The Hooky Scarecrow Trail, which launched last weekend July 17-19, includes a variety of scarecrows from a Star Wars one to a Little Mermaid and a Wonder Woman scarecrow. Becky Robertson, with the Hooky Neighbours group who organised the Hooky Scarecrow Trail 2020, said: "It was done to encourage elderly and vulnerable people out of their homes to start to socialise in a safe way and raise more awareness of Hooky Neighbours. Hooky Neighbours was a support group for anyone in the community, which was started about two years ago. It has loads of volunteers helping with shopping trips, hospital appointments, DIY, gardening etc. and was very busy prior to lockdown. They distributed Easter treats at Easter, my 15-year-old, Eloise, made over 100 VE-Day homemade afternoon tea boxes for the isolating in May. They distributed decorated plant pots in June. The village school has been involved in all the events. It has really come into it's own during lockdown in keeping morale boosted. Thank you to everyone that spent time making a scarecrow, and to those who spent time finding them all. All of us at Hooky Neighbours have been both humbled and overcome with the enthusiasm for the event. We have been amazed by the inventiveness and creativity, finding scarecrows high and low. We know that all ages, young and old, have been busy making their scarecrows and many reflect the households interests and humour. Although, this is the last event that Hooky Neighbours will be organising during lockdown, we will still be here, as we were before lockdown. We will be still shopping, providing lifts, picking up prescriptions, supporting our more vulnerable and replying to any request for help or support from all ages. We will also be revisiting our plan to run a shopping minibus to Banbury and Chipping Norton, when the time is right. Now is also a good time to also say 'Thank You' to all our volunteers. You have answered every call for help during lockdown, collecting prescriptions, delivering (shopping, pots and leaflets) and gardening. Every one of you have made a difference and helped keep our Hooky Neighbours safe. We hope that those that can, will continue to volunteer. Special thanks to Becky and Helen for all your help in organising events, Victoria and Joe for your paper deliveries and Bethan for all the prescription collections."
