A CREATIVE project that brought a small hamlet together has raised £500 for a hospital charity.
People in Holwick followed up on a scarecrow trail they started during the coronavirus lockdown last year in aid of the NHS with another last month for the Friends of Richardson hospital (FORH).
So successful were the two events that organiser Jennie Lee wants to make it an annual event.
This year’s theme of superheroes attracted 17 entries, with effigies of Robin Hood, Captain Sir Tom Moore and Spiderman being picked as the three winners.
Ms Lee said: “We have got three new helpers for next year’s trail and we are going to set up a PayPal page on Facebook for people to donate.”
Donations were taken through a collection pot at the Lee home, as well as the newsagents in Middleton-in-Teesdale. Prizes for those who took part in the trail were provided by HR Fitness, Eggleston Hall Gardens, Farm-
house Kitchen and the Beauty Therapy Clinic.
The Lee family also enjoyed taking part in the scarecrow trail by building their own effigy of Spiderman.
Son Jake said: “We worked a whole day and ours was stuffed with straw. It was fun making the scarecrow but even more fun doing the trail – the other scarecrows were brilliant.”
Pauline Harrison, from FORH, was impressed with the amount raised.
She said: “That for a hamlet is absolutely fantastic. It is wonderful how it brought the community together in a creative way while also helping a charity.”
Ms Lee said the Richardson Hospital plays a important role in the dale and people were not fully aware of the many vital services it offers.
She thanked her friend Jane Ayre for helping to organise the event.
