Do you live in Lazenby? Want to join the village activites in this year's Scarecrow Festival?

THE picturesque village of Lazenby is taking part in the East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival for the first time in the event’s four-year history.

Residents of the village are being encouraged to band together and join in with the festivities, creating scarecrows to display in their front gardens for all to see.

Elizabeth Robinson, who is organising Lazenby’s entries in this year’s festival, said: “We are really excited to be joining in with this year’s Scarecrow Festival.

“We’ve already been down to the school to give a demonstration on making scarecrows. The children were really keen and have made some wonderful scarecrows already.”

“We’re hoping to get everyone in the village involved; we want to see as many scarecrows as possible.”

The festival began in August 2015 in the village of Liverton and over the past four years it has encompassed more and more local areas. This year it will launch in its birthplace of Liverton on Saturday 3 August, with subsequent events in Dunsdale, Guisborough, Carlin How, Lazenby, Saltburn, Loftus, Easington and New Marske, before finishing up in Stanghow on 1 September.

Deputy Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Karen King, said: “The East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival is a fun way to bring communities together and I’m delighted that the people of Lazenby will be joining in this year.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the marvellous creations they’ve got in store for us.”

Each area will craft their scarecrows around a different theme. Being a newcomer, Lazenby has opted for an ‘Anything Goes’ theme, whilst Liverton’s theme this year is ‘Calling All Wizards’. Other themes include ‘Disney’, ‘Circus’ and ‘Children’s Nursery Rhymes, Fairy Stories and Films’.

Local community champion and creator of the East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival, Denise Nesbitt, said: “We are going from strength to strength. More people are joining in getting involved in the festival. It’s just a great month!”

To find out more about taking part in the East Cleveland Scarecrow Festival, visit: https://www.eastclevelandscarecrows.co.uk/

If you’re a resident of Lazenby who would like to know more about joining in with the festival, contact Liz Robinson by emailing fred.lizrobinson@gmail.com or calling 01642 454123.