Pitlochry Yarn Bombers, a secret group that brings knitted joy to the Perthshire town, has left its distinctive mark on a local care home.

Residents of Balhousie Pitlochry care home woke up to some colourful Autumnal decorations this week, from knitted pumpkins and leaves to a cute hedgehog, on and around its planters.

The care home, which prides itself on its community activity, has been a favourite stop-off as part of Pitlochry’s Tattie Bogle Festival this year, which saw local children spotting scarecrows around the town during the ‘tattie’ holidays.

Keen to be part of the excitement, Shona Hutchcox, Office Administrator at Balhousie Pitlochry, created a scarecrow called Stan Balhousie which was the last stop-off on the trail. The care home, located on Burnside Road beside the Community Hospital, placed Stan on a hoist in the garden.

Judith Dingwall of Tattie Bogle Festival organisers Pitlochry and Moulin Support Group said the event was inspired by the COP26 climate conference. “Scarecrows were never made out of new things and therefore businesses and locals could reuse packaging and products to make a fun figure,” she said.

Balhousie Pitlochry Activities Coordinator Eilidh Thomson said: “Stan Balhousie has been a great hit with staff, residents, visitors, delivery folks and even people on the buses point and smile at him as they go by!”

Now that Stan has been joined by a colourful array of knitted items, the home is embracing the Autumn season. Said Shona: “We love the added colour the yarn bombers have given us and it fits in so well with Stan the scarecrow.”