Siblings Susan and John arrive at Scatterbrook Farm, home of the Braithwaites, to little fanfare. It's been a poor harvest and their hosts aren't thrilled to have two amateur farmhands around the place during such lean times. No-one on Scatterbrook Farm is more troubled by the late harvest than walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge. Worzel is strictly forbidden from talking to humans, but after mistaking John and Susan for fellow scarecrows, his game is up. Worzel realises he will only save the day by going against some of his better instincts. He draws on the youthful exuberance of John and Susan, seeks the wisdom of his long-estranged Aunt Sally, and negotiates a testy deal with the frightful rooks and crows of Scatterbrook. With the help of the mystical Tree of Tree and his pet robin, Winter George, Worzel orchestrates a gathering of his fellow scarecrows on the night of the next harvest moon.

The Green Man, who creates scarecrows and is the keeper of scarecrow lore, arrives at the farm - and is not at all happy that Worzel is consorting with humans. Meanwhile, Susan and George go to visit Lady Bloomsbury Barton, who is holding a fete with a scarecrow competition that Worzel is determined to win. What will his most competitive rival, Soggy Bogart, make of it all?