Last weekend, I cycled around the Channel Island of Sark and noticed several scarecrows dressed as royals. These scarecrows were part of Scarecrow Week, which ran from June 1-8, and had a regal theme to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

At La Seigneurie Gardens, we found a King Midas scarecrow, surrounded by shells and holding a trident with seaweed. Near the house, I saw a scarecrow that might represent Dame Sibyl Hathaway, enjoying a cup of tea. Dame Sibyl was the Dame of Sark during the German occupation in World War II and is the grandmother of the current seigneur, Michael Beaumont.

At the Methodist church, the scarecrow fittingly depicted the King of Kings, while the Visitor’s Centre featured a King Henry VIII scarecrow. Along the road, a Grenadier Guard scarecrow stood at attention at a farm lane entrance.

Each year, the scarecrow competition has a different theme, and quiz sheets are available at the Visitor’s Centre. The proceeds from these sheets go to Sark’s medical charity, the Professor Saint Medical Trust.

We traveled to Sark from Guernsey with the Sark Shipping Company, which offers four sailings a day. The ferry ride takes about 45 minutes. Since there are no cars on Sark, you can explore the island by walking, cycling, or hiring a horse-drawn carriage. We rented our bikes from Avenue Cycles, located at the end of the Avenue in the main village area.

Sark offers a variety of accommodations, including hotels, cottages, guest houses, and campsites. Although we didn’t stay overnight, we enjoyed a delicious locally caught lobster lunch at La Sablonnerie Hotel on Little Sark. The hotel also has a lovely tea garden and cottages available for rent.