Scarecrow Competition Display

Doddington Hall & Gardens is bringing back its annual scarecrow competition this October half term, with the display running from 24 October to 1 November. The entries are all on the Gatehouse Lawn, and it's free to view, so you can just wander through and take your time with them.

The competition is a local affair: schools and community groups from around the area build their scarecrows, and this year they're all inspired by famous film characters. There's a sustainable angle to it too, as they're made from recycled materials, so it's as much about what they've managed to scavenge as it is about who they're trying to recreate. If you've got a favourite movie, it's worth keeping an eye out to see if someone's taken a crack at it.

It's easy to make a proper day of it, though. The scarecrows are just one part of what's on across the estate during the half term: there's pumpkin picking, autumn walks, and seasonal food and drink. If you're coming with kids, the pumpkin picking and the walks are the obvious additions; if you're on your own or with friends, the food and drink side of things works just as well. You can spend an hour or a whole afternoon, depending on how much you want to see.

And there's more to the place than the competition. Doddington Hall itself is a fine Elizabethan manor house just outside Lincoln, with Flemish tapestries inside and walled gardens on the grounds. If you've never been, it's a good excuse to get out there and see it. The display is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and it's free to view.