Organiser defends scarecrow festival over corpses letter
AN organiser has defended a scarecrow festival against claims in an anonymous letter that it has left children scared.
The letter sent to residents claims the competition is ‘distasteful’ due to coronavirus deaths.
Oswaldtwistle’s Civic Arts Centre has been running a Hyndburn-wide competition, as we reported last month, and more than a hundred colourful entries are in contention for the top prizes.
However, competition organiser Gayle Knight said residents on one street in the town had received letters claiming that the scarecrows look like corpses.
Posting on the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre’s Facebook page, said: “It’s been brought to our attention that some people on Catlow Hall Street have received anonymous letters put through their doors regarding the scarecrows.
“The letters say that the scarecrows look like ‘dead people’ and that it is distasteful at the moment due to the virus. It says that children have been scared.
“Obviously, it is unfortunate that some people have not taken the scarecrow festival in the spirit that it was intended - which was to brighten up the fronts of houses and to give people pleasure both looking at and creating their own scarecrows.
“The tradition of scarecrows in Britain goes back hundreds of years and many towns and villages up and down the country hold scarecrow festivals every year.”
Gayle asked the letter’s author to speak to them directly so that they can explain the purpose of the event.
She said: “We believe that this festival has been a positive thing for the community as families, children, care homes, schools and entire streets have got behind it enthusiastically and whilst we don’t like the thought that someone has been distressed or scared by it we can assure you that was not the intention.”
There are more than 100 entries to the competition, for which people can vote on the Civic’s Facebook page, with one winning prize for an individual and a group entry.
Other discretionary prizes will be for best known character, most effort, cutest and a few other categories.
In a separate post, confirming the closure to entries Gayle said: “We’ve had some absolutely fantastic entries and we love how creative you all are.”