Enjoy The Taste of Autumn at Raveningham Gardens Norfolk

The Taste of Autumn at Raveningham Gardens (near Loddon, Norfolk) on Sunday 7 October, from 11am to 5pm, is a celebration of the autumnal fruits of the garden, hedgerow and woodland, with Raveningham’s walled vegetable garden, glasshouses, orchard and herb garden at its heart. Meet local producers and enjoy talks and tours on fungi, herbs, fruit and vegetables. Entry is £10 a car, www.raveningham.com.

Jekka McVicar, known as’ the queen of herbs’, will be giving talks on the Spice of Herbs. She has won a record 62 RHS Gold medals for her herb displays at Chelsea Flower Show and created Jamie Oliver’s herb garden. More than 600 species of culinary, medicinal and aromatic herbs from around the world are grown at Jekka’s Herb Farm in Gloucestershire.

Richard Hobbs, a regular contributor to BBC Radio Norfolk’s Garden Party, will be giving tips on Autumn Gardening. Fungi expert, Neil Mahler will lead fungi forays in the park, advising on what to pick and cook and what to avoid.

The Bacon family and their gardening team will give tours of the walled kitchen garden – discover Raveningham’s vegetable gardening secrets, hear about the history of the garden and buy garden produce. More than 30 different vegetables are grown during the year, including old-fashioned varieties like salsify and scorzonera (both root vegetables). Pride of place in the orchard goes to the 200-year old Queen Charlotte apple tree. There is also a working Victorian melon pit, along with the herb garden created by Susan Bacon. Grapes, peaches, figs and plants are grown in the glasshouses.

Visitors will be welcome to explore the 18th century walled kitchen garden, Victorian glasshouses, arboretum and herb garden at their leisure and enjoy contemporary sculpture throughout the gardens, as well as walk round the lake created to mark the Millennium. Raveningham’s 14th century church will be open.

Tea, cakes and apple pie made from Raveningham apple trees, along with jams and jellies made from the fruit’s of the estate’s hedgerows and local honey will be on sale. There will also be a hog roast.

Local nurseries and producers attending include Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Walnut Tree Garden Nursery, Blacksmith Cottage Nursery, Jelly Cottage Plants, English Willow Baskets, Fielding Cottage goat’s cheese, Norfolk Sloe Company, East Norfolk Trading Company (cider) and Breckland Orchard.

Nicholas Bacon said: “This is our first Taste of Autumn event at Raveningham Gardens. It is our wish that over the years this occasion will become a major educational and celebratory moment for the Autumn Garden.”

Raveningham Gardens NR14 6NS is signposted off A146 at Hales,
t. 01508 548152.

Photograph: the 200 year-old Queen Charlotte apple tree.

Unlaced at Wymondham Arts Centre – clothing and the female form

Wymondham Arts Centre is staging Unlaced – clothing and the female form, an exhibition of work by Norfolk artists, curated by Krys Leach, from Tuesday 18 September to Sunday 30 September, open daily 10am to 5pm (Sunday 12noon to 5pm), free entry.


The exhibition features David Cottrell (paintings), Helen Dixon (ceramics), Krys Leach (paintings), Tracy Myers (prints and digital), Elaine Nason (paintings and prints), Emily Spragge (cyanotypes), Rebecca Spragge (corsetry), Louise Richardson (made objects) and Sarah Wilson (etchings).

Vivienne Weeks, former chair of the Norwich Textile and Costume Association is also including dresses, hats and shoes from the 1880s to 1980s to complement the artists’ work, notably a muslin dress with bustle from 1880 (at the end of restricted clothing), a Christian Dior gown from 1954 in bronze taffeta, presenting the vision of the ultimate woman and a Jean Paul Gaultier creation (c 1980), which features the outline of the ‘perfect female form’ suggesting hidden promise.

Krys Leach, curator said: “The female image is one of the most evocative forms of art. Her body has dictated style - in art and fashion - but it has also been moulded by it. Some of the work is innovative and eye-opening. Some is witty, and some is just ravishing. It all adds up to a vibrant celebration of a subject that is as enduring as it is varied.”

Professor Arthur Lucas, Chairman Wymondham Arts Centre said: “Two exhibitions each year are presented for the Arts Centre by an invited artist. We are very pleased that Krys Leach accepted the invitation to curate our September show. Unlaced is a departure for us, a themed exhibition in a variety of styles and media. We are grateful to the Friends of the Wymondham Art Centre for underwriting this exciting show, which will be a highlight of a strong season.”

Wymondham Arts Centre is at Becket’s Chapel, 2 Church Street, Wymondham NR18 0PH, email info@wymondhamarts.com, www.wymondhamarts.com.

Image: Poppy by Rebecca Spragge.