Yorkshire Vet’s Peter Wright judges himself as a scarecrow

Lastingham and Spaunton Open Gardens and Scarecrow trial took place on June 26 and over 250 visitors visited the ten gardens, which had been opened to the public.

A spokesperson for the event explained that the gardens, at Mikalgarth, received much praise as ten years ago the site was mostly a sheep field.

Peter Wright judged the scarecrow competition, where he came face-to-face with himself as a scarecrow, complete with one arm inside an inflatable cow.

After viewing over 20 creations, he judged the winner to be Catherine Lockwood who made a traditional scarecrow depicting ‘Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.’

The winning scarecrow by Catherine Lockwood, as judged by Peter Wright

Miniature gardens were also on display in Lastingham’s historic church.   

Tea and cakes were served throughout the day in the village hall, while stalls sold plants and local honey on the village green. 

The day ended with a ‘gin singalong’, as visitors were invited to join North York Moors Tuneless Choir in their first public performance.

A spokesperson for the event said the choir, for those who ‘sing like no one is listening’, performed songs related to flowers and gardens.

They then shared some favourites from their first four months, including Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ which earned the group a mention on BBC Radio 2.

The event raised over £2,400 which will be split between Darley Memorial Hall, the village hall serving Lastingham and Spaunton, and the Lastingham Parish Meeting. 

This will help maintain the hall and improve the environment in the wider conservation village.

Maggie and Brian Miller opened their wonderful Beckside garden

One of the event’s organisers, Brian Miller, said: “This has been a truly fabulous event with so, so much time, effort and goodwill given by so many people from our small communities to what was a tiring yet inspirational day.

“I don't think that anyone who came to our event could have gone home disappointed with their days experience with so many making wonderful compliments about the event and Lastingham and Spaunton villages.

"I have no doubt that plans will soon be afoot to repeat the event in the future.”

A spokesperson for the event said: “The Village Hall Committee and Parish Meeting would like to thank all those who attended.  

“Their next fundraising event will be a sale of more delicious cakes and tea, in the Lastingham and Spaunton Village Hall between 10am and 4pm on Sunday August 28”.