Outdoors and Attractions Features

Lacock, a small village just outside Chippenham, has a resident population of 350 at the last count but each year at the beginning of April the head count gets boosted by almost 50.

And this year is no exception...

As the last of the Easter eggs get marked down in the supermarkets, strange beings start cropping up all over the village. Strange beings disguised as heroes, celebrities, historic villains and even your favourite take aways.

OK, OK without getting too corny, oops, it's that time of year again when the village of Lacock gets invaded by the straw people for the annual Lacock Scarecrow Festival.

Now in its fifth year, the scarecrow festival is an annual event that sees virtually every household in the village busy designing and making full-size straw men, women and (this year) animals.

And competition between neighbours is, to say the least, intense.

Each year, at the start of April, naked scarecrow frames are dragged out of storage from garden sheds, garages and cupboards, throughout the village, and togged up according to a theme.

And this year the theme is 'Cats and Dogs'.  So as the Easter Holidays come and go, the scarecrows are made up, dressed up and positioned throughout the village and for three weeks can be spotted just about anywhere from cottage roofs and gardens to hanging around in doorways or peering out from behind windows.

This year there are 42 'corny characters' due to take up their positions on a well marked trail that visitors can wander along, discover the scarecrows and try to guess who they're supposed to be. Trail maps show the way and all scarecrow hunters have to do is guess the names of each scarecrow.  But be warned it can be harder than it sounds.

Last year for instance on a right royal theme there was everything from King Prawn, King Edward Potatoes and Burger King to Billie-Jean King, King Kong and King Canute.

But with prizes for first, second and third, up for grabs, for the most correct answers plus a chance to vote for the best scarecrow whose owner will also win a prize it's well worth gemming up on a spot of 'Cats and Dogs' trivia...

The Lacock Scarecrow Festival 2008 runs from Friday 4th April and goes on until Sunday 20th April 2008 and is neing launched with a Scarecrow Fayre from 2pm to 4pm on April 4th.  All proceeds will go to Lacock school to help refurnish the school's classrooms.