JAN Rowe has a soft spot for scarecrows.
The Mandurah Community Gardens committee member has been around the straw statues since she was a little girl, and now she has brought them to life in Mandurah.
“I come from Balingup and of course that’s scarecrow capital,” Ms Rowe said.
“They add a bit of spice and humour to the gardens and they’re fun to make.
“Myself and [fellow committee member] Jenny Bovin came up with the idea of having a scarecrow competition.
“We have the Coodanup Community College principal doing the judging and there will be a gift voucher prize for the winner.”
The best scarecrow competition will be held at the Mandurah Community Gardens at 10am on Friday, with the winner to be picked by Coodanup Community College students and principal, Vicki McKeown.
Ms Rowe said the seven scarecrows were made by different Mandurah Community Gardens members, including local community groups Foodbank, Midway and Mandurah Community Care.
The scarecrows are a way to encourage garden plot holders to be involved in a creative activity and are made from recycled products.
Ms Rowe said she hoped the competition would raise awareness of the gardens, which has been running for two-and-a-half years and has more than 50 members.
She said if the scarecrows were a hit the group would look to host scarecrow-making workshops over summer.
The Mandurah Community Gardens is open Fridays and Sundays from 10am.
For more information go to mandurahcommunitygardens.com.au
