The Scarecrow Festival usually takes place in the second weekend of September and has a dedicated Facebook page; for news and updates (including competition winners), click here.

Hickling Scarecrows 2024: Flora and Fauna

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September: 10am – 4pm

Theme: Flora and Fauna. Funds raised will be distributed between local charities and this year’s nominated charity, Emmanuel House Nottingham – a charity supporting homeless people in their recovery.

A message from the Scarecrow Festival Committee:

Thanks to everyone in Hickling for helping make Scarecrow Weekend such a success: everything from providing land, loos, entertainment, car parking, refreshments to keeping the road clear. The efforts of the whole village are what make this wonderful event possible. This year there were nearly 50 Scarecrows, we were treated to a flypast by the majestic Lancaster bomber, traditional Morris and clog dancing, stilt walkers, street theatre, a variety of music provided by people from Hickling and neighbouring villages. Total raised and prize winners to be published soon. The Peoples’ Choice is, from now on, renamed in memory of Doreen Faulks – one of the founders of the weekend and one of its most dedicated supporters.

The Winners:

The winner of the public vote was The Tiger who Came to Tea, very well deserved. Second place was Toothless, from How to Train your Dragon, while Jaws came in third place. The Mayor of Rushcliffe visited on the Sunday and his vote went to The Herbs (in the potting shed).

(Scarecrow Festival Committee, Sept 2024)

Scarecrow competition answers:

Lancaster flypast.

A genuine highlight on both Saturday and Sunday – we were all incredibly pleased and grateful to see the Lancaster flypast; these images were captured by the West Bridgford Wire and their article can be found on this link – click here. The full video was shared to the Hickling Scarecrow Festival FB page (16/9/2024) – click here.

Galleries – Scarecrows 2024:

• The Scarecrows
• Street scenes & entertainments
• Knitted post toppers and tree surprises
• The Church

The Scarecrows

Street scenes and entertainments

Knitted post toppers and tree surprises

(If you have any photographs of the tree surprises in place and would like to add them to our gallery, please contact us.)

The Church

A genuine community effort!

Many thanks to all our volunteers and scarecrow makers without whom this event couldn’t take place.

We would also like to thank to the following people: John Collishaw, the Oxby family, Rob Holt, James Parkes and the Faulks family for the use of their land. Samworth Brothers Ltd; & Rushcliffe Borough Council for sponsorship. Sherwood Farms for eggs, Richard Collishaw for the vintage tractors, ‘Live and Local’ for the street theatre, Andrew @ Sherwood Farms for the Portaloos. John Dornan the Magician, Maids of Clifton Clog Dancers, Way of the Wyrd Morris Dancers for the entertainment. The Plough Inn, Hickling Parish Council, Long Clawson Dairy, Stackyard Farm Shop, Gardens by Joseph, James Davies @1Green, MC Hair & Beauty, Neil Crowe, Hanwell Wine Estate, Sarsfield’s Chocolaterie, Paul @ Kev’s Van Rental, Katie @Time for Pooch, Moore’s Garden Centre and private individuals for donating raffle prizes.