Rhiwbina’s new Scarecrow Walk 2020

Rhiwbina Scarecrow Walk will help bring the community together

Rhiwbina may have missed its annual Summer Festival this year but a local trader is determined not to let the community spirit succumb to the coronavirus pandemic.

Local business Word of Mouth Maintenance has launched a Scarecrow Walk instead to bring the community together and help support local businesses.

Word of Mouth Maintenance owner Adrian McGrath told Rhiwbina Living:

“The annual Summer Festival is a huge community gathering with lots of local businesses and residents coming together to share happy and fun times. We were keen not to lose that occasion, just because we can’t celebrate in the usual way. Here at Word of Mouth Maintenance, we wanted to do something that brought people together and involved both residents and businesses.”

Adrian usually carries out work for Rhiwbina residents or businesses, and as a gesture of appreciation to the community, he donates money to the Rhiwbina Summer and Christmas Festivals.

“We could see that many people were out taking daily walks as part of their lockdown exercise plan so we thought that a fun and happy sighting, while out on a walk, would be a good idea – hence the Scarecrow Walk was pitched to the Rhiwbina Events Team and they agreed to run it. Word of Mouth Maintenance would provide the prize money and Worzel Marmaduke Oscar McGrath was created the following weekend – he is now the brand ambassador!” said Adrian.

The Scarecrow Walk was officially launched on 8^th July and will come to its exciting conclusion in early August. Rhiwbina residents (including Pantmawr and Pantbach) are encouraged to participate by placing a homemade scarecrow in their front garden and registering this via the Rhiwbina Festival Team Facebook page.

Once all the scarecrows are in position on 3rd August, a list and a map will be published for residents to walk round the locations and decide on their favourite scarecrow. Each person can vote once, either using a box at WOMM headquarters at 8 Heol Llanishen Fach, or via the Rhiwbina Festival Facebook page. The creators of the three most popular scarecrows will each receive a £50 scarecrow voucher to spend with any of the Rhiwbina businesses. Adrian’s total donations towards the community events already stands at over £1,500.

“The thinking behind the scarecrow walk is that it supports all the hashtag messages – #rhiwbina #shoplocal #community #festivalalternative,” added Adrian.