Ceredigion couple's creepy garden raises thousands for charity

A Ceredigion couple’s spooky Halloween displays have raised thousands of pounds for charity since Covid, and this year they are celebrating their most successful fundraiser to date.

Every year for the last six years, Steve Short and Rachael Taylor treat, rather than trick their neighbours, with incredible displays to celebrate Halloween and simultaneously raise money for good causes.

The incredible couple take time off work to create the devilish displays in their garden at 69 Stad Craig Ddu, Llanon, offering eerie sights, special effects, moving animatronics and plenty of surprises for visitors of all ages.

This year’s ‘ Halloween Spooktacular’ proved to be their most successful one yet.

Speaking to the ‘Cambrian News’, Steve said: “My partner Rachael Taylor and I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who visited our display over the Halloween weekend.

“It proved to be a fantastic event and our most successful fundraiser to date.”

Looking back to where it all began, Steve added: “What began six years ago as a modest setup to entertain local children on the estate during the Covid pandemic has grown significantly, raising approximately £6,000 for various charities over the years.

“This year, supported by great weather, new handmade props, animatronics, and extra promotion, we were thrilled to welcome huge crowds to the Stad Craig Ddu estate and raised £1,065 for Ysgol Llanon primary school.

“An event of this scale would not be possible without the incredible support of our local community. We would particularly like to extend our special thanks to interactive volunteers Nia Wyn Harries, Carys, Clare, Natalie, Natasha, and Tatiana from the school PTA, along with friends Donna Burrell and Em-Jay, who hid in boxes and crates to scare visitors.

“Also Joe Willcox from Light 'Em Up for loaning equipment to project a Halloween video backdrop across the houses, Lizzie Spikes of Driftwood Designs for providing undercover storage for props over the past year, Vivienne Toon for supplying a fantastic array of sweets in decorated bags, Tesco Aberystwyth for sponsoring the event with tubs of sweets, Dan and Rachel Lewis for letting us use their garden and for being so understanding about restricted access to their home.

“We would also like to thank Janice, our new next-door neighbour, for her patience and humour during her first Spooktacular experience next door, Frome Ghostbusters for bringing their Ghostbusters vehicle, Al for loaning his Halloween-decorated Fiat Abarth, Regina, Rachael's yoga teacher for the loan of spooky stage props, and the residents of Stad Craig Ddu for their patience with the increased traffic congestion over the weekend.

“It takes three full days of annual leave to set up the display, and we are now beginning the tear down process before planning starts for next year.

“We are hugely appreciative of everyone who contributed, supported, and donated to make this year such a success.”

This year’s Halloween Spooktacular ran from Friday 30 October until Sunday, 1 November.

Admission was free and the money was raised for charity through donations on the day and via an online fundraising page.