Spoonvilles create a stir from Mull to Melbourne
A Facebook craze borne out of lockdown boredom has created a ‘stir’ from Mull to Australia.
‘Spoonville,’ planting colourful wooden spoon characters in green spaces has given residents in Craignure, a chuckle during the pandemic.
And since news broke of Scotland’s first Spoonville on Mull, the trend has spread across the island to Bunessan, Tobermory and Salen.
The idea started last month – 500 miles away in the Berkshire village of Winnersh.
The photographs caught the eye of Mull mum Helen Dewar who used to live five miles from Winnersh, but now lives in Craignure.
Keen to do something creative with daughter Ella, 14, they set about creating the first ‘Scottish division’ of Spoonville.
The first residents were the Spoonville Mayor – modelled on Ella’s granddad, Richard, who lives on Mull. He was joined by Taylor Spoon, based on pop star Taylor Swift, along with random ‘spoonites’ Sylvie and Fredo. The colourful foursome were placed on a grassy recreation area and the trend took off, with local youngsters keen to add to the population.
Donald Trump has now moved in, joined by Spongebob Square Spoon, Elsa from Frozen, Bart Simspoon and Django, modelled on a local dog. Reese With-a-Spoon has yet to turn up!
Helen, aged 43, said she was lucky to have had so many spare wooden spoons buried in the kitchen drawer, as it meant she didn’t have to ‘fork’ out for new ones.
She said: ‘‘Everyone is getting involved now. People enjoy walking past it or driving by to see who’s new.’
So as not to put anyone at risk, the ‘rules of Spoonville’ have been put on display to ensure everyone plants their spoons during their hour-long exercise and that they residents.
A new Facebook page called Spoonville International, has been set up by Helen.
Down under, former Mull resident Junelle Wilson, a friend of Karen’s, has now opened the Australia branch in her home town of Longwarry, Victoria, near Melbourne.
The pair have also tracked down Karen Vass, the original South East creator as Spoonville-mania spreads from country to country.
Needless to say, the media has been keen to get the ‘scoop’.
Helen was interviewed live on BBC Radio Berkshire and has also featured in the local paper serving Winnersh.
She insists that while many across the world struggle with lockdown, it does not mean spoons have to social distance! don’t touch the