Published in Issue 19, October 2012
Written By Millie-Mae and Tracey Kifford
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run so we’d both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
From The Hunger Games
When you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a BIG surprise! We’ve gone all Spooky this month – yet practical too – and have made some hangman bird feeders, ready for the wintering birds packed full of nuts, seed and fat. Warning – this is a very messy project!
You will need:
Large Saucepan
Some old baking trays
Greaseproof paper
Wooden spoon
Large gingerbread man cutter
Red food colouring
Wire sandwich bag ties (for ‘skeleton’)
‘Rope’ (we used paracord)
Scissors
Lard (we used 500g beef dripping)
Bird seed (big bowl full)
Method:
1. With adult supervision, place the block of lard into a large saucepan, and over a low heat allow it to melt entirely
2. Once melted, take off the heat and carefully pour the bird seed into the liquid. Mix well.
3. Keep adding the seed until it gets quite thick. Then leave to cool for a good 30-45 minutes.
4. When the fat starts to set (turn white), place the gingerbread cutter on a piece of greaseproof paper and fill with the bird mixture. Pack it down well.
5. Take the wire bag ties and make a ‘spine’ for the hangman (this will add strength); we also added a loop to attach to the noose later!
6. Carefully remove the cutter and then place in a fridge while you make the noose!
7. To tie a noose, or more accurately ‘the hangman’s knot’ – we have to say we cheated and found a guide on Google. It’s frighteningly simple to do. Millie-Mae had a go at making one, but it wasn’t something we want her remember, so we made most of them ourselves, following this simple image:
8. Once made, put the rope over the head of the bird man, take a small brush and add some ‘blood’ in the form of red food colouring.
9. You’ve finished! Hang outside on the trees – very effective in a row of several during twilight!
Millie-Mae (aged 6) and Toby (aged 3) are the children of Tracey Kifford, owner of the marketplace WowThankYou
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