Fairhaven Garden Norfolk Broads - Step into Spring, Elizabeth Reed Art Exhibition

April Bluebells Elizabeth Reed

Wymondham based artist, Elizabeth Reed is staging Step into Spring, an exhibition of original paintings depicting local scenes and floral subjects at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham from Tuesday, February 3 to Sunday, February 15, open 10am to 4pm daily. Entry to the exhibition is free (charge for garden entry).

Elizabeth Reed explains: “My paintings mainly depict floral subjects and local scenes, inspired by my love of gardening and the local countryside.  I am currently working with acrylics, giving vibrancy and a depth of colour to the pictures, but am equally at home with oils and watercolours. I also produce pen and ink drawings and sculptural pottery and art pebbles adding a three dimensional interest.”

Anemone Blanda Elizabeth Reed

Elizabeth plays banjo, concertina and accordion, hosts the singaround at Micawber’s Tavern in Norwich every Wednesday, and plays in the Fezziwig Ceilidh Band.

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.

Raveningham Gardens, Norfolk Broads, Snowdrop Season February 2 to February 27, 2015

Snowdrops at Raveningham Gardens South Norfolk

Raveningham Gardens opens for the snowdrop season from Monday, February 2 to Friday, February 27 (closed Saturdays). See drifts of snowdrops in the main garden, from 11am to 4pm (dusk if earlier). Proceeds from the Sunday openings (February 8, 15 and 22) go to Priscilla Bacon Lodge, a centre for specialist palliative care services in Norwich.

Admission is adult £5, concessions £4.50 and children under 16 free. Soup and a roll will be available in the tearoom.

Raveningham Hall is the home of Sir Nicholas and Lady Bacon. It was Sir Nicholas’ mother, Priscilla Bacon, who added snowdrops to the garden.

Raveningham - the Bacon Garden. Photograph Anne Green Armitage  

The 18th century Walled Kitchen Garden with its large glasshouses will be open and visitors will also be able to enjoy views across the new lake established at the turn of the Millennium and the contemporary sculpture in the gardens.

Raveningham Gardens (NR14 6NS) is 10 miles south east of Norwich, signposted off the A146 at Hales, then B1136, t. 01508 548480, www.raveningham.com.

Fairhaven Garden Norfolk Broads – South Walsham Art Club Exhibition from January 20 to February 1

South Walsham Art Club is staging The Best Exotic Painting Class Exhibition at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, from Tuesday, January 20 to Sunday, February 1, open 10am to 4pm daily. Entry to the exhibition is free (charge for garden entry).

The exhibition features paintings, with a wide variety of subjects and styles, by members of the art class that meets weekly in St. Lawrence's, South Walsham, led by Nicky Arrowsmith-Brown.

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.

Fairhaven Garden, Norfolk Broads - Volunteer Days 14 and 28 January – help the ‘spring clean’

Volunteers of all ages are invited to help the gardening team at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham ‘spring clean’ the garden on Wednesdays 14 and 28 January, from 9.30am to 4pm.

The key task will be to help with the annual leaf clearance campaign; a light lunch will be provided for all volunteers in the tearoom.

The garden’s annual leaf fall is collected and moved into large holding bays where the leaves gradually decompose into leaf soil. This potent natural product, along with farmyard manure, is the only fertiliser used in the garden. Bags of leaf soil are also sold in Fairhaven’s plant sales area.

Volunteers are asked provide their own gloves and to phone the garden on 01603 270449 to confirm their attendance and help with planning the days.

Ian Guest, Fairhaven Head Gardener said: “If you fancy a few hours in the fresh air helping with our annual ‘spring clean’, do come along and join us.”

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk. The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day and closes at 4pm until the end of February). The garden is open until 9pm on Wednesdays from May to the end of August.

There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including the Sensory Garden. Fully accessible boat trips are on offer from April to the end of October. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance. Mobility scooters available.

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