Chelsea-on-Sea: herbaceous high teas down in Norfolk's 'secret gardens'...

For a taste of Chelsea close to home, part the shrubbery this summer and grab a glimpse of the many 'secret gardens' on offer in Norfolk's Open Gardens scheme...

SATURDAY 30th May
The Break Teddy Bears' Picnic. Bring a rug, a picnic and the family and join Geoffrey, the Break Bear and the Jayne May-Sysum Jazz Band. Tractor & Trailer Rides, Woodland Walks, Colouring Competition, Decorate Bear Cookies.
Location: Stody Estate 10-4pm £10 per car
Details: (01263) 822161

SUNDAY 31st May
Chestnut Farm 11-5pm
3 Acre plantsman's garden with colourful borders, shrubs and trees in an informal setting. Teas, coffees and light lunches. Plant sales. Admission £3, children free. Ample parking. Proceeds to St. Helen and All Saints Church, West Beckham.
Location: Chestnut Farm, West Beckham, Holt. Further information: (01263) 822241

Derwen and Sol. 11-5pm
Herbaceous borders, shrubs, fruit trees, ponds, gravel garden, vegetable plots, unusual plants and shrubs, lawned areas. 2 greenhouses, chickens. Gravel driveway, some narrow paths.
Location: Between B1146 & A1065. Whissonsett Road, Colkirk NR21 7NL. Alan & Maureen Piggott. 2m S of Fakenham. (Colkirk not signed from A1065), follow NGS signs. Homemade teas. Adm £4, children free.

The Mowle 1.30-5.30pm
Approx 21/2 acres running down to marshes. The garden includes several varieties of catalpa. Japanese garden and enlarged wildlife pond with bog garden. A special border for gunnera. Home-made teas.
Location: 5 W ofWroxham. B1062 Wroxham to Ludham 7m. Turn R by Ludham village church into Staithe Rd. Garden 1/4 m from village. Adm £3.50, chd free. Visitors also welcome by appt anytime, please call first. 01692 678213, ann@mowlegreen.fsnet.co.uk.

Oulton Hall 11-5pm
C18 manor house (not open) and clocktower set in 6-acre garden with lake and woodland walks. Chelsea designer’s own garden - herbaceous, Italian, bog, water, wild, verdant, sunken and parterre gardens all flowing from one tempting vista to another. Developed over 15yrs with emphasis on structure, height and texture, with a lot of recent replanting. Silver Gilt medal - RHS Award Chelsea Show. Home-made teas, in aid of Oulton PPC.
Location: Oulton, Aylsham NR11 6NU. Clare & Bolton Agnew. 4m W of Aylsham. From Aylsham take B1354. After 4m Turn L for Oulton Chapel, Hall 1/2 m on R. From B1149 (Norwich/Holt rd) take B1354, next R, Hall 1/2 m on R.
Adm £4, children free. Visitors also welcome by appt, by written application.

SUNDAY 7th June
11 Bank Road 11-4pm
Small 1/4 -acre landscaped garden with interesting features. Pond, shrubbery, island beds, rock garden, Mediterranean area, seating. Collection of favourite and unusual plants incl bearded iris, heucheras, hostas, ferns. 6-acre allotment site, reputedly one of the best kept in Norfolk, will be open for viewing, adjacent to the garden. Home-made teas in aid of Dersingham Day Centre for the elderly.
Location: Dersingham PE31 6HW. David & Ruth Mountain. 8m NE of King’s Lynn A149 N then B1440 into Dersingham. Bank Rd is 3rd L exit (by recreation ground).
Adm £4, children free.

Burgh in Bloom - Open Gardens 12-5.30pm
Eleven gardens open to the public. Admission £4, children under 12 free - in aid of St. Mary's Church. Ample free parking. Lunches and teas available. Produce and plant sales. Arts and crafts exhibition. Songs of Praise in the church at 6pm, accompanied by the Broadland Brass Band.
Location: Burgh-next-Aylsham NR11 6TP

Old Sun House & Sallowfield Cottage. 11-5pm
Plantsperson’s and artist’s garden, approx 11/3acres, borders, mature trees, river frontage, old roses, bog garden, fruit trees, wild flower meadow, new mini arboretum. Hens, shrubs, ferns, interesting out-buildings. Colour and interest at all times of yr. Gravel drive, lawn and woodchip paths. Home-made teas in aid of St John Ambulance, Wymondham branch.
Location: At T-lights on B1172 at edge of Wymondham turn to town centre. Immed turn L, follow main st, 50 metres past market cross, turn L into car park. From top of car park down Chandlers Hill turn R then L into Damgate. Adm £3, children free.


SUNDAY 14th June
Beck House 11-5pm
11/2 acres, packed borders of unusual perennials, shrubs and trees, large natural pond and paths through wild areas with lovely views across the river. S-facing front garden with drought-loving plants; sit and enjoy the tranquil views on the many seats provided. Featured in ‘Amateur Gardening’. Gravel drive, assistance given if needed.Bridge Road, Colby, nr Aylsham NR11 7EA.
Location: 14m N of Norwich. Take B1145 from N Walsham to Aylsham, after 31/2 m turn R into Bridge Rd opp Banningham Bridge Old Garage, next to school (Colby). Home-made teas. Adm £3, children free. Visitors also welcome by appt. Hazel &Tony Blackburn, 01263 733167 (evenings).

The Dutch House 2-5pm
Long, narrow garden of approx 21/2 acres leading through marsh and wood to Womack Water. Designed and planted originally by the painter Edward Seago and recently replanted by the present owner. Access to Womack Water limited due to steep bridge and uneven paths. Further re-planting in hand. Wheelchair access possible but difficult, terrace, cobbles and steps.
Location: Ludham NR29 5NS. 5m W of Wroxham. B1062 Wroxham to Ludham 7m. Turn R by Ludham village church into Staithe Rd. Garden 1/4 m from village. Home-made teas. Adm £3.50, children free. Mrs Peter Seymour, 01692 678225. Visitors also welcome by appt.

Great Barn Farm (Combined with Manor Farm) 12-5pm
Established farmhouse garden going through transitional phase. Long established herbaceous borders and kitchen garden. Fruit cage and small orchard area. Newly planted low maintenance bed for yr round interest. Established pond and patio. Children’s lawn. Woodland garden with den. Child friendly. Limited wheelchair access, some gravel paths. Moderately sloping garden.
Location: Gayton Thorpe PE32 1PN. 7m E of King’s Lynn. On B1145, R onto B1153, 1st L to Gayton Thorpe, continue through village towards B1145, last house on L. Homemade teas. Adm £4 (share to Gayton & Thorpe PCC).

Manor Farmhouse 2-6pm
Charming 4-acre garden surrounds an attractive farmhouse. Many interesting features. Formal quadrants with obelisks. ‘Hot Spot’ with grasses and gravel. Small arboretum with specimen trees, pleached lime walk, vegetable parterre and rose tunnel. Unusual ‘Taj’ garden with old-fashioned roses, tree peonies, lilies and pond. Small herd of Formosan Sika deer. Featured in local press.
Location: Wellingham PE32 2TH. 7m from Fakenham, 8m from Swaffham, 1/2 m off A1065 N of Weasenham. Garden is beside the church. Home-made teas. Teas in aid of The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House. Adm £3.50, chd free. Visitors also welcome by appt. Robin & Elisabeth Ellis, 01328 838227, www.manor-house farm.co.uk.

Summer Cottage 11-5pm
A ‘Tardis’ created from an old apple orchard in 2000, behind a pink cottage. 5 small gardens in
1/3 -acre linked by brick, grass and gravel paths, featuring wild flowers with pond and summerhouse. Formal English borders, intimate sundial retreat, model kitchen garden and walled area with bamboos. Possibly cricket match on High Common.
Location: High Common, Swardeston NR14 8DL. 4m S of Norwich. Take B1113 out of Norwich, turn R at Swardeston Village sign, down Short Lane, then L round bend on unmade rd to High Common. Park on edge of cricket pitch or by village hall. Home-made teas. Adm £3, children free. Richard & Deidre Cave.

Make clay whilst the sun shines...the Morphing of Chelsea

Visitors to Chelsea Flower Show might be in for a sticky surprise this year, courtesy of BBC Top Gear's James May...

His version of 'Paradise' - incorporating a veg patch, grapevine, palm trees, lawn, rockery, pond - complete with fish - and even a tasty picnic - is crafted from 2.5 tonnes of plasticine in 24 colours.

But hey, no man is an island - no matter how unique his utopia. To fashion his fakery, May pulled in a fistful of favours from his mates over at Aardman Animations - creators of the famous Wallace and Grommit, as well as a batallion of Chelsea pensioners (who made the poppies), a squad of schoolkids (who made the daffs) and cake superstar Jane Asher (official picnic-on-the-rug consultant).

This year, the RHS is keen to encourage newcomers, especially youngsters, to take up the spade, trowel and dibber. This certainly seems to have worked - erm - to some extent - in May's case: "(to date) my experience of gardening has been limited to digging holes," he said, "I do make sure the hosepipe is untangled."

Oh well, he did have a stab at making some Plasticine flowers and apples, bless him. "Coming at it from a science and engineering point of view, I found model making deeply engrossing," he says.

Hot Jazz & cool Broads? Deep South - head East!

For the ultimate escape from headlines, bottom lines and the latest outbreak of MP expenses (aka 'swine fever') head down to the Deep South...it's closer than you think.

This weekend, the Southern Comfort Mississippi paddle steamer plays host to 'The Festival All Stars' jazzmen - in one of the classiest closing events of the NN09 Festival.

Sailing from her summer moorings beside the Swan at Horning, she’ll glide along the river Bure to Ranworth Broad, passing some of Norfolk’s most beautiful old thatched houses, windmills and Norfolk reed beds on the way, not to mention a wealth of ever-amusing boat and bird life.

But what is a Mississippi ship doing on the Norfolk Broads anyway?

Well, firstly, both waterways share the common trait of being relatively shallow, making the shallow-hulled riverboat an ideal vessel design for the Broads. Secondly, the leisurely turning of the paddle at the stern of the vessel minimises the wake generated. This is a key environmental advantage, as excessive wash generated by river craft can quickly erode the soft peat of the river banks.

So now you know!

Tickets: £12, available here

Bright ideas - go green at Chapelfield Luminarium

For a surreal experience this month, head South to Chapelfield Gardens, surrender your shoes and be swallowed up by the multi-coloured karma of a giant Islamic 'bouncy cathedral'...

Architects of Air's Notts - made 'Levity III' luminarium is a gigantic, multi-chambered sculpture which people enter to become immersed in an experience of radiant light, colour and sound.

The structure features a series of winding passages, mood chambers, relaxation pods and small domes all inspired by the architectural forms found in Iranian bazaars.

The spectacular lighting effects to be found within the modular, zipped-together structure are created by the effects of natural daylight shining through the various coloured sections of plastic.

Take something for the kids to play with in the queue if you go at the weekend..! However, once you're ushered inside the airlock rest-assured, they will be satisfyingly wow-ed...

Opening times: 3pm-8pm Mon-Fri
11am-8pm Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday Monday

Admission: £4 adults, £3 under 16.

Newsflash - exclusive Private View

Phil and Clare are very pleased and proud to announce the arrival of Alice Edith Allen who joined the Gallery team just after eleven ten this morning.

The new staff member - weighing in at seven pounds three ounces - will be an exciting addition to the team. Both Mum and baby doing well.

Rural idyll? Snap quotes in N. Norfolk & win a Wii!

Budding photographers have another chance to shine this summer in a new competition from Norfolk's Rural Community Council.

A picture tells a thousand words, so the RCC are on the hunt for local photographers who can help them raise awareness of rural issues.

Each photo entered must encapsulate one of the following quotes (only one entry per quote allowed):

1. Affordable housing - desirable, comfortable, affordable?
2. Services, access - are you being served?
3. Rural isolation - idyllic or isolated?
4. Many people - one community
5. Healthy environment, healthy community
6. Live local, shop local

First prize will be a Nintendo Wii games console, with camera centre and gardening vouchers up for grabs for the runners-up.

For an entry form either email photocomp@norfolkrcc.org or check the website, www.norfolkrcc.org.uk for a downloadable version.

Closing date Friday 12th June, 2009