A real life Worzel Gummidge: Graduate lands job as human scarecrow

The job market is undoubtedly tough, even tougher if the job you're after involves sitting down all day, reading a book and occasionally playing an accordion.

A 22-year-old music graduate has, however, been recruited for just such a job after landing employment as a human scarecrow at a farm in Norfolk.

Jamie Fox, who recently graduated with a degree in music and English from the University of Bangor, is employed to scare away partridges from an oilseed rape field in Aylsham.

Wearing a bright orange coat, and using an accordion and a cowbell to keep the partridges away, Mr Fox earns around £250 a week scaring partridges from the 10-acre (four-hectare) field.

This real life Worzel Gummidge spends his days sitting, reading and strumming his ukulele.

An ideal job?

Maybe, but Mr Fox has to sit in the field come rain or shine, during his fortnight long stint in the field.

Mr Fox, who is saving money for a trip to New Zealand, said he enjoys being out in the fresh air and, while some friends are bemused by his new job, others are envious.

He said: “I get to sit and read for a lot of the time, but whenever the partridges appear I have to get up and scare them off.

“I ring a cowbell and I've even played the accordion, but the ukulele doesn't seem to have any effect on them.”

However, perhaps doubting the long term career prospects of a human scarecrow, Mr Fox is using the time to plan his next move.

“I don't want to be a scarecrow forever but it is giving me time to decide what I will do with my future,” he said.

Farmer William Youngs employed Mr Fox because conventional birdscarers had not worked.

He said: “We have tried bangers to scare them off but the partridges always return.

“Jamie's doing a good job. You can really see the difference.”