Straw Wars
Abbeyfield Living Society services were invited to enter an autumn competition by making scarecrows. There were different takes on the traditional garden mainstay from houses and homes around the country, with some choosing to make a celebrity doppelganger, whilst others went for a more conventional design.
The judges awarded first, second and third place, and there was one other notable mention.
First place – Westall House, Horsted Keynes
Westall House residents chose a truly inventive design based around the 'elderly crossing' road sign, with two scarecrows who made their way around the home. One of them even managed to have a go on the climbing frame in the outdoor play area – you can watch in the hilarious video on Facebook!
Second place – Abbeyfield House, Bramhall
Residents in Bramhall enjoyed depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II for their scarecrow. Here she is complete with patriotic bunting, a cup of tea and, of course, she wouldn't be the Queen without her corgis!
Third place – Abbeyfield House, New Malden
New Malden submitted two scarecrows, who they named Sam Straw and Hayley Harvest. Sam is described as "a fun-loving scarecrow who loves hay," and a mean old spider has taken up residence on Hayley! They both do a great job though protecting the sunflowers, and they look am-hay-zing!
Honourable mention – Abbeyfield Court, Southampton
While an outdoor scarecrow did not appear at Abbeyfield Court, residents had fun creating these excellent miniature indoor versions.
Read more news and stories
11/11/2025
Around the world in five days
Abbeyfield House, New Malden, celebrated a global Culture Week, exploring food and traditions from 11 nations, including Ukraine, Ghana, and Portugal, celebrating their diverse staff.
Read More
11/11/2025
Helping residents get online at Hope Bank View
Residents at Hope Bank View in Sunderland boosted their confidence using technology through a free, three-week digital skills course run by AbilityNet and sponsored by BT.
Read More
10/11/2025
60 seconds with Yvonne Wray
After nearly nine years, Carnarvon House Housekeeper, Yvonne, credits her job satisfaction to cooking for residents and providing care, stressing that empathy and a good sense of humour are vital for respecting the residents' home.
Read More