Fairhaven Garden - Stephen Mole Norfolk Landscape Photography Exhibition January 6 to 18

 Eels Foot (before renovation) Norfolk Broads. Photograph - Stephen Mole 

Norfolk Broads based photographer Stephen Mole is staging an exhibition of photographs of iconic Norfolk landscapes at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, from Tuesday 6 to Sunday 18 January, open 10am to 4pm daily. Entry to the exhibition is free (charge for garden entry).

Stephen Mole said: “Born and bred in Norfolk, I have always been inspired by the wide open skies and wonderful light that makes this part of the world so 'special'. Many of the images that I capture are influenced by the Norfolk Broads, along with the Norfolk coastline.”

“I try to photograph images that not only record the beauty of the county, but also portray my own 'impression' of the place. My aim is to give you a glimpse of just how the world looks through my eyes! I feel I've succeeded if the person looking at the image finds themselves thinking 'I wish was I was there'.”

For more information about Stephen Mole see www.stephenmolephotos.com.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, t. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.

The garden is open daily all year 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day and closes 4pm during the winter), also open Wednesdays until 9pm from May to the end of August. Free entry to tearoom, gift shop and plant sales.
There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including a Sensory Garden and boat trips (April to October, additional charge). Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available.

Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

We Are Here Already – Norwich 20 Group at The Forum, Norwich – January 12-23

Norwich 20 Group’s (N20G) first exhibition of 2015, WE ARE HERE ALREADY, at The Forum in Norwich, from January 12 to 23, features more than 60 members of the group, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2014. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to meet N20G members every day from 10am to 6pm.

The exhibition’s title, WE ARE HERE ALREADY, is taken from a work by the late David Holgate, former Chairman of N20G, who sadly passed away in 2014.  We are here already is coloured letter carving on slate. The work will be at the heart of The Forum exhibition, as a tribute to David.

David Holgate, coloured letter carving on slate

David Holgate was N20G Chairman in 2007 and set up the group’s licentiate scheme. Every year, up to four graduates from Norwich University of the Arts are invited to become licentiate members, and exhibit with the group for 12 months, after which they are eligible to be elected as full members.  Six former licentiates will be exhibiting at The Forum: Linda Chapman, Emma Cracknell, Henry Jackson Newcomb, Rebecca Kemp, Andy Reeve and Laura Such and three current licentiates, Anthony George, Davide Lakshmanasamy and Helen Piffero.

I crave no other, nor no better man.(acrylic on canvas) by Linda Chapman,
illustrating Mariana's choice at the end of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.

N20G is combining with Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society and Norwich Contemporary Art Society for the first time, to stage a David Holgate retrospective exhibition at The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral in December 2015. Two of David Holgate’s finest works, sculptures of Julian of Norwich and St Benedict, are located on the west front of the Cathedral.

Martin Battye, Chairman N20G said: “David Holgate was one of the most enthusiastic members of Norwich 20 Group, always encouraging and supportive. The licentiate scheme is his legacy to the group and it is very appropriate that the title of our first exhibition of 2015 is a tribute to the man and his work. We will also miss his musical talent; his jazz trio with David on double bass, played for many years at our private view evenings.”    

Selected N20G members are currently exhibiting at Mandell’s Gallery (until January 10).  Work from past and current N20G members is included in Modern Art in Norwich, an exhibition at the Timothy Gurney Gallery, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, which runs until May. N20G is also planning an exhibition of large works in The Undercroft (below Norwich Memorial Gardens) in June.

Norwich 20 Group
N20G was founded by Walter Thomas Watling, art master at CNS, supported by Aileen Law, art teacher at Blyth School and 12 other local artists.  Stimulated by contemporary art movements, they wanted to raise standards of local professional art to something worthy of Norfolk’s artistic history.

N20G now has more than 80 members from across Norfolk.  All aspects of the practice of contemporary fine art are represented, sculpture, print, photography, painting, digital media and installations.

Over the years N20G has included nationally known artists, for example, Michael Andrews, Bernard Reynolds, Edward Barker, Leslie Davenport, Mary Newcomb, Jeffery Camp RA, and Cavendish Morton. Many current and past members have received patronage, exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and Galleries in East Anglia, London and internationally, with works in both private and public collections. Some have received prestigious awards, including election to the Royal Academy.

N20G has strong links with Norwich's twin cities and has held joint exhibitions with Novi Sad, Rouen, Koblenz and El Viejo.

Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Guided Walks at Fairhaven Garden, Norfolk Broads

Join Ian Guest, Head Gardener at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham for a guided walk in the garden on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26 and New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, both starting at 11am.

Garden admission, including the guided walks, is adults £6.10, concessions £5.60 and children £3.60 (under 5 free). The walks last 1½ hours and a complimentary mince pie and glass of mulled wine will be on offer at the end.

Highlights include the massive 950-year old King Oak and other ancient oak and beech trees and the views across South Walsham Inner Broad. Learn about the history of the garden, the collection of plants introduced by the 2nd Lord Fairhaven and the organic working methods still used today.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk, t. 01603 270449.

The garden is open daily all year, open 10am to 4pm during the winter (closed Christmas Day), tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. There is wheelchair access throughout 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.

50 Christmas Trees in a Church Dickleburgh – The Winners

The 11th annual 50 Christmas Trees in a Church at All Saints Dickleburgh, drew to a close on Sunday, December 7, with the prize-giving for the 23 most popular trees voted by visitors to the festival.

Langmere Garden Club Christmas Tree

Langmere Garden Club’s tree was the winner in the adult category for the second year running with ‘Winter in the Potting Shed’ including Bill and Ben. Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run (for Cancer Research UK) came second with a sparkling pink tree and RBL Dickleburgh Branch were third with ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ filled with larger-than-life mice and with reindeer circling above.

Gissing Children Centre's Christmas Tree

Gissing Children’s Centre won the children’s category for the third year running with their bold and colourful ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’. Burston Community Primary School was second with a tree in a globe and children’s wishes for the world. Archbishop Sancroft ‘A’ Team came third with an exquisite tree decorated with ‘stained glass’ biscuits.

Archbishop Sancroft High School Maths Department winner of the Nick Arnull Plate

The Nick Arnull Plate, for the most innovative tree, was awarded by the organisers to Archbishop Sancroft High School’s Maths Department for their tetrahedron tree. There were many other immensely creative trees in the festival: 1st Harleston Cubs’ wigwam, 1st Pulham Brownies’ triangular tubes, Sarah’s Gardening Services’ flowered cone, Waveney & District Gateway Club’s ‘Signs of Christmas’ in sign language and Ormiston Families’ present boxes with a prison cell reflecting their work with prisoners’ families, to name but a few.

Some £3,000 will be donated to the festival’s designated charities, Elizabeth’s Legacy of Hope and Ormiston Families.

Brian Leeder, Church Warden at Dickleburgh and one of the festival’s organisers said: “We have had an excellent week, with lots of visitors, especially at the weekends. We also had local school and playgroup visits during the festival, along with lots of Brownies and Beavers.”

Revd James Roskelly, Rector of The Benefice of Dickleburgh and the Pulhams, added: “I would particularly like to thank all the volunteers who have helped set up the church and look after visitors throughout the Christmas Tree festival. Thanks also go the local organisations and businesses who contributed such a superb collection of decorated trees; many congratulations to all the winners.”

For more information about 50 Christmas Trees in a Church see www.50christmastrees.com.

New Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area to Grow Tourism Industry

David Marsh GYTBIA Inter Chairman with the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Marlene Fairhead launching the 2015 Greater Yarmouth brochure at The Boathouse

The new Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area (GYTBIA) launched its 2015 campaign on Tuesday, December 9 at The Boathouse, Ormesby St Margaret, to an audience of more than 200 local tourism and business professionals.

An initial 21 projects will be funded from GYTBIA’s £304,000 marketing and events budget, financed through the Business Improvement Area (BIA) levy.

Over the five years of the BIA, more than £2 million will be generated through the levy. The aim is to grow Greater Yarmouth’s £530 million industry by 12%, achieving an additional £63 million a year and 1200 more jobs by 2020. Currently 29% of the working population in the borough is supported by tourism, comprising more than 10,000 equivalent full time jobs.

David Marsh, Interim Chairman said: “The new GYTBIA provides a fantastic opportunity for the local tourism industry. The Borough Council has done a great job promoting tourism and developing infrastructure over the years in the face of increasing cuts and growing competition for the UK holiday pound. But, with the advent of the BIA, the private sector is now bringing vital funding to the table which, in partnership with the Borough Council, will make a sea change in the way we promote the resort.”

“Tourism is a key sector in the borough’s economy; some £130 million, or 24.5% of the annual tourism spend, is contributed by tourism businesses spending with other businesses. We all benefit from the tourism pound. We look forward to working with partners across the industry to make a real difference over the next five years.”

Twenty-nine projects, submitted by BIA levy payers, were considered at GYTBIA’s first full board meeting on November 26. The total cost of the projects was £525,000. The BIA marketing and events budget is £304,000. Twenty-one priority projects were identified. The other projects remain under consideration and more ideas are very welcome.

These key marketing and events projects are only possible thanks to the BIA levy.
 More Great Yarmouth Fireworks evenings
 Hemsby Summer Fireworks
 Gorleston Christmas Lights fireworks
 Sky TV advertising campaign
 Day trippers radio campaign
 Customer research
 Visit England Summer campaign
 PR / Social Media and Email Marketing

Other events and projects identified as high priority include: Beach Volleyball, Martham Scarecrow Festival, Soccer on the Sands, Brush with the Broads (bringing artists to the Broads for a painting festival), an Eating Out campaign, a Heritage promotion, new Hemsby roadside welcome sign, Planet Norfolk TV in Hemsby, support for VisitNorfolk’s marketing work, coaches & group marketing activity, TV advert and website video production and investment in the GYTBIA business support website.

In particular, the GYTBIA has identified that May and June are months in which the Business Improvement Area has capacity for more tourism visitors and so projects and events which animate these months, for example, the Martham Scarecrow Festival, an Eating out campaign or a campaign with a focus on heritage, will help bring more visitors to the area. Free fireworks displays have been proven to boost visitor numbers and additional displays in both Hemsby and Great Yarmouth at key holiday times of year will encourage more staying visitors as well as day trippers. Television advertising has worked extremely well for the resort over the past few years using Sky TV’s new technology, the Greater Yarmouth area’s television advert will be shown to a new audience in a specific area. All priority projects identified at the November board meeting are being worked up now for final approval in January.

The Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area, whose 24 directors are all volunteers from across the tourism industry, is a not for profit company with these aims:
 To increase the number of people visiting and staying in Greater Yarmouth
 To improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits
 To encourage people to stay longer and visit more attractions
 To provide incentives and opportunities for local businesses

GYTBIA is the first tourism business improvement area in East Anglia.

With 65,000 bed spaces across the Borough, nearly a third of all holiday nights spent in Norfolk are tourists staying in Greater Yarmouth. Nearly 25% of all holidays nights spent in Norfolk and Suffolk combined are taken in the Borough of Great Yarmouth. www.great-yarmouth.co.uk 

Fairhaven Garden, Norfolk Broads 6 December – Visit Father Christmas in his Magical Woodland Garden

Father Christmas arriving at Fairhaven

Tickets are still available to visit Father Christmas in his Magical Woodland Garden at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham on Saturday 6 December, from 11am to 4pm. Tickets for Sunday 7 December are now sold out.

Follow the trail through the trees to meet reindeer Comet and Blitzen, then visit Father Christmas in his traditional yurt. Explore the garden before returning to the tearoom for hot chestnuts, hot chocolate and some seasonal fare. As dusk descends don’t miss the trail lights and help Father Christmas collect his post box and walk his reindeer.

Tickets are £6.10 adult, £5.60 concessions, £7 per child to visit Father Christmas and receive a present (all prices includes garden entry). Booking is essential to visit Father Christmas.

Christmas Ghost Evening at Fairhaven

There’s also a special evening of Christmas Ghost Stories in Fairhaven’s tearoom on Wednesday 10 December from 6.30pm. Tickets are £10 and include a light evening meal and a glass of wine. Please book in advance.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden NR13 6DZ is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk,
t. 01603 270449.

The garden is open daily all year (closed Christmas Day), free entry to tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. There is wheelchair access throughout 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.

50 Christmas Trees in a Church Dickleburgh - festival opened by Richard Bacon MP

50 Christmas Trees in a Church at Dickleburgh, South Norfolk, was officially opened on Saturday 29 November by Richard Bacon MP. Pictured left to right are: Gale Hodgkinson, Brian Leeder and Mike Hodgkinson Dickleburgh Church, Victorian Bacon Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope, Sarah Softley Ormiston Families, Richard Bacon MP, Rev'd James Roskelly and Rowena Roskelly.

The festival runs until 7 December, is open 10am to 7pm (closes 4pm on 7 December) and is raising money for Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope and Ormiston Families. 

For more information see www.50christmastrees.com​.