A PARISH has been spreading happiness by setting up a scarecrow trail dedicated to key workers – and pop culture figures.

Boris Johnson, Captain Tom, nurses, and Elsa from Frozen are part of the line-up for the scarecrow trail in the Irthington area.

It started as a daily challenge between a group of friends to keep them entertained during the lockdown that has seen them do Tik Tok dances and exercise challenges.

Heidi Wright, the resident who came up with the idea, said: “We have a really good community spirit in this area, we’re really fortunate we do a lot of social events.

“We have a small group of ladies, in particular, we’re known as a walking group but we have used this WhatsApp group to say ‘oh should we do this, should we do an Easter bonnet’.

“We have done this since Covid-19 has put us on lockdown. I just put my hand up and said I’ve got an idea up my sleeve.”

Heidi put together a poster that set out what the plan was but she was unsure whether anyone other than her group would join in.

In the end, more than 30 people from across the parish got involved and displayed their own tributes to key workers in their gardens.

It was to let passing key workers know that the parish was thinking of them.

Emma Chalmers, from Irthington, said: “The scarecrow trail has been really good, a nice focus when walking through the parish villages.

“It’s been great to see the community come together, which is no surprise.”

Emma Davidson, from Laversdale, added : “At T Davidson Racing we kept the horse theme with a heartfelt thank you to our NHS and great key workers.

“It was a delight to see the local community pull together with lots of fine scarecrows on show.”

It has brought the entire community together and has encouraged people to get creative in isolation.

Residents have been thinking out of the box to celebrate key workers and other community heroes.

The scarecrows have all been created using things that are lying around people's houses and sheds.

Rachel Smithson, from Irthington, said: “The scarecrow trail has been a brilliant idea. It's so nice for the children to have a little adventure and search for all the different ones as they go on their daily walks.

“Our three boys decided between them to make a ‘builder’ scarecrow as we had the materials we needed and they love diggers.”

Dorothy Short, of Laversdale, added: “The scarecrow trail has been brilliant, a great way to cheer people up whilst out on their daily exercise.

“Our daughter was in the navy, so we decided on Popeye the sailor man – something different.”

Even though people’s gates are shut, Heidi still wanted people to be able to connect with each other during social isolation.

Building a scarecrow was something a little different that would bring the family together.

Heidi said: “I thought that would be a nice pastime for people to just get their thinking caps on and just share around the table.”

Bev Bell, from Newtown, remarked: “We thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the parish scarecrow trail. It gave us all a collective focus during these strange times”

This isn’t the first time that the parish has done something that brings the entire community together.

Residents often have events on the village green such as barbecues that gets everyone involved and together.

“We do countryside games where people get teams and different villages in our parish come together and do sporty things,” said Heidi.

But nor are residents strangers to a scarecrow trail, particularly in recognition of a good cause.

Heidi said: “We have done it before in our village twice in the last ten years that I have lived here – quite sporadically and associated with fundraising for the school.

“It’s always worked really well.”

Ashley Vass, from Laversdale said: “The scarecrow trail has been a fantastic distraction from the current situation brought about by a great community.

“My girls loved helping create Elsa, their favourite Disney character.”

The scarecrow trail has been a great way of bringing the entire parish together during the pandemic.

Heidi said: “It’s just been really good fun, it gives us a lot of memories for 2020 because it is going to be a different year – we might not have the beach pictures.”