Wilmslow to stage Scarecrow Festival

A recently formed partnership between the Rotary Club of Wilmslow Dean and the members of the Wilmslow Business Group looks set to put some fun and colour into shopping in Wilmslow by staging a Scarecrow Festival in the town during the week of July 5th to July 11th.

Special ‘Scarecrow’ shopping discounts and offers will also be introduced to show the public what products and services are available and encourage them to ‘shop local’.

The brains behind the scheme is Rotarian and local businessman Geoff Shelmerdine who came up with the idea whilst on a business trip to the North East two years and accidently making a wrong turn into a village and finding himself in the middle of a Scarecrow Festival.

Geoff said “I was amazed at the number of people who had come to see the scarecrows on display, the village was packed with families walking around and taking photographs. Every corner you turned had another surprise waiting, Dennis the Menace, The Flower Pot Men, Bob the Builder, Spiderman were just four of over 200 characters that put a smile on everyone’s face”.

“Not a new idea, Geoff continued, but I had stored it in my mind for another time and when the opportunity arose to speak about support for our local businesses with the members of my own Rotary Club and the Wilmslow Business Group, they all gave the thumbs up for such an event.

"Call it a morale booster for staff and a way of having some fun during work time, but if nothing else, to see a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and ingenuity in the town is certain to attract attention, raise awareness of what is available locally and give a boost to business.

"This is great example of Rotary and business working together and the entry fee of £20 per business, per scarecrow will be used for the benefit of needy causes in the local community.

According to Geoff, “A competition to find the ‘Best Scarecrow in Town’ has already set creative minds thinking and although we have not set an actual scarecrow theme for this first year, with over 50 businesses currently signed up, secrecy abounds”.

The winners of 1st, 2nd & 3rd places will be on display at the Wilmslow Show on the 11th July at the Rotary stand.

Additionally, there will be a ‘Scarecrow Hunt’ around the town throughout the week for the public, whereby finding clues to questions can earn great prizes for adults and children. Entry Forms will be available from participating outlets only – look for posters in their windows.

Steve Morris, manager of the Wilmslow branch of Sainsbury’s was the first to sign up and said, “ This simple, fun idea not only brings business and Rotary together but will hopefully drive up sales, increase awareness of smaller independent businesses in the town as well as raising money for local charities. Every Wilmslow business should sign up. It’s a Win, Win for all”.