With harvest just around the corner, a Whitchurch volunteer group is set to hold a scarecrow trail through the town later this month. 

Whitchurch Community Live Events will be holding The Great Whitchurch Scarecrow Trail from August 26 until August 28.

This will be the third time the scarecrow trail has taken place in the town, previously taking place in 2020 and 2021.

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Residents and businesses will have the opportunity to create a scarecrow and display it across the weekend.

Whitchurch Community Live Events will provide numbers to each scarecrow, which must be displayed, and from this, a free trail map is created.

Basingstoke Gazette: Photos from the 2021 event Photos from the 2021 event (Image: Whitchurch Community Live Events)

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Event organiser Marcus Winch said: "This will be the third Great Whitchurch Scarecrow Trail which is a great opportunity for everyone in town to get involved and build a scarecrow of their choosing.

"We will give all entrants a number for their scarecrows and provide maps so that everyone can see the scarecrows on the trail around town. We will be raising funds for Furlock Holmes and people will be able to vote for their favourite for a small donation via just giving."

In order to make sure crops were not pinched by birds, people used to dress up dramatically, as scarecrows as they are now known, to go out and chase off the birds. They occasionally shouted or waved special things called sistrums, which were handheld clappers or small pieces of wood with bells attached, used to scare the birds back to their nests.

More information on The Great Whitchurch Scarecrow Trail can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/2745624622333512.