Rabberta

This autumn saw the third, annual Pitsmoor Scarecrow Trail, a playfully competitive event which I always enjoy. As you’d imagine, I was flattered when approached by Clare, one of the volunteer gardeners at Abbeyfield Park, when she asked me if I could make a ‘working scarecrow’ to protect their newly planted wildflower seedlings.

Off I hopped with every intention of making a traditional scarecrow from 100% organic, decomposable materials. Alas, once the creative juices started flowing everything took a wildly different approach and there was to be no stopping until Rabberta was born!

Inspired by a rabbit mask tutorial my friend, Saleema had shown me, I set about making a rabbit’s head in my own way.

First, I took a cardboard box and bashed the corners in, then made quick incisions with my Stanley knife which I fixed in place with gaffer tape. Martin had stashed a bundle of flat, white polystyrene packaging which I’d been itching to use and before I knew it, I’d made a pair of ears which I lined with pink and purple mesh. The nose next, I grabbed a small block of foam I sculptured with my knife and hot glue-gunned it into place. This was adrenalin fuelled crafting! I was in the moment, like a maestro, trying out various black computer cables and wires of different thickness and flexibility, rejecting/accepting what makes the best mouth, the best expression. finding the right size zip tie cuttings for eyebrows, illuminating ping-pong balls for eyeballs and so it went on. I had some glossy, white A3 paper at hand, which made a surprisingly good paper mache and didn’t need painting (bonus!) I poked half a dozen chunky, white pipe cleaners into her cheeks for whiskers (courtesy of Scrap Dragon, my local scrap store) and her head was done!

Her dress was fashioned from fabrics donated by Sue La La, Sheffield based circus performer and costume maker. Quality remnants, but still she needed more body. I searched around for anything I could use to give her a bit of volume and before I knew it, I’d crunched up a dilapidated willow lantern, stuffed it in a Royal Mail sack and tied it up and tied it to the branch-post.

I take inspiration and resources from my immediate surroundings!

Over the next couple of days, I thought about how to light her eyes. I made different contraptions but realised it wasn’t practical to turn the lights on and off if she’s halfway up a tree, so I sacked the idea. I was happy, she looked very happy and when I took her to meet the gardeners, they looked impressed (or perhaps shocked!)

With the scarecrow trail approaching, we hoisted her up and secured her to the tree overlooking the wildflower bed. Do your stuff, Rabberta! Protect those seedlings!

The Saturday before the scarecrow trail was to start was another highlight of my year, Parkwood Springs Lantern Procession and Clare asked if Rabberta would be going. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “Of course she’ll be going!” I exclaimed.

The night before the procession I’m shopping in Tesco for a bite to eat and there on the aisle staring back at me are a pair of torches: I try them, they’re bright and at £3 each they fall easily into my shopping basket. Next morning I’ve a menagerie of lanterns to have ready for the van arriving to take them to the site – Just enough time to operate! Out come the old eyes; gaffer ping-pong balls to torches and cover them with scraps of magenta gobo, then finish off with blue, cake candle holders for pupils and off she goes!

After a well deserved rest on the Sunday, she was hoisted up ready for the scarecrow trail.

The scarecrow trail lasts a week and last week was a wet one with some heavy rain. Rabbetra stood up to the elements and the wildflowers continued to grow.

She didn’t win the competition: that honour went to a marvellous dove scarecrow made by a kid’s group at Christ Church, Pitsmoor.

There’s always next time!