Essex schoolchildren created a colourful array of unusual scarecrows to mark the 10th anniversary of a fun annual event aimed at helping them to understand the link between farming and the food they eat.

East Anglian Daily Times: Essex Agricultural Society hosted its10th Essex Schools Food and Farming Day at Writtle University College on Wednesday, June 7.Essex Agricultural Society hosted its10th Essex Schools Food and Farming Day at Writtle University College on Wednesday, June 7. (Image: PAUL STARR Photographer)

Nearly 3,000 primary pupils and 64 scarecrows basked in the sunshine at the Essex Schools Food and Farming Day, which took place on Wednesday, June 7, despite a wet and windy build-up to the day.

The highly successful event is organised by Essex Agricultural Society event, hosted at Writtle University College near Chelmsford, and supported by Essex County Council.

Farmers stewarded the schoolchildren as they got to see how farm machinery works, got up close to livestock and examined crops through interactive displays. Organiser Rosemary Padfield described the scarecrows as “amazing”, adding that the team had got “very wet” setting up.

East Anglian Daily Times: Essex Agricultural Society hosted its10th Essex Schools Food and Farming Day at Writtle University College on Wednesday, June 7.Essex Agricultural Society hosted its10th Essex Schools Food and Farming Day at Writtle University College on Wednesday, June 7. (Image: PAUL STARR Photographer)

East Anglian Daily Times: Lord Lieutenant of Essex Lord Petre and Simon Dixon-Smith from Essex NFU Trust judging the scarecrows. Picture: PAUL STARRLord Lieutenant of Essex Lord Petre and Simon Dixon-Smith from Essex NFU Trust judging the scarecrows. Picture: PAUL STARR (Image: PAUL STARR Photographer)

East Anglian Daily Times: Scarecrows at Essex Schools Food and Farming Day. Picture: PAUL STARRScarecrows at Essex Schools Food and Farming Day. Picture: PAUL STARR (Image: PAUL STARR Photographer)