It's like a jungle out there! (From Free Press Series)

It's like a jungle out there!

A SMALL Wye Valley village was transformed into a scene from the Jungle Book last week.

In recent years it has become a tradition for a variety of 'scarecrows' to appear in residents' gardens on The Narth, just before the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The themes have included royalty and sheep, but this year it was wild animals, turning The Narth into a safari park.

On parade were a selection of giraffes, elephants, lions, snakes, crocodiles and a host of other varieties of all shapes and sizes including the Beast of Trellech looming over hedges or sat at the roadside.

This year the venue was the village hall and the adjacent woodland following the recent closure of the Trekkers pub.

Richard Gable and his colleagues from the Forest Enterprise team created a clearing in the woods so that the event could be staged on Bank Holiday Monday. People gathered from far and wide to look at the animals on display and to have a go at the various games and side shows.

The award for the best animal display was won by the Boycott family of Maryland. A special feature this year was a performance by the Rose of Kiora marching band from Stockton on Tees, which had been appearing at the World Marching Jazz Band Championships in Abergavenny.

Other attractions include a circus workshop and a children's tea party. The fun continued into the evening with live music in the hall.

Organisers hope the event will have raised £1000 that will be put towards the upkeep and maintenance of the village hall.

Current improvements planned for the building include refurbishment of the kitchen, new stage lighting, and the installation of cinema equipment, making the hall one of the best equipped in the area.