YOUNGSTERS are busy preparing for Slingsby’s annual Scarecrow and May Day festival.

The village will be transformed with handmade scarecrows from noon on Saturday, April 29 until Monday, May 1.

Entries will be displayed around the village and scarecrow trails will be available to buy for £2 from the pop up cafe in the Methodist Chapel, Robin Hood Caravan Park or the village shop.

The cafe will be serving refreshments and homemade cake and savouries, and will run alongside a stall selling pre-loved children’s items.

The annual scarecrow festival raises funds for the Friends of Slingsby School (FOSS).

The festival will run alongside a host of other events on May Day, including May Pole dancing on the village green.

Activities will run from 11am to 3pm, and will also include music from Swinton and Malton School Jazz Bands, and dancing from the Minster Strays. There will also be craft stalls, children’s games and activities and a car boot sale on the sportsfield from 7am.

Samantha Burnett, a member of FOSS, said: “Slingsby Scarecrow Festival provides excellent entertainment for all ages, and coupled with the May Day

festivities, is heart-warming traditional fare.

“Each year the scarecrow entries and standard of creativity increase, providing any one attending the trail with delight and wonder.”