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.

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.

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.

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'!