The Guernsey Cheshire Home unveiled its entry for the 2025 Torteval Scarecrow Festival earlier today at Cobo Beach, and this year, it’s much more than just a scarecrow.

This imaginative creation pays tribute to the extraordinary support the Home receives from Skipton International and the wider Guernsey community, especially through its much-loved annual Skipton Boxing Day Dip fundraiser. The entry celebrates not just the event itself, but the generosity of spirit that helps keep the Cheshire Home running for islanders living with serious physical disabilities.

The idea for this year’s scarecrow was dreamed up by staff member Jimmy Ozanne and lovingly brought to life through the combined efforts of residents, staff and students from Mrs Morris’s Year 6 Melrose class. The students took part in a series of creative workshops with residents, making this scarecrow tableau a true community collaboration.

This year marks 25 years of the Boxing Day Dip, and this special scarecrow is the perfect way to start the countdown to this year’s Skipton Boxing Day Dip.

“This entry is a celebration of everything the Guernsey Cheshire Home stands for, including teamwork, resilience and the incredible generosity of our community,” said Mary Ellen Carter, Home Manager. “From the creativity of our team to the energy and kindness of the Melrose students, and the ongoing support from Skipton, this project is a beautiful reflection of the partnerships that sustain us.”

Charlotte Dunsterville, Chief Commercial Officer at Skipton International, added: “We are incredibly proud to support the Guernsey Cheshire Home and to see the impact of the Skipton Boxing Day Dip reflected in such a creative and meaningful way. The scarecrow entry highlights not only the importance of community collaboration, but the strength and warmth that makes Guernsey so special. As we get ready to mark 25 years of the Dip, it’s wonderful to see the tradition continuing to inspire and unite people across generations.”

The Home warmly invites everyone to visit the Torteval Scarecrow Festival on the weekend of 19 and 20 July to see the entry for themselves.