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

Make-Your-Own-Marathon North Norfolk Style

Well done to all those clients, artists and friends who took part in last weekend's Flora London Marathon, especially Emma Dale, Head of Music at Beeston Hall School, who ran the road race for the first time this year, and completed the course in an amazing 4 hours 44 minutes.

For those who are less keen on crowds or who like their roadside scenery a little more 'scenic' and a lot more local, there is now a very handy tool to 'make your own marathon' route back home.

Norfolk runners (or walkers) can register a User ID at www.buzz.com to gain access to a wealth of pre-defined routes at various distances - complete with maps and way markers. For those with GPS systems, these routes can be downloaded at the click of a button. Users of this system can also plot and publish personal favourite routes, in order to share their own particular tours of the great outdoors with others...

Chocaholic heritage-loving sleuths, read on ...

This Easter weekend offers a rich bounty for North Norfolk's chocaholic heritage lovers, with a myriad calorific treasure hunts on offer...

Easter Eggspress - Join everybody at the Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge steam railway for some Easter Fun. Free Easter Egg for every child when accompanied by a full fare-paying adult. Friday 10 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09. Station open from 0930 and trains service start from 10:05. Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham Norfolk NR11 6BW

www.bvrw.co.uk

EASTER TRAIL - Follow the clues around the grounds of Felbrigg Hall and claim your Easter egg prize. Friday 10 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09 - 11am - 4pm. Child £2. National Trust. Tel:Beverley Cook, 01582 500920 Felbrigg Hall, Garden & Park Norfolk NR11 8PR

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&propertyid=52

Easter Egg Trail - Fun self-guided Easter Trail through Sheringham Park, Friday 10 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09 - 10.30am - 4pm. Child £1.50 Includes Prize. National Trust. Tel:Visitor Centre, 01263 820550 Sheringham Park Visitor Centre Wood Farm Upper Sheringham Norfolk NR26 8TL

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&propertyid=55

Fairhaven Garden Easter Treasure Hunt - Join the Easter Treasure Hunt at Fairhaven and search the garden for the biggest Easter Egg – free egg for evry child. Admission charges: adult £5, senior citizen £4.50 and child £2.50, under fives free; dogs welcome on leads (25p charge for pooper scooper). Tel 01603 270449/270683. Friday 10 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09 - 10am to 5pm every day. Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, School Road, South Walsham Norfolk NR13 6DZ

http//:www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

Easter Trail - Complete the Easter Animal trail at Oxburgh Hall and receive a chocolate prize. Egg rolling and special children’s menu in the tearoom. Saturday 11 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09 - 11am - 4pm. Child £1.50 Trail fee per child. National Trust. Tel:Kay Donachie, 01366 328258, Oxburgh Hall, Garden & Estate Norfolk PE33 9PS

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&propertyid=54

EGG HUNT Easter Sunday - Join the fun on Easter Sunday in the EGG HUNT at The Animal Ark. Enjoy exploring the park while you look for Gold and Silver vouchers. Each voucher wins a child’s chocolate Easter Egg. Egg hunt open to children 3 - 14yrs. FREE bag of mini eggs on arrival! Lots of fun with Keeper talks, Prize competitions and puzzles. Adult £6.50, Child £5.50, Conc £5.50 Sunday 12 Apr 09 - Open 28th March 2009 from 10am to 5pm (last entry at 4pm) The Animal Ark, Fakenham Road, Gt Witchingham, Norwich Norfolk NR9 5QS

www.theanimalark.org

Easter Trail - Bring the family and enjoy a children’s Easter Trail around the Blickling Gardens. Includes chocolate gift. Sunday 12 Apr 09 to Monday 13 Apr 09 - 11am - 4pm. Child £1.50 plus garden entry. Tel: 01223 810080 Blickling Hall, Gardens & Park, Blickling, Norfolk NR11 6NF

Calling all Norfolk Artists and Makers...

Only two weeks remain to get your submissions in for the Fakenham Contemporary Art exhibition 2009.

Entries are invited to the categories of: ceramics; collage; drawing; installation; painting; photography; printmaking; sculpture; textiles.

Entrants must be resident in Norfolk, and all submissions (maximum of four per artist) must be original work, completed within the last two years.

For further details and an exhibitor's application form click here.

Above work 'Jet Sky' featured courtesy of Hatfield Hines' own multi-talented Charles Phillips

Pipe Dreams - Hirst follows Beatle down the tunnel

Kiev's Pinchuk Art Centre, brainchild of Ukrainian metal pipe billionaire Viktor Pinchuk, is poised to stage Requiem a major retrospective of the work of Damien Hirst from April 25th onwards.

The exhibition will showcase a hundred of the artist's most iconic works, including 'A Thousand Years', 'Away from the Flock' and 'Death Explained' a sculpture of a bisected shark, preserved in formaldehyde. It will also premiere a series of skull paintings done by Hirst between 2006 and 2008.

Unlike fellow oligarchs who plough their funds into football squads, Pinchuk - at $2.5bn rated the world's 246th richest man by the latest Forbes poll, is a vulture for culture and already boasts iconic works by Brit Hirst and American Jeff Koons in his personal art collection.

Crisis-hit Ukraine, where industrial production is plummeting by over 30% each month, may seem an unlikely venue for such an exhibition - the latest cultural extravaganza since Pinchuk jetted ex-Beatle Macca to Kiev for a major concert last June.

However, in a public statement, the gallery insisted Kiev was the perfect location "In hosting a major retrospective of one of the most important artists working today, the Pinchuk Art Centre is testament to Ukraine's ongoing cultural development."

To view further details of this exhibition click here.

Bottoms up on the Broads this Mothers' Day

Stuck for something a bit more original than daffs, chocs and fighting through an obligatory elbow-to-elbow "Sunday roast 'n' gateau" special at the packed local this Mothers' Day?

Why not lay off the calories, soak up some scenery and take to the water with your brood this year instead.

Broads Tours are running two special Mothers' Day cruises on Sunday 22nd March, each offering a free 'chill-out' glass of wine to Mums accompanied by their children... ah - how very civilized...

The trips depart from Wroxham at 11.30am (returning 1pm, £7 adults, £5.50 children) or 2pm (returning 4pm, £8 adults, £6.50 children). Under fives go free.

Bookings: 01603 782207

Frogger Frenzy on Briston backroads

It's not easy being a frog. You've avoided being scoffed as spawn, evaded the tadpole pond-dip nets of toddlers, made it through that - hey, where's my tail gone? - teenage phase, escaped beady-eyed herons and crawled off for a well-earned rest under a clump of grass.

Then before you know it, the nights start warming up, dusk falls, the dew twinkles invitingly outside your trusty clump and you have this sudden, irresistible urge to go a wooing...

As ever - as per the iconic 1970's arcade game - the course of true love often involves a major trek across a hairy stretch of asphalt...

Hop, hop - SPLOT!

Such is the nightly flattened fate of hundreds of frogs and toads squished by oblivious motorists on local roads during the March-May breeding season.

The Department of Transport have now designated a one mile stretch of the Holt-Briston Road an 'Amphibian Crossing Zone'.

So on mild, wet nights keep your speed down, watch out for the frog alert roadsigns and toad patrol wardens (who lift the little fellas across the road to safety - hmm, rather them than me!) and - go on - do your bit for amphibian romance...

Steam buffs 'chuffed' by Holt Gala Weekend

A steam spectacular is to be held on North Norfolk's Poppy Line this weekend.

This gala event signals the re-opening of Whitwell and Reepham station - 50 years to the day since its closure, as part of the decommissioning of the Midlands and Great Northern joint railway system.

The spectacular, sponsored by 'Steam Railway' magazine will include appearances by five visiting engines: B1 4-6-0 - 1306 Mayflower; Standard 4MT 2-6-0 - 76079; 4F 0-6-0 - 44422; A Class 0-6-0 - 1300 and Standard 2MT 2-6-0 - 78019. Other highlights will include tours of the former M&GN system with railway historian Adrian Vaughan and an open evening in Weybourne works on 28th February (visitors must bring their own orange hi-vis vests).

All day hop-on, hop-off Rover tickets are available at £16 adult, £15 senior citizen and £10 child. Family discount tickets (2 adults + 2 children, or 3 adults + 1 child) are priced at £45 per family group.

For further information and bookings, see http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/

The Big Chill: Grit Art, Vimto & emergency custard

London buses dripped in the garage, planes stayed marooned on runways and high streets were abandoned as one in five of us stayed home with the school kids to watch the UK's heaviest snowfall in 18 years.

Economic analysts forecast that all-in-all 'Snowmageddon' will have cost the UK economy some £1.2bn - so was there any upside?

Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, says that our 'Arctic Incident' would actually benefit certain sectors of the economy: "Consumers spend more on heating and on warm clothes, and any accidents or structural damage leads to increased spending on repairs."

In the meantime though, unoccupied City traders busied themselves building rival snowmen in Paternoster Square, whilst Nurses at St Thomas's hospital in London were delighted to receive 'not just any' consignment of luxury cakes and sandwiches when snow closed Marks & Spencer's nearby Victoria Station branch.

Supermarkets were also smiling - Asda reported a 40% leap in sales of Vimto and Ribena, and a 10% pick-up in whisky sales, whilst Tesco launched 'Operaton Snowplough', clearing shelves to make room for supplies of emergency custard, as well as pies, soup, thermal socks and brandy.

So what is Snow? Contrary to popular belief it is NOT frozen rain. Snowflakes are created inside clouds when tiny ice crystals collide and stick together. Most snowflakes melt on their way to the ground and fall as rain. (So rain is actually melted snow, not the other way round!) Only when the air near the ground is cold enough will snowflakes fall as snow.

All snow crystals are six-sided (hexagonal) and no two snow crystals have ever been found to be identical. Some snowflakes can grow to be 5-7 cm (2-3 in) across.

What affects the size of snowflakes? There are lots of different types of snow, as skiers know only too well. When it is very cold, "dry" snow falls - the ice crystals do not stick together easily and the snow is fine and powdery - in very cold dry conditions ‘diamond dust' ice crystals may fall. At less cold temperatures near freezing point, "wet" snow falls and much larger snowflakes form, especially if there is no wind.

When fresh snow is moist enough to stick together, snowrollers may form on hillsides or in large fields. A ‘snowroller' is like a cylindrical snowball in shape and is blown by winds of more than 32 km/h (20 mph) until it grows too large to travel any farther. Snowrollers can reach nearly 1.5 m (4 ft) in diameter.

Ben Nicholson - a continuous line at the Tate

This week, the on-the-road Ben Nicholson retrospective 'A Continuous Line' rolls into St. Ives for spring stabling at the Tate.

The exhibition - the first major UK presentation of Nicholson's work for over fourteen years - reconsiders the artist's position in British art history and offers a new understanding of the modern in art, particularly in relation to national and local identities.

Son of the celebrated Edwardian painter William Nicholson, and partner of sculptor Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson (1894-1982), became one of the most radical British artists of the twentieth century. He made his reputation by absorbing what was essentially a European abstraction – influenced by artists such as Piet Mondrian and Naum Gabo – into English art.

His anglicised version of abstraction concerned itself with throwing-off the constraints and dark palette of 19th-century academic painting. This was no doubt, partly a reaction against the Edwardian art of his father's generation - but also an expression of his own Christian Science beliefs – the mind, body, spirit philosophy of his day.

The high point of his artistic career were his white reliefs, first produced in 1934 and continued into the Forties. Emptied of all extraneous detail and colour, their whiteness stood for what was pure, modern and spiritual. This simplicity was key to Nicholson. In a period of political turmoil, these works offered a new way of thinking about the world and Englishness.

Focusing on Nicholson's English years, the exhibition divides into three sections: Landscapes of the late 1920s; Abstract & landscape works made in St. Ives during World War II and the Cubist still-lifes made between 1945-58, the latter two influenced by his relationship by Hepworth. Each section draws on a selection of key works to demonstrate Nicholson's continuity of vision and approach.

A Continuous Line at Tate St. Ives runs until 4th May 2009.

Click Here for tickets, room guide, chronology, special events and to access a downloadable MP4 walking tour of the exhibition, playable via ipod.

Walk of art - in step with the Norfolk landscape

Can you pinch more than an inch after the Christmas festivities? Confounded by cabin fever? Stuck in a creative block? Follow in the footsteps of William Wordsworth and Charles Darwin - beat the January blues by joining one of North Norfolk's many free guided walks...

Darwin and Wordsworth were both famous walkers. Darwin trod his 'thinking path' - the Sandwalk at Down House - early each morning whilst formulating his Origin of Species. Wordsworth took regular 'creative' walks through the Lake District with his sister Dorothy, when the rhythm of his steps would help guide the meter and form of his poetic style.

As well as lubricating the mind, walking's also not bad for the bod. NHS guidelines state that 'Adults should do a minimum of 30 minutes moderate-intensity physical activity, at least five days a week.' This translates as any physical activity which leads you to feel warm, and slightly out of breath. People who are obese may need to do 60 to 90 minutes a day to lose weight. Activities such as brisk walking are considered ideal for weight loss.

As part of the county-wide 'Active Norfolk' campaign, 'Fit together' is a Lloyds Pharmacy-sponsored programme of country walks aimed at those 'in mid-life and beyond'.

The schedule incorporates walks of varying duration and intensity, guided through beautiful Norfolk landscapes, to suit a range of abilities and fitness levels.

The Jan/Feb programme includes:

Mon 26th Jan: Kelling Heath/Bodham Woods, 4 mile walk, 10.30am
Tue 27th Jan: Gresham 'Three Churches', 4.5 mile walk, 10.30am;
Sheringham Prom, wheelchair-friendly 1.3 mile walk, 1pm
Wed 28th Jan: Baconsthorpe Castle, 3 mile walk, 10.30am
Fri 30th Jan: Holkham Lake, 2.5 mile walk, 10.30am
Mon 2nd Feb: Salthouse, 3.75 mile walk, 10.30am
Tue 3rd Feb: Holt, 1.5 mile walk, 10.30am
Wed 4th Feb: Walsingham, 3.7 mile walk, 10.30am;
Sculthorpe, 1.8 mile walk, 2pm
Thur 5th Feb: Cromer Cliff top, 2 mile walk, 10.30am
Mon 9th Feb: Bengate Weaver's Way, 1.4 mile walk, 12.30pm
Tue 10th Feb: Holt, 2 mile walk, 10.30am
Thur 12th Feb: Felbrigg Victory and Lake, 3.5 mile walk, 10.30am
Fri 13th Feb: Bayfield Brecks, 4 mile walk, 10.30am

For further details, Click Here to see the 'Fit Together' web page, where you can download a Word Doc containing the full programme.

To incentivise you still further, Holt Library are running a competition to find the 'Best Winter Walks Photograph' of the local area. All entries must be snapped and submitted to the library by Saturday 28th February, 2009. Entries will be on public display throughout March for viewing and voting.

North Norfolk's answer to the Strawberry Thief . . .

We'd like to congratulate seed supplier Haith's on their new Bill Oddie birdfood range 'Garden Banquet' - one of the more unusual Christmas presents which emerged from under our tree.

The glossy packaging blurb promises that this tasy treat will really deliver the goods - enticing an exciting mix of wild and wonderful birdlife to brighten up the grim January back yard.

Bill says: "Who loves our Garden Banquet? House sparrow; Robin; Greenfinch; Song thrush; Collared dove; Blue tit; Great tit; Other birds you might see: Tree sparrow, coal tit, blackbird, siskin, chaffinch, goldfinch, pied wagtail."

Urr - we think you might need to add another species there, Bill . . . unfortunately the other lot don't get a look in!

Still, our visiting raider is certainly great to look at - definitely wild and definitely wonderful - despite being a total gannet. Bill, as bird chefs go, you evidently know your stuff.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with daylight robbery..? If so, let us know through comments on this blog.

Roll-up, roll-up for Cromer 'Big Bang' 2009

10,000 North Norfolk locals and holiday-makers packed Cromer seafront shoulder-to-shoulder on New Year's Day for the town's 10th annual Torchlight Procession and Fireworks Spectacular.

The evening fundraising event - initially conceived as a 'one-off' to commemorate the millennium - proved such a big hit that the Town Council decided to make it a regular feature.

Each year over £5,000 is raised in bucket-rattling donations. The cash goes to local good causes - last year the Seaview Playgroup got £1000 towards a new heating system - plus a contribution goes towards the cost of staging the following year's display.

This year's show - masterminded by Clive Casburn (who had thoughtfully booked a clear night, so as to avoid soggy spectators!) - began with the North Norfolk Beach Runners Fun Run along the Prom, followed by a Torchlit Procession led from the churchyard by the liveried Town Crier.

The awesome 15-minute pyrotechnic display kicked off at 5pm, with 10 rockets fired from the pier in a single symbolic shot, to commemorate the 10th Anniversary.

Despite huge crowds, the atmosphere was at all times warm, friendly and festive: the seafront provides so many excellent vantage points from which to view the display - reflected dramatically in the waves along the shoreline - that there are plenty to go round.

There was also the credit-crunching bonus that car parking in the town was made free-of-charge from 2pm, thanks to the Council.

Click the Play button below for 'live' footage of the sights (and sounds!) of the event - as seen from our viewpoint up on Runton Road. Look out particularly for the amazing 'Olympic Hoops'!

Eve's Orange - a biblical Christmas with a Twist

At four o'clock on a fair-yet-freezing Christmas Eve a scarfed-up, gloved-up posse of locals took a break from the sellotape and made their way up the 'fairy path' to St Nicholas's church, Salthouse...

With traditional carol-singing, crib-dressing and the obligatory candle-lit procession, the village's annual Christingle Service - in aid of the Children's Society - is specially formulated to appeal to young families.

It is always a lovely reminder that there's something a bit more to all this Christmas business than Cadbury's advent calendars, a new set of pyjamas and the latest-coloured Nintentendo DS.

It is also great fun - given the unpredictable tension garnered when combining small children, naked flames and organized religion together in a highly combustible ancient building.

This year certainly did not disappoint on the pageantry front: First there was the delighted tot who lit the advent candles. Next, the assorted hoodies - ranging in size from two foot one to five foot six - who shuffled up to assemble the 'manger-players' plus animal entourage. Bringing up the rear, a diminutive quartet, bibbed with laminated signs to represent the four compass points. They held on to a ring of red rope and were put in charge of the Produce of the World (in the form of an apple, a satsuma, a packet of coffee and a bag of crisps).

The highlight of the service - the lighting & processing of the symbolic Christingles went hitch-free. However, superb comedy ensued when the congregation came to realize, via the tell-tale teethmarks left in the apple, that 'South' - the tiniest compass-point-boy - had quietly chomped a great sly chunk out of the 'Produce of the World' stockpile!

As usual, the music - in the form of the organ-playing of the amazing Rev. Angela Dugdale MBE - was terrific; the flu-subdued caroling of locals supplemented by the hearty lungs of some of the more healthy out-of-towners - plus, of course, Angela's own superb singing voice.

Thanks to Father Phil, the Rev. Angela and the very hard-working church-wardens who made it all possible. Even the torchlit trek home through the pitch black dark was pretty magical.

We were left with only one Christmas Conundrum - what to do with our half-dozen leftover Christingle oranges. Here is our list of uses from 2008 to assist any readers facing a similar challenge in subsequent years:

Top ten things to do with your Christingle Orange...

1. Leave out the jelly babies and dolly mixture on a saucer for Santa and Rudolph on Christmas Eve - a refreshing change from the usual fireside mince pies and carrot.

2. Refrigerate, squeeze and enjoy for a fresh, zesty start on Christmas morning.

3. Squeeze and add cranberries, port and sugar-to-taste to make your very own gourmet D-I-Y cranberry sauce. Or Click here for a non-alcoholic Channel 4 recipe.

4. Go for a Christmas Morning Constitutional and combine the candle with hedgerow snippings of holly, pine, ivy and rosehips stuck into a raw potato to make a 'natural style' table centrepiece.

5. Get the kids to draw round the orange onto the backs of any waste wrapping paper and cut out snowball decorations for the insides of their bedroom windows. For those feeling particularly ambitious: glue cotton wool on to both sides of each disc and suspend on lengths of cotton for a really sophisticated, twirling, touchy-feely version...ooh, ah!

6. Grate off the zest and use to bake up some carrot, orange and cardamon fairy cakes for any guests who fancy a change from heavy fruit cake for Christmas tea. Save a few teaspoons full to add to a mascarpone and icing sugar topping - yum yum yum.

7. Use the cocktail sticks to make small menu flags for 'vegetarian' and 'non-vegetarian' platters for your Christmas buffet table.

8. Wrap in foil to make the base of a fabulously retro 70s-style 'cheesey pineapple hedgehog'.

9. Separate into individual segments for chocolate fondue dippers with a twist.

10. Use the red tape to entertain toddlers with endless games of 'fly away Peter, fly away Paul'.

Last chance to see - Victor Willing - Closes 11 Jan

Victor Willing (1928-1988): Revelations, Discoveries, Communications at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester brings together over twenty enigmatic paintings and drawings, including a selection of rarely seen early paintings.

Willing, the late husband of artist Paula Rego, was once described by Sir Nicholas Serota as ‘a fiery comet which would eventually guide us all.’

Born in Egypt, Willing moved with his family to England in 1932 and studied at the Guildford School of Art (1948–9), and at the Slade School of Fine Art, London (1949–54). As a student, he met Francis Bacon, (who gave him a copy of Friederich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, which became one of Willing's favourite books) and admired the work of Picasso and Matisse.

In 1957 after embarking on an affair which led to the conception of the first of their three children, he moved to Portugal with artist Paula Rego, whom he eventually married in 1959. He worked in her father's business during this time and painted very little. He subsequently destroyed much of the work of that period.

He and his family returned to London in 1974, settling permanently there, and he began to paint again as a way of supporting himself. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, his paintings from the late 1970s were made after hallucinating their images, possibly a side-effect of the medications he was taking at the time.

Willing and Rego, like many of their generation were interested in Surrealism and the role of the subconscious in art. Both underwent Jungian analysis. As he later explained ‘All my life I’ve tried to recapture the intense pleasure in painting and drawing I had as a child, when I did battles with people going -Aaaaaarrgh!'

In many of Willing's paintings, a situation is presented as a scene to be played out by an absent protagonist. Primitive shelters and furniture, as settings suggestive of the isolation of the artist, are motifs that he explored in many works of this time.

He described the process of painting as 'a revelation, simultaneously discovery and communication.'

In the 1980s Willing was recognized as an important and established artist, but his health was worsening. He painted on a smaller scale at this time, with a series of women's heads being the last works that he completed prior to his death.

This is the first solo show in a public gallery of Willing's work since his retrospective at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1986.

For links to Willing's work held by the Tate Gallery click this link Willing, Victor

Admission:
Full price £7.50, Child £2.30, Family £17, Students £4 Tuesdays 10am to 5pm half price, Thursday evenings 5 to 8pm

Location:
Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ

Website:
http://www.pallant.org.uk/