions and a date to collect from Rufford Old Hall prior to assembling your scarecrow.

If you have not requested stakes for your scarecrow, unfortunately there will not be any available during set up.