De Vere Dunston Hall Golf Supports Variety Club Children's Charity

One hundred golfers helped raise £3,000 for The Variety Club Children's Charity by playing in a tournament at Dunston Hall (May 25) organised by De Vere Dunston Hall golf professional Richard Tidy. A further £7000 will be raised at a May Ball to be staged at the hotel on Friday, May 27. Angela James, Miss Variety Club visited the golf club to present the prizes.

Richard Tidy said: "I would like to thank everyone who took part in our golf tournament and helped raise a substantial sum for The Variety Club. We had a superb day blessed by beautiful weather and some great golf." The winning four ball was Don Henderson (Royal Norwich) and Colin Beevers, Oliver Barnes and Adrian Barnes (all Dunston Hall).

The Variety Club Children's Charity has been helping disabled and disadvantaged children and young children throughout the UK for more than 60 years, http://www.varietyclub.org.uk/.

For more information about De Vere Dunston Hall tel. 01508 470444 or visit www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/dunston-hall.

Picture left to right: Don Henderson, Colin Beevers, Angela James, Oliver Barnes, Adrian Barnes and Richard Tidy (Dunston Hall).

Norfolk Tourism publishes London 2012 Tourism Business Toolkit

Norfolk Tourism has published a London 2012 Tourism Business Toolkit to help the county’s tourism industry capitalise on the 2012 Games. Sponsored by Norfolk County Council with the key message, Visit Norfolk - Closer than you think to London, the toolkit focuses on marketing messages and customer care to assist businesses prepare for the Games.

The toolkit and logo can be downloaded free from http://www.2012.ntqt.co.uk/, Norfolk Tourism’s umbrella website for tourism training opportunities. Businesses will also find information at http://www.visitnorfolk2012.com/, Norfolk Tourism’s website promoting the county as a destination for visitors to the Games.

Richard Ellis, Chairman Norfolk Tourism said: “Norfolk is the closest major holiday destination to London. It is just 90 minutes by train to the Olympic Park from Norwich and easily reachable by train from King’s Lynn to King’s Cross, linking to the Olympic Park via The Javelin® bullet train. We can offer visitors to the Games the best of both worlds – a once in a lifetime day trip to London to be part of the ‘Greatest Sporting Show on Earth’, combined with Norfolk’s world-class seaside, city and countryside breaks. I urge all tourism businesses in the county to download the toolkit and work together to make sure that Norfolk reaps the maximum benefit from London 2012’s projected £2bn boost to the UK tourism economy. I would particularly like to thank Norfolk County Council for sponsoring the toolkit’s production.”

Ann Steward, Cabinet member for Economic Development, said: "Many Norfolk businesses are already set for a financial boost off the back of London 2012, after securing the right to supply goods and services to the Games. But there is no doubt that the county's biggest economic boost from the Olympics will come if we can successfully draw tourists to Norfolk - whether before the Games, or during, or after.”

"The County Council has sponsored the production of Norfolk Tourism's Business Toolkit in order to help rally our respective businesses to work together to try and maximise the amount of Olympic-related investment brought into our economy. The Toolkit tells of a number of ways in which businesses can look to link-in with the Games and I urge our respective businesses to download the toolkit."

Photograph left to right: Councillor Ann Steward with Lydia Smith, Director Norfolk Tourism and Denis McEvoy, General Manager De Vere Dunston Hall

Wroxham Barns Hosts English Minigolf Open – Sunday, June 5

Wroxham Barns’ 18-hole championship minigolf course hosts the British Minigolf Association’s English Open for the second time on Sunday, June 5. The tournament comprises three rounds with play starting at 9.30am.

The English Open was first staged at Wroxham Barns in 2009 when Nick Chitty from Hornsey, won the competition with a total of 95 in the three rounds played, setting the course record of 29 with his first round.

Local golfers are very welcome to take part. A special Wroxham Barns trophy, created by resident sculptor Sue Windley, will be presented to the top East Anglian golfer.

The entry fee is £20. Entry forms can be downloaded from the BMGA’s website, www.minigolf.org.uk, or call 07910 243841.

Ian Russell, Director Wroxham Barns said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming the British Minigolf Association back to Wroxham Barns. The golf course, which opened in August 2008, is proving a real hit with visitors. It is great fun, but is also very challenging.”

Sean Homer Chairman BMGA said: “I am delighted that we are returning to Wroxham Barns for the third year following the English Open in 2009 and British Championships in 2010. All of the players who entered the competitions were full of praise for the course, the surroundings and the welcome we received from the team who run the barns.”

Wroxham Barns, http://www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/, tel. 01603 783762 is open daily 10am to 5pm, 10 miles from Norwich, take A1151 to Wroxham then follow brown and white tourist signs for 1.5miles on the Tunstead road. Free parking.

The British Minigolf Association is the UK’s governing body for minigolf sport, including crazy golf and adventure golf. The British Minigolf Association is the United Kingdom member of the European Minigolf Federation and the World Minigolf Federation, http://www.minigolf.org.uk/.

Norwich 20 Group – Twin Visions – British and German Art at The Forum Norwich - May 23-29

Norwich Twenty Group’s (N20G) spring exhibition Twin Visions, staged with artists from Norwich’s twin city, Koblenz, will take place in the atrium of The Forum in Norwich from Monday, May 23 to Sunday, May 29, free admission. The exhibition is open daily 9am to 6pm (10am to 5pm on Sunday), http://www.norwich20group.co.uk/.

Fifty artists from N20G and six artists from Koblenz are contributing to the show. Rory McShane, Chairman N20G said: “We are really excited to be staging Twin Visions at The Forum. It is the first time that N20G has shown work there. We are particularly pleased to be hosting artists from Koblenz. This is an opportunity for us to return the favour that the city of Koblenz gave us in April, when 18 N20G artists exhibited in the magnificent setting of Haus Metternich in the medieval centre of the city.”

“Twin Visions will be a lively show, reflecting the depth of talent and ideas within the group, which has gained a substantial number of new members in recent years. There will be an invigorating mixture of painting, printmaking, sculpture, textile pieces, mixed media and photography. It will also be very interesting to compare the work of German and British artists.”
Helke Steibel, one of the Koblenz artists said: “We are looking forward to the exhibition at The Forum. We are sure that there will continue to be a very good link between the N20G artists and Koblenz artists. The exhibition at Haus Metternich was an excellent start to our collaboration.”

Norwich 20 Group
N20G was formed in 1944 comprising professional artists from the Norwich School of Art and Design. The group is no longer limited to 20 and now has more than 70 members, several of whom exhibit regularly in the West End and abroad. All aspects of the practice of contemporary fine art are represented e.g. sculpture, print, photography and painting.

Picture: Birdbath - Nell Close

Wymondham Music Festival – Town Busking Day May 28

Wymondham Music Festival’s annual Town Busking day kicks off at 10am on Saturday, May 28. Individuals and groups are welcome to just turn up on the day and register in the marquee on the Market Place by 12noon or call 01953 333500.

The African, Cuban and Haitian rhythms of New Buckenham’s Dead Goat Appreciation Society drumming group will be entertaining visitors, as well as regulars Robin Duhig and Dorothea Bergmann and Kay Southgate from Drumskin.

John Wood, Chairman Wymondham Music Festival said: “The Town Busking day is a well-established informal event. Musicians pop up all over town creating a great atmosphere. If you have never busked before do come along on Saturday, May 28 and join in the fun.”

The 16th annual Wymondham Music Festival, centred on Festival Fortnight, June 25 to July 10, but with nearly 70 events from May onwards, celebrates professional Norfolk musicians, combined with a selection of national artists and showcases local talent in this historic Norfolk market town. Full Festival programme details are at http://www.wymfestival.org.uk/, tel. 01953 601939.

Raveningham Gardens – Spring Bank Holiday Openings

Raveningham Gardens near Hales in South Norfolk is opening on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, 2pm to 5pm. Explore the 18th century walled kitchen garden, Victorian glasshouses, arboretum and herb garden, enjoy contemporary sculpture throughout the gardens and the huge herbaceous borders which are starting to fill with colour. Also visit Raveningham’s 14th century church. Tea and cakes on sale on May 29 and 30.

Raveningham Gardens, Raveningham, NR14 6NS is also open all Thursdays, 11am to 4pm, until the end of August, admission adult £4, concessions £3.50 and children under 16 free. Tel. 01508 548152, www.raveningham.com.

Fairhaven Garden – Time to See UK’s Largest Candelabra Primula Collection

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden’s celebrated candelabra primulas are approaching their best. Head Gardener, Ian Guest will be leading a special candelabra primulas tour at 11am on Sunday, May 22. Normal admission charges apply, adult £5.50, senior citizen £5 and child £3 (under five free).

Some 25,000 colourful candelabras, the largest naturalised collection in the UK, will be on show until early June. The candelabra primulas, displaying all the colours of the rainbow, can be viewed beside the footpaths and water filled dykes that criss-cross the South Walsham garden. Several species of rhododendron and azaleas add to the spectacle in May.

There is wheelchair access to most of the garden, including a Sensory Garden. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance; mobility scooters available. Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, tel. 01603 270449, http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/. The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), also open Wednesday and Thursday until 9pm to the end of August; tearoom, gift shop and plant sales.

Acle High School Students’ Art Exhibition at Fairhaven Garden

More than 100 works of art created by Acle High School students, following visits to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden and Norwich Cathedral, are on display in Fairhaven Garden’s tearoom until Monday, May 16.

Acrylic canvases featuring Fairhaven’s candelabra primulas, watercolours painted following visits to the garden last July, illustrated stories about Oscar the Otter, Fairhaven’s children’s character, Green Men inspired by Norwich Cathedral and photographs of totem polls in Burlingham Woods created by the school are in the exhibition.

Sally Curtis, art teacher at Acle High School said: “The students enjoy working in Fairhaven Garden with nature all around. The standard of their work is much better when they have been inspired by the natural world. It is also very good for the students to see their work on display. I would like to thank Louise Rout and the team at Fairhaven for their support over the last 18 months.”

The exhibition in the tearoom is free, although there is a charge to visit the garden.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction. The garden, tearoom and shop are open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), tel. 01603 270449, http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/, admission, adult £5.50, senior citizen £5 and child £3, under fives free.

There is wheelchair access to most of the garden, including the Sensory Garden. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance. Mobility scooters available. Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

Photograph: Greeen Man by Laura Hind

Fairhaven Garden Knit & Natter Club Knit Cakes for Big C Big Cuppa

Fairhaven Garden's Wednesday morning Knit & Natter Club has been busy knitting cakes for the Big C. The group has produced everything from woolly swiss rolls to doughnuts.

The ‘cakes’ will be sold at Fairhaven Garden tearoom's Big Cuppa event Thursday, May 12, 3.30pm to 5pm for £2.50 each. As well as the knitted cakes the tearoom will be selling the real thing – a specially made teapot cupcake, exclusive to Fairhaven, made by local baker Fiona Eastoe, with a cup of tea or coffee for £3.25. There will also be a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses including tickets to Merrivale Model Village, Thrigby Hall and Gooderstone Water Gardens.

Money raised from the event will go to the Big C. Big C funds equipment locally, providing support and care for the people of Norfolk and Waveney affected by cancer as well as funding world class research
.
Linda Moore from the Knit & Knatter Club said: “The club is worth getting up for on a Wednesday morning. It's been great fun. You never know who you will meet. Discussions range far and wide."

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction. The garden, tearoom and shop are open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), tel. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk, admission, adult £5.50, senior citizen £5 and child £3, under fives free.

Tagman Press Writers Consortium 29 April

Tagman Press Writers Consortium Reed's Tombland Norwich 29 April 2011.

Back L to R: Dave Kelly, Pauline Kelly, Illuminee Nganemariya, Robin Squire, Pamela Masters, Michael Bland, John Clements. Front L to R: Paul Dickson, Susan Culverwell, Gill Dalton, Anthony Grey, Roger Chamberlain, Jane Aldiss, http://www.tagmanpress.co.uk.

Spring Plant Fair - Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden's first Spring Plant Fair is on Saturday, May 7, 10am to 4pm. This is a great opportunity to buy plants from some of Norfolk's best independent nurseries - knowledgeable suppliers who will be selling a variety of plants, shrubs, perennials and garden accessories.

Nurseries at the plant fair include Chrysalis Nursery, Old College Nurseries, Select Seeds, Blacksmith’s Cottage Nursery and Jelly Cottage Plants. Norfolk Garden Trust will also be on hand along with Chaved Forge.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, tel. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.