Aboutsuffolk Early Spring

about suffolk

Early Issue Spring Sixteen2026 Look no further than aboutsuffolk, the local magazine that packs a Suffolk punch!

e up k m ake c i P dt an home! me

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welcome to our early spring issue of aboutsuffolk

about us

Welcome to our early spring issue of aboutsuffolk which brings with it the promise of a brighter future. It is an issue full of layers; from the hedges that are creating corridors of biodiversity across the Suffolk countryside to the generations of families who have called Earsham Hall their home. We chat with sculptor Laurence Edwards about his plans for a new bronze statue that will stand guard over Lowestoft and the opening of a fabulous new gallery and creative hub. We also learn what ‘specials’ are on explorer, Mike Keen’s menu, and how Sonic Wave is riding the crest of a new musical initiative that is bringing a raft of emerging artists to the Waveney Valley.

We uncover Ipswich’s Tudor architectural treasures and update you on what’s new about town, including details of Constable’s special birthday celebrations, and who’s dishing up dishes worth trying. There is a chance to win a family ticket to the East Anglian Game Fair and a lovely spring recipe that will see you foraging for wild garlic - we hope you enjoy!

Kathy & Sarah

Editorial Kathy Churchill Sales Sarah Clarke

aboutmedia info@aboutmedia.co.uk 01728 666352 www.aboutmedia.co.uk

Designer Lucy Hart Silverlace Creative

lucy@silverlacecreative.co.uk www.silverlacecreative.co.uk

Photography Credits: George Wilcox www.norfolklocations.co.uk about interiors page 26 Leiston Press, Sarah Farnworth and Kenneth Gallery Smith about the land page 40

WIN

A family tic ket to the East Anglian Ga me Fair Page 7 Bill Jackson, Tim Bowden, Doug Atfield and Steve Russell about design page 46 Arina Kleist of Snow Falcon Media about food page 58

If you would like to sign up to the weekly aboutfram e-newsletter, please subscribe at www.aboutmedia.co.uk/aboutfram

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contents who’s about

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out & about about style

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about you about interiors

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about town about the land

7 Competition Time

26 Generations of history

Your chance to win a family ticket to the East Anglian Game Fair.

about design

8 Suffolk soundscapes

We explore the timeless beauty of Earsham Hall and uncover layers of history and reinvention.

about gardens

about food about taste round & about

Unique sound experiences have arrived in Suffolk on the crest of a Sonic Wave.

32 Get the look

14 Out and about

New adventures await and art, both old and new, makes an appearance in Christchurch Park and the gardens of Wyken Hall.

A round up of local events.

18 Fashion Fix New styles for a new season.

22 Health & beauty Injecting spring energy into your beauty regime and ways to reform bad habits.

Chic ideas for restyling your home.

36 about town

40 Hedge of reason How Richard Negus and Richard Gould are threading life back into Suffolk’s hedges.

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who’s about out & about about style

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about you about interiors 58

46 Cast list Sculptor Laurence Edwards is forging ahead with plans to reinvent Lowestoft as a new hub for creativity.

52 Salvation army Easy to grow and with a long flowering season, salvias are great foot soldiers for your planting scheme.

58 Appetite for life We track down chef and adventurer Mike Keen and find that nothing is off menu!

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66 Wild garlic & lemon risotto This simple risotto celebrates its short season with light, vibrant flavours and the vivid green of early spring!

68 A walk through time Following in the footsteps of a wool trader on a journey through Tudor Ipswich.

72 Stockists Where to buy all the lovely stuff!

about town about the land

about design about gardens

about food

64 about taste

about taste

Fresh openings, returning favourites and food with heart — a snapshot of Suffolk’s dynamic food scene.

round & about

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Competition!

Win one of two Family Admission Tickets worth £70 to the East Anglian Game Fair. A family ticket will admit 2 adults and 2 children age 5-16years on either Sat 25th or Sun 26th April. Under 5s are free of charge and parking is free too.

The annual East Anglian Game & Country Fair is a fabulous two-day, family event held at the Euston Estate near Thetford, just off the A11.

This year, it takes place on April 25th & 26th and the Main Arena displays include the World Famous JCB Dancing Diggers – an iconic live performance team, often described as a down-to-earth version of the Red Arrows.

Returning due to popular demand is the Horseboarding UK Championships where speed, agility and bravery are all required. Across the show you’ll find the much-loved Mid Norfolk Gun Dog displays, Fens Falconry Birds of Prey Displays, Fishing demonstrations with World Champion Fly Caster Hywel Morgan, the hilarious Sheep Show, Traditional Ferreting Demonstrations with Simon Whitehead, Live Craft demonstrations and much more! www.ukgamefair.co.uk

Famil y Tick et to Ga me & Coun try Fa 2 adu ir lts/2 childr en – wor th £70 Free P arkin g

For your chance of winning one of two family tickets worth £70, please answer the following question correctly: Q: Where is the East Anglian Game & Country Fair held?

Send your answer to prize@aboutfram.com quoting EAGCF in the subject header.

The competition closes at 23.59 hours on 31st March 2026.

Terms and conditions Entrants must be aged 18 or over. There is no cash alternative. By entering this competition, you give your consent for your email address to be added to our aboutfram database. Your email address will not be shared with any other companies apart from the East Anglian Game & Country Fair. Please indicate in your email if you do not wish to give your consent to be contacted by either aboutfram or East Anglian Game & Country Fair and we will delete your email address from our records. The two winners will be randomly selected from all entries submitted and contacted by email by the 7th April

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who’s about

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Suffolk soundscapes

who’s about

Françoise Lamy and Graham Daniels of Addictive TV have been creating and performing music at festivals and events around the world for over twenty years. They are now turning their attention closer to home, curating a series of concerts titled Sonic Wave that have been bringing an eclectic mix of new, exciting artists to venues around Suffolk.

Françoise, who has years of experience working with both cultural and community projects with emerging artists, is looking forward to continuing to grow a new arena in which to showcase this talent. “We’re very excited to bring such fantastic artists to Suffolk, and thanks to funding from Arts Council England we have an exciting programme planned this year which includes more crossover of musical styles from folk, world, jazz and contemporary.”

Their next event this March will be at The Cut and is billed as an evening of African songs, Indian-influenced rhythms and jazz.

The double-bill includes Zimbabwean artist, Anna Mudeka, who will be performing songs inspired by the traditions and myths of her forebears - the Shona people, and the Jesse Barrett Trio who will lead audiences through multi-layers of rhythmic compositions and atmospheric soundscapes.

Graham, Francoise’s partner and a successful performing artist in his own right, with regular appearances on the international festival circuit, has also been involved in organising musical initiatives for 9

who’s about

many years, and with Addictive TV has been at the forefront of audio-visual remixing. “We were the first artists commissioned by a Hollywood studio to officially remix a movie, taking elements of sound such as a car skidding or landing a punch to create the music and edit as an alternative trailer.” It is incredibly innovative and only on watching one of their videos did I fully understand the concept, but it is truly brilliant and unlike anything I have heard or seen before. Their credits include trailers for Iron Man, Slumdog Millionaire, and Fast & Furious, as well as projects for Greenpeace, London’s Royal Docks and The Pompidou Centre.

Françoise and Graham have also dedicated the last twenty years to creating a living archive of instruments and sounds from 10

around the world. “During tours or when performing at festivals we made it our mission to record as many artists as we could from all backgrounds, both cultural and musical. We have now recorded over 300 musicians from countries including Japan, Mexico, India, Brazil, Senegal, Egypt and Kazakhstan.” Graham takes these improvised recordings and cuts them up to create new music, splicing the sounds as if the artists were composed together. Called Orchestra of Samples, this project connects cultures, blending instruments that wouldn’t usually be heard together and when performed, Graham also plays synced videos on the big screens so that it is both an audio and a visual experience.

With such an impressive background, their Sonic Wave nights promise to be a very

who’s about

exciting initiative that will bring something new to Suffolk’s musical scene. And, as part of this series of concerts, Françoise and Graham have also joined forces with the pioneering agroforestry farm Wakelyns in Fressingfield to present ‘Music Suppers’, a series of monthly supper club nights with live music and delicious food made with homegrown organic produce. The first one is scheduled for May, with a performance by the quirky psychedelic-folk duo Lassie, whose lilting melodies, rich harmonies and theatrical flair will bring more than a sprinkling of magic to the farm. They will also be performing Orchestra of Samples this summer, teaming up with Time Fracture (Addictive TV’s clarinettist František Holčík) who in addition will be performing new electro-acoustic set on his Electronic Wind Instrument alongside

moving images from Bill Jackson, the award-winning artist known for his haunting emotive films and photography.

Sonic Wave was born in 2024 out of Françoise and Graham’s passion for music.

They want to build on Suffolk’s reputation as a musical destination, introducing audiences to a dynamic cross-section of visiting artists, whilst also championing the grassroots music scene locally. Music has always had the power to connect cultures, people and places, and in today’s world, this has never been more relevant or important.

For more details see: www.addictive.tv/sonicwave www.orchestraofsamples.com Follow on Instagram @sonicwaveney 11

NEW ALBUM OUT 23RD APRIL 2026

PRE-ORDER NOW

NEW ALBUM LAUNCH SHOWS

23 APRIL � The Cut � HALESWORTH 20 JUNE � Thorington Theatre � SUFFOLK

‘A celebration of nature, history, family and community. Truly in the folk tradition’ MORNING STAR

Tickets and info: www.honeyandthebear.co.uk

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out & about

February: 27th: The Riot It’s time to get down with Smith Vs Smiths Club night at The Baths, Ipswich. Brighten the Corners 28th: Fressingfield Sounds Grammy award-winner Jonathan Lemalu and Kathryn Mosley perform works by Verdi, Mozart, Finzi and Gershwin.

Chapel Hall Arts, Fressingfield March:

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7-8th: WAMFEST Live music, inspiring authors, creative workshops championing women in arts and music. Felixstowe 13th: Flint Vineyard Supper Club A relaxed evening enjoying a locally sourced, seasonal dinner.

Flint Vineyard, Bungay 14th: Sonic Waves An evening of African songs, Indianinfluenced rhythms and jazz at The Cut, Halesworth.

5th-23rd Apr: Sound Beginnings The Whys and Hows of Contemporary Classical Music. Eight weekly talks organised by FlipSide.

Printstudio, Sweffling

18th: Framlingham Concerts On piano, Douglas Tang (former organist of King’s Cambridge) and violin, Lasma Taimina (Principal with London Philharmonic Orchestra).

St Michael’s Church

5th-12 Apr: artEast Spring Show In collaboration with DanceEast, bringing dance and art together.

Whistler Gallery, DanceEast

21st: Spring Floral Workshop Floral Workshop with talented florist Olga Skavos. Frankie’s Studio, Grundisburgh

7th: Sorrow and Serenity Eye Bach Choir perform Thomas Tallis: Lamentations, Henry Purcell Funeral Sentences and Herbert Howell’s Requiem. Eye Church.

21st-11 Apr: John Constable, His Family and Friends A celebratory exhibition looking at the influence of various periods of Constable’s life and artistic development.

EATAC Gallery, Wickham Market

22nd: Shovel Band Collective A 9-piece folk band united by a passion for the beauty, force, and political charge of traditional music.

Brighten The Corners 27th: The Biscuit Brothers A blistering blues band who stomp and swing through numbers including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jonny Cash and The Clash. Kettleburgh Chequers 28-29th: Mini Spring Market A delightful selection of independents come together at Southwold Flower Company. PYO Narcissus, face-painting, food trucks and workshops.

28th-14th Jun: Constable: A Cast of Characters An exhibition that will introduce visitors to the people who inspired and supported the artist and introduce them to his portraiture.

Colchester + Ipswich Museums 29th: The Duck With No Luck Join Concerteenies for the musical story of “The Duck With No Luck”, for children aged 3-7. Snape Maltings 12noon 31st-2nd April: Easter Crafts.

Family-friendly crafts for Easter half-term for ages 4-11.

The Hold, Ipswich

out & about

April: 3rd: Paddington Trio Join the Paddington Trio and guests for the finale of the Friday Lunchtime Concert series in Orford Church with Shostakovich’s majestic Piano Quintet.

Britten Pears Arts 4th: Antiques & Vintage Fair Browse and explore a treasure trove of rare treasures and vintage items.

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall 4-19th: Sea Interludes An exhibition of work by Brita Granström and Mick Manning exploring tides and seasons along the Suffolk coast and the nature that lives there.

Thompson’s Gallery 8-9th: Easter Fun Easter storytelling, musical crafts and an audio Easter egg hunt at The Red House, Aldeburgh. Britten Pears Arts 10th: Divorce, beheaded, died In this one-man show, set in 1544, Henry VIII recounts the events of his life and long reign, telling of his wives and of his children.

Fishers Theatre, Bungay 15th: Framlingham Concerts Pianist George Ireland, a Samling Institute artist, performs JS Bach.

St Michael’s Church

16th: Benched Benched is a tragic-comedy stage-play about the uncertainties of life and death from the perspective of two hitmen.

Southwold Arts Centre

9th: Fressingfield Sounds Award-winner pianist Andrey Gugnin performing works by Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Stravinsky. Chapel Hall Arts, Fressingfield

16-19th: INK Festival Halesworth is transformed into a vibrant stage for over 65 original short plays performed across 12 buzzing venues.

9-10th: Weird & Wonderful Wood With over 130 stalls and demonstrations, promoting wood and all its traditional uses, with workshops, live music and entertainment.

Haughley Park

23rd: Honey & The Bear UK Folk and Roots multiinstrumentalists Lucy and Jon Hart present music from their new fourth album. The Cut, Halesworth May: 1st-28th May: Art for Cure Outdoor sculpture at Wyken Hall Vineyards with over 30 national sculptors exhibiting in the stunning gardens. Wyken Hall 7th: Murder: Staged Serial killer and psychopathy expert Cheish Merryweather takes a deep dive into the embedded lies at crime scenes.

Southwold Arts Centre 8th: Woman in Mind A darkly comic play by Alan Ayckbourn about troubled Susan who invents a fantasy family to replace her own.

Fishers Theatre, Bungay

16: Eye Bach Choir Dobrogosz: Mass, Choral Jazz Standards and Jazz ensemble accompaniment. Debenham Church 20th: Framlingham Concerts Collatus Piano Trio: Alfie Weinberg (Violin), Sebastian Williams (Cello) and Michelle Oiyee Lam (Piano).

St Michael’s Church 23rd: Beccles Food Festival The finest artisan East Anglian food & drink including world street food, cookery theatre, music, children’s entertainment. Beccles Town Centre 29th-31st: Mad about Shakespeare A weekend exploring madness in Shakespeare’s plays with performances, conversations and guest speakers.

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall 15

Oliver Hayward Playbarn & Caf

Relax and unwind with your little ones whilst they enjoy our Disco room / Ball Pit Toddler & Baby Area Role Play Area Enclosed Outdoor Play Area Spacious café serving delicious homemade bakes and brownies

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Adult(s) £2 each 1 year & over £5 each 6 months - 1 year £2 each under 6 months FREE

Open 9 - 12.30 weekdays Walk-ins welcome.

Weekend party bookings available.

To book call 01728 747144 or email oliverhaywardplaybarn@gmail.com Bridge Farm, Wickham Market, IP13 0AA www.oliverhaywardplaybarn.co.uk

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about style

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Fashion fix

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1. Wide leg pants Black Colour @ OC Butcher £80

4. Galaxy necklace Boho & Blyth £44.95

2. Joking knit jacket Essential Antwerp @ Anna £259

5. Balloon sleeve cardigan Henrietta Spencer £59

3. Filipa co-ords Matisa Market T-shirt £55 / Pants £60

6. Twiggy Raven ankle jeans Ichi @ Fleur £44.99

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about style

13 7. Legaro Tanaro sneakers Ives Footwear £95

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8. Sicily midi dress Nobody’s Child @ Coes £75 9. Spring stripes Øst London @ Moose Jumpers £68 / Scarves £28 10. Redback nubuck boots Ernest Doe £119.95 11. Sun 35 T-shirt Wahoo £29

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12. Fairfax and Favor suede belt Out & About £65

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13. Spring refresh Ruby Tyger Barrel jean £52 / Knit £35 / Shirt £42

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Resist if you can about you

Unmask your beauty Handmade in Edinburgh, Dook makes a gorgeous range of soaps and skincare products in small batches using organic ingredients, essential oils and natural colours.

At this time of year, when our skin is in need of a little TLC, their Clay Face Mask: Green Balancing is the perfect addition to your weekly skincare routine. Made from a luxurious blend of French Green Clay and nutrientrich Spirulina, and enhanced with the refreshing aroma of Rosemary essential oil, it gently cleanses and exfoliates to help soothe and soften the skin. It comes as a powder that is activated with water, or you can get creative and try mixing with olive oil, yoghurt or raw honey.

Available from Frankie’s Café, Grundisburgh. www.frankies.studio.

The newly opened Physio and Pilates Studio in Aldeburgh is the place to head to if you are dying to give Reformer Pilates a try. This dynamic, full-body workout is performed on a specialised piece of equipment called the Reformer, and is proven to help build core strength, flexibility and control with precision. Unlike mat-based Pilates, the Reformer adds resistance and support, allowing for a greater range of motion and a deeper connection to your core.

Classes are led by Lucy Hammond, a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and Certified APPI Instuctor, and Sophie Martin, a Body Control Pilates Instructor, and with only 5 state-of-theart machines, the small class size means technique and positioning can be checked to ensure you get the best results. It’s highly adaptable so whether you’re rehabilitating after an injury, aiming to improve posture, or looking to challenge your body in new ways, now’s your chance to give it a go.

Classes 6 days a week. www.aldeburghphysioandpilates.co.uk

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Pores for thought The French skincare brand, Caudalie has just launched Vinopure, a range of skincare products designed to address skin blemishes. Made from a unique blend of natural ingredients including salicylic acid, essential oils and polyphenols derived from French grape seed extracts, it is specially formulated to help tighten pores, reduce shine and refine skin texture. The range includes a Blemish Control Salicylic Serum, a Purifying Gel Cleanser, a Hydrating Mattifying Fluid and a Purifying Toner with Salicylic Acid which can be incorporated into a four-step routine to help reduce breakouts and to purify the skin leaving it clean and clear.

The range is available from Collen and Clare in Southwold. www.collenandclare.com

about you

Feel won-D-full After the dark days of winter we all crave that feeling of the sun’s warmth on our skin. But did you know that during winter, due to the lack of sunshine, our bodies might not actually be producing enough Vitamin D naturally, which can leave us feeling tired and run down. Vitamin D is responsible for the maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and muscle, and is also important for immune function. Many people take oral supplements to help support their bodies but Vitamin D Injections can be a more effective method as it goes straight into the muscle meaning it is rapidly absorbed and boosts levels quickly, with the effects lasting up to three months.

Asteria Wellbeing offers Vitamin D injections, so call 01728 687403 to find out more and make an appointment. www.asteriawellbeingandkhaosbarbering.co.uk

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about interiors

Generations of history 26

about interiors

Like many large country houses, Earsham Hall has been shaped as much by time as the families who have passed through its doors. Dating back to the 15th century, over the years it has expanded, shifted purpose, and absorbed new identities, each era leaving its mark on the fabric of the house and the estate. I meet with owner Annabel Stretton-Derham to peel back the layers of history that have settled here.

Annabel takes me through to the kitchen, which sits within the oldest part of the house, and is a lovely light-filled room and the heart of family life for her, her husband Rupert Derham and their two children, Oliver and Sophie. Over coffee she gives me a potted history, explaining how in 1707 the Queen Anne block – which now forms the main part of the house – was added by the Buxton family, who then sold to the Windhams in 1720. Generations of the Windham/Meade family were then custodians for nearly 250 years and were responsible for many of the

improvements you see today, employing the young architect John Soane (whose work includes the Bank of England and 11 Downing Street) to convert the Orangery into the “Music Room” and in 1750 adding another sizeable extension to the north-east elevation.

In its heyday, Earsham Hall would have been a bustling household with an army of servants kept busy preparing for the hunting parties and banquet dinners, but from the 1920s onwards the family slowly diminished, and in 1948 it was let as a boarding and day 27

about interiors

school for boys aged 11-18. This surprising chapter bought youthful energy and noise to the rooms, once reserved for family ceremony, but it also took its toll on the fabric of the house and when it shut in 1973 it was in a bad state of repair. The Derham family purchased the estate in 1976, and Rupert’s father, an architect and antique dealer, set about renovating the hall and restoring it once more as a family home. Rupert took over the household in 1991, which at just 22 years old was an enormous responsibility and at times incredibly challenging, but together with Annabel they have once again reshaped its future, hosting historical tours, private parties and funeral gatherings, and renting the house as a film location and for photoshoots.

Today, three generations live together under 28

one roof, each with their own private spaces, but also enjoying a shared way of life that gives the house a rare vitality. The dining room coming alive at Christmas, the fires lit to welcome guests for new year, and the terrace filled with laughter on a warm summer’s night. History is not just being preserved behind ropes but lived in and enjoyed.

Annabel takes me on a tour of the main reception rooms which have been beautifully restored to the Georgian period. Ornate furniture and antiques are carefully placed and the walls lined with oil paintings of past generations that watch over the present with steady, painted gazes. High ceilings are decorated with delicate cornices and ceiling roses, and central to each room is a finely carved fireplace framed by a classical surround. In the library, towering book-lined shelves and a desk piled with weighty tomes

about interiors

lend it a quiet authority, and a magnificent central staircase rises through the heart of the house, instilling a sense of ceremony to the everyday.

Beyond the main house, Rupert and Annabel have found new purpose for the outbuildings.

A thriving antique centre now occupies part of the original Tudor building and guests can enjoy coffee and cake at the busy café whilst the newly opened estate shop is stocked with a carefully curated mix of homeware, cards and beautiful gifts. A range of independent businesses and a garden centre have also made a home here and last year one of the estate cottages was converted into a luxurious two-bedroom guest house which can be rented via Airbnb. Work is already underway for a second cottage to be opened this spring and there are also plans to convert

the Grade I listed music room into holiday accommodation and Annabel would love to see another collection of barns transformed into a wellness retreat, with the abandoned walled garden becoming a place for rest and reflection.

Earsham Hall has long been a place where history, hospitality, and family life are intertwined, and now under Rupert and Annabel’s watch, this legacy looks secure.

With fresh energy and deep respect for the past, they are breathing new life into this impressive family home, ensuring that its long story continues to unfold.

Earsham Hall is open daily.

For details of house tours and future events, please visit www.earshamhall.co.uk

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Get the look 1. Suffolk inspired gifts Converge 2. New collection Pappelina rugs @ Vanil From £289 3. Beautiful gifts & homeware Earsham Hall Shop

4. Willow flower basket Jo Hammond @ The Merchant’s Table £130 5. Arca wall shelf Harry C J Wix From £360 6. New & Vintage homeware New Street Market

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about interiors

7. Fabulous finds No 10 Harleston 8. Gorgeous fabrics Bespoke curtains & upholstery Red House Textiles

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9. Rainbow dish Snape Maltings £28

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10. Spring selection The Suffolk Food Hall 11. Bespoke Shaker kitchens House to Home Living 12. Fish stacking glasses Woodbridge Kitchen Shop £24.99

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13. Yarrow striped mugs Kindred @ collated Set of two £30

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Celebrating Constable about town

New adventures await At a time when the high street is coming under increasing pressure from online providers, it’s refreshing to see a new travel agency opening its doors in Halesworth. Go Explore Travel has already seen keen interest from clients looking to make travel plans and enjoying the opportunity to explore their options face-to-face.

Owner Steve Williams, formerly the Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Travel for 20 years, has seen the renaissance of the high street travel agent in recent years and is excited to bring his experience to Halesworth.

“Since the restrictions of the pandemic, travel has never been more important and clients have become more adventurous in their travel aspirations. More and more are choosing to talk to a specialist in person to help them create the perfect tailormade experience. We look forward to providing a service to the local community for many years to come.”

45 Thoroughfare, Halesworth IP19 8AR www.goexploretravel.co.uk 36

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Suffolk born artist, John Constable (1776-1837), who was to become one of the most important of all British painters.

To commemorate his life and work, Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) present Constable 250, a programme of exhibitions and activities at the heart of which will be three landmark exhibitions at Ipswich’s Christchurch Mansion, featuring works from CIMS’s own collections alongside major loans from across the UK. A highlight will be his iconic masterpiece, The Hay Wain, which is making its first ever visit to the county it depicts.

To find out more visit www.ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk The East Anglian Traditional Art Centre in Wickham Market is also celebrating Constable with an exhibition of over fifty pictures that look at the influence of various periods of his life and artistic development. Works by Constable’s family and the artists associated with him will be on display including his son Lionel, his grandson Hugh, and his great-great grandson Richard, as well as Ipswich artist George Frost.

John Constable, His Family and Friends: 21st March - 11th April www.eatac.co.uk

Bordering on excellence Wyken Hall near Bury St Edmunds is the perfect setting for the new Art for Cure outdoor sculpture exhibition this May and June.

Amidst the waves of spring blossom, bulbs and flowering herbaceous borders, the team have invited over 30 national sculptors to exhibit their work across the beautiful about gardens that wrap around this stunning medieval manor town house. They will be sensitively placed to enhance and complement the natural beauty of their surroundings, which include a formal knot garden, an intriguing maze, an old-fashioned rose garden inspired by Gertrude Jekyll, and a kitchen garden that supplies the award-winning Leaping Hare Restaurant.

Discover new sculptors Marie Ackers, Simon Probyn and Toby Winterbourn, as well as new pieces from the ever-popular Carol Peace, Jeremy Moulsdale and Suffolk-based Designs on Metal.

Whether you are looking for a special day out or are in pursuit of a stunning new artwork, make sure you pay Wyken Hall a visit and help support Art for Cure, a charity that continues to raise vital funds for national breast cancer research and East Anglian support services.

1st May – 28th June www.artforcure.org.uk

Magical woodland awakenings Woven within the woods of Helmingham Hall Estate, Guildenacre is an immersive new adventure playground being created by world-class playground designers Creating Adventurous Places. From this summer, children of all ages can embark on a magical adventure into nature as they step into a world where a glimmer of gold hints at tales untold and join four special guardians who protect the forest with the help of the magical Whispering Oak Tree. Each of the four playground areas is themed around one of the guardian animals and their habitat – Badger, Owl, Vixen and Stag – and there will be burrows, treetop walkways, climbing walls and an adrenaline-fuelled zip line.

Tickets will be available later this year and for the latest news and updates sign up to www.guildenacre.com.

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about the land

Hedge of reason 40

about the land

Traditional hedge laying, once an everyday skill of rural England, is enjoying a revival in Suffolk and Norfolk, in part, thanks to the knowledge and skill of two country gents, Richard Negus and Richard Gould. Passionate conservationists, together they are slowly shaping a network of living boundaries that over time will form habitats rich in nature and biodiversity.

I meet them on the edge of Wyken Hall Estate on a cold February afternoon. There is a slight mizzle in the air and a sharp easterly wind that cuts right through you, but both Richards seem oblivious. Hedge laying is hard physical work and the one they are tackling is particularly challenging as it has been left to grow tall and is more of a thin strip of trees than an actual hedge.

Whilst Richard.G starts up the chainsaw, Richard.N and I walk back along the line to inspect the day’s work. Hedge laying

involves partially cutting through the base of stems - known as pleachers - and carefully bending them over at the heel so they are almost flat to the ground. These pleachers are roughly woven together and pinned by crooks fashioned from stakes cut from the thicker branches. Even though it looks brutal, the stems are unharmed as the sap can still flow and come the spring, new growth will shoot from the bottom meaning the hedge thickens evenly from the base.

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about the land

The benefits to nature are substantial. A well laid hedge becomes a dense refuge, offering shelter to nesting birds, small mammals, insects and amphibians.

Songbirds find safe places to raise their young away from the biting wind and watchful eyes of the sparrowhawk, and hedgehogs and field mice use the thickened undergrowth as corridors, moving between feeding grounds without having to expose themselves to the dangers of the open fields. The chain saw pauses, and as if on cue a troupe of long-tailed tits flit by, their characteristic high-pitched calls making all three of us turn and smile. Hedgerows are an important part of their habitat so it is rather lovely to know their future along this part of the estate is now secured.

Richard.N and I find a refuge of our own in 42

the car and I learn that after leaving the army, he trained horses and it was whilst working on the Quenby Estate in Leicestershire that he was first introduced to hedge laying by a wonderful countryman called Michael Dixon. Being interested in conservation, Richard could see that a well laid hedge was an important part of wildlife revival in rural areas, so after returning to Suffolk, at a time when the government was beginning to get an environmental conscience, he started up a hedging business. This was 11 years ago and during this time he has become an award-winning conservationist, writer and author of the acclaimed book, ‘Words From The Hedge’, giving regular talks at events such as Groundswell, the National Game Farmers’ Association and the Cheltenham Science Festival.

about the land

For the last six seasons, he has worked alongside Richard.G, an ex-gamekeeper with a deep understanding of land management and wildlife behaviour. Their business has grown and they have established themselves as experts in their field, working with farmers to restore neglected hedgerows and reintroduce traditional management techniques, as well as advising on the best grants to apply for.

Field work takes place from September to March, when there are no nesting birds, and the summer is used to put together carefully curated hedge management plans, ensuring that come the autumn, hedges are trimmed and the growth kept in check so they can thicken and grow outwards not just upwards.

Their practical approach and passion for the countryside has opened many doors, and they now work with a mix of family farms, large estates, shoots and farming clusters - collaborative groups of farmers working together on landscape-scale environmental improvements, such as habitat connectivity, water quality, and carbon reduction. Traditional hedge laying is at the heart of this new initiative, proving that old skills still hold modern answers.

Managed correctly, hedges can turn into living walls that have the power to reconnect farms with a landscape that has been shaped over centuries, stitching the countryside together with green threads of life, shelter and continuity that will be here for many more years to come. www.richardnegus.co.uk 43

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about design

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Cast list

about design

Sculptor Laurence Edwards has won international acclaim for his bronze statues embodying the male form. Made on a large scale, his figures feel grounded, organic, and shaped by the landscape. One of his best known examples locally is the Yoxman, a giant bronze statue just off the A12 at Yoxford, which acts as a stoic sentinel watching over the land, so I am interested to hear about his plans for new landmark that will soon be standing guard over the coastal town of Lowestoft.

Laurence’s studio is housed within the old fire station at Saxmundham, and here a selection of his figures are gathered in quiet assembly.

Light pours in from skylights above, illuminating the rows of moulded heads that line the shelves and washing across bronze torsos. It is a remarkable space; the model of a severed arm hangs from the ceiling, in a side room the clay heads of chimpanzees jostle with human ones, and in the wax room I hold the gaze of a large male form that is part of his Metamorphosis collection. Many of his sculptures incorporate gathered materials

such as sticks, mud and grasses taken directly from the rivers, marshes, and estuaries of Suffolk. These elements are pressed into the wax, leaving impressions that are later translated into bronze so that his figures have a sense of place, the textures of reed beds and riverbanks weathered within their skin.

Laurence grew up in Snape, the marshes his back garden and the then derelict maltings his adventure playground. At sixteen, he did an art foundation course in Lowestoft, followed by a degree in Fine Art at 47

about design

Canterbury University, and it was there that his passion for sculpture and bronze casting was ignited. “They had a foundry at the university and I was instantly fascinated by the process of lost wax casting which fitted perfectly with my style of sculpture.” He was then accepted onto a Foundry Course at Royal College London, which was instrumental in shaping his career. “I had finally found a culture that I really belonged to. The foundry was imbued with an enormous sense of history, with strong links to the Italian Renaissance and echoes of the greats such as Donatello. Henry Moore and Eduardo Paolozzi were regular visitors - it was truly inspirational.”

Laurence returned to Suffolk in the early 90s and rented a large farmhouse in Laxfield that became a refuge for fellow artists looking for a community with a shared philosophy. A 48

melting pot of creativity, at its height fifteen artists shared the space, with studios and workshops spilling out from every room.

“After we were asked to move on, I went to see a collection of outbuildings at Butley and couldn’t believe the location. Backing onto the marshes, it felt like a hidden slice of the river that was totally unclaimed, a secret place where I could meld ancient and modernist worlds.” Laurence set up Butley Studio, creating another sanctuary for aspiring artists and somewhere he would begin producing a series of work that connected the Suffolk landscape to his work.

In 2008, Laurence produced the Creek Men, a trio of giants; primitive men arisen from the mud with cracked skin and limbs of wood, as if they have endured centuries of wind, water, and history before arriving where they stood.

Following in their footsteps came the Walking

about design

Men, five bronze figures striding forward with intent and yet seemingly caught between past and present, carrying the memory of migration and survival in every step. The Yoxman, his largest project to date, took four years and a team of fourteen to build, and this towering figure, rooted in time, is now a Suffolk icon. In order to cope with the scale of the work, Laurence set up a new foundry in Halesworth which he is now opening up to commercial casting, the experienced team taking on work from other artists.

This year, Laurence is turning his attention east, to the coastal town of Lowestoft where he is involved in a project that is transforming the old post office into a state-of-art gallery, print room, studio spaces and restaurant. A collaboration with the council and prestigious gallery, Messums, the hope is that the new gallery will attract artists from all around the

world and establish Lowestoft as a place of creativity and artistic innovation. As part of this cultural rebirth, Laurence will take over a purpose built public-facing studio and start work on another landmark statue that will stand guard on the beach, its gaze fixed towards the coast, tracking the tides and welcoming the dawn. In the meantime, as part of the FirstLight Festival this summer, a horned sculpture called the Long Wait will settle in the sands of Lowestoft beach.

Monstrous and menacing or lonely and pitiable? I urge you to look this magnificent figure in the eyes and decide for yourself.

Follow on Instagram @ laurenceedwards.bronze Casting enquiries for Halesworth foundry should contact edwards.bronze@gmail.com Enquiries for Messums: messumscreative.com 49

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about gardens

Salvation army

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about gardens

Salvias have a quietly theatrical presence, and although not necessarily the star of the show, planted through borders provide swathes of colour from late spring right through to the autumn. They are reliable and easy to grow, making them the perfect gardening foot soldiers. Part of the mint family, they release an aromatic, slightly peppery scent when their leaves are brushed, and the foliage itself is soft and textured, ranging in colour from silver to a deep green. Preferring a sunny position with well-drained soil, once established they will tolerate dry conditions and it is this toughness, paired with their long flowering season, that makes them a favourite in both formal gardens and more relaxed, naturalistic settings.

In flower they are a delight, spires of colour held aloft and dressed in shades of violet, indigo, crimson, soft pink, or pure white, depending on the variety. The most well-

known is salvia jamensis (hot lips), a hardy perennial with striking red and white bicoloured flowers that weaves lightly among neighbouring plants, but we love the deep purple of salvia nemorosa and the hot pink of salvia cerro potosi – a great colour combination if planted behind banks of white iberis or interwoven with white cosmos or gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride'.

Beyond its beauty, certain species of salvia have long been valued for their culinary, medicinal, and symbolic purposes - often associated with wisdom and healing. They are also brilliant for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making them an excellent choice for gardeners looking to create a thriving ecosystem. All-in-all, these little troupers bring a balance of structure and softness, offering colour, fragrance, and vitality without demanding constant attention. We salute them!

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about gardens

Sow and sow It has been a very wet start to the year and for many, late February might be the first chance to get out in the garden. It’s not too late for a quick tidy up of the borders, cutting back the dead foliage of perennials such as stocks and chrysanthemums, and giving your ornamental grasses a good chop to make way for new growth. Prune your roses and winter shrubs such as jasmine, over wintered fuchsias and buddleia, remembering to always cut back to a leaf bud or side shoot.

As we head into March the garden awakes, with daffodils, primroses and crocuses all jostling for centre stage. So too come the first weeds, so make sure you add a layer of good quality mulch to help suppress these irksome invaders.

April showers, swathes of bobbing tulips, gorgeously frothy blossom and vivid, lime green foliage – spring arrives in all its glory.

With the soil warming up, sow colourful annuals such as nigella, night-scented stocks,

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Tales from the potting shed

March Prune roses and winter shrubs Mulch borders Plant summer flowering bulbs

cosmos and gypsophila directly onto your prepared borders for long-lasting flowers during the summer. You can also get busy in the veg patch, sowing carrots, peas, beetroot, spinach and lettuce for early summer pickings. And don’t forget your lawns, because as well as mowing regularly, now is a good time for reseeding bare patches, repairing edges and evening out bumps and hollows.

Roll up your sleeves and welcome the month of May as there is much to do. Thin out directsown vegetables and support pea and runner bean shoots as they curl their way upward.

Prune spring flowering shrubs, trim your lavender, plant out summer bedding plants, feed your lawn, weed, weed, weed, stake tall perennials such as delphiniums, and plant out your dahlia tubers for riotous colour in the autumn. Once that is all done, pull up a chair on the patio and pause to take in the beauty of spring and savour the joy of warmer evenings and the hint of summer just around the corner.

April Sow hardy annuals Divide clumps of perennials Sow herbs in pots

May Prune penstemons Tie in rambling roses Trim lavender plants

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Tel: 01394 834007 56

1B Hamilton Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7AX

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about food

Appetite for life

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about food

As the name of his website - Eat Your Environment - suggests, Mike Keen is not your average dinner date. Having worked as a chef for many years, his curiosity for how far we have departed from the diet of our ancestors has led him on a series of culinary adventures, which this year sees him skiing across the frozen landscapes of Greenland with just a dead seal for company – and sustenance!

Mike explains that it all began back in 2017 when, whilst running The Boot at Freston, he began experimenting with fermentation.

“Working as a chef, there are so many rules and regulations around food - the shelf life, storage conditions and temperature control - that it made me think, what did we do before the fridge was invented!” He was working in a remote fjord as a chef as part of his research into wild ferments, and it was there, whilst talking with a Greenlandic chef over supper, that he formulated the idea of exploring further what our ancestors ate, what has changed since then, and how those changes echo through modern health.

Mike came up with a plan to kayak solo across the icy waters from Qaqortoq, Greenland’s (almost) most southerly town, to Qaanaaq, its most northerly, a trip of over 3000km. The aim of the expedition was to see how Mike’s body coped and adapted to eating as the local Inuits have done for thousands of years. A simple diet of fish, walrus, whale and seal; rich in fat and protein and entirely absent of processed foods. It was an ambitious project and one that sparked an interest from the scientific world which was keen to collect data on how Mike’s body reacted to this radical shift in diet. He collaborated with Professor Tim 59

about food

Spector, who has written several books about the relationship between nutrition, the gut microbiome and health, and is the co-founder of ZOE. With the help of a team from King’s College London, they analysed Mike before, during and after the trip, collecting data such as body fat, lung function, metabolic health, blood pressure and grip strength, hoping the results would answer one big question - How would a modern body respond to an ancient way of eating under extreme physical stress?

Mike set off in April 2023, aiming to spend three months living off whatever he could catch, as well as supplies of dried fish, whale blubber, and foraged seabird eggs. “It was tough but over time I learnt to listen to my inner circadian rhythm, sleeping when I was tired, eating when I was hungry. It was 60

incredibly liberating to spend time on the important things I needed to do each day just to survive: thawing the water bladders; making a fire; securing the tent; watching the weather, which was always my biggest threat; and eating enough calories to allow me to paddle the next leg.” Four weeks in, Mike reached the capital, Nuuk, where the national university was also helping to analyse the collected data, and was shocked to find out that he had already lost two stone. “I was worried that if I continued to lose weight at this rate I would struggle, but interestingly, after this my weight levelled out at 75kg and my energy levels were really fantastic.”

The final results surprised everyone, seeing a dramatic improvement in all of his health parameters; proving that our metabolic

about food

health is inherently resilient and that we do have a deep evolutionary memory, like an old song remembered after centuries of silence. Mike is now preparing for his most ambitious experiment yet, The Human Diet Project. Instead of a single environment, he will move through three distinct dietary eras, each representing a major turning point in human history. First comes the hunter gatherer diet, built around wild plants, meat, and seasonal scarcity, and Mike will spend three weeks with the tribes of Namibia and four weeks back in Greenland, this time skiing across the frozen landscape dragging a dead seal behind which will act as his mobile larder. Next is the agricultural diet, rooted in grains, dairy, and the first large scale shift toward farming, and for this he will live with traditional sheep herders in the Carpathian

Mountains. Finally, he will confront the modern diet of fast food and takeaway, a world of convenience, abundance, and engineered flavour, and, as expected, this is the one he is dreading most.

As before, each phase will be carefully monitored, with medical teams documenting how Mike’s body responds and adapts. Using these results, the plan is to then create a hybrid diet, selecting elements from all three and proving that in a world that is changing too quickly for evolution, it is still possible to eat healthily.

With current obesity levels on the rise, perhaps the answer is not to be found in laboratories and injections, but in fresh seasonal produce and in the meals we have forgotten how to make. www.eatyourenvironment.com 61

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about taste

Down by the Riverside, uptown too Marlowe’s restaurant, adjoining The Riverside Cinema in Woodbridge, opened nearly a year ago and has quickly become a firm favourite with locals. Now, its renowned chef Oliver Marlowe is taking over the kitchen at what was JJ’s Wine Bar. He is teaming up with Jana Kelnarova - the pair previously worked together at The Riverside - in this exciting new collaboration under the banner Marlowe’s at JJ’s, where you can expect bold, modern European small plates alongside an exceptional wine list, local beers and creative cocktails.

“This is a more relaxed, casual space. The menu at JJ’s will be everchanging, with dishes designed for sharing - think brown crab on toast, grilled merguez with aioli and salsa verde, and smoked ham hock & Gruyère croquettes with truffle mayo.”

Bookings and walkins welcome. For opening times, visit www.jjswoodbridge.com Just opposite the Riverside, Portion is another fabulous new food spot in town, run by Tristan Breadman.

“Portion is the result of a journey shaped by years spent working with Italian food businesses, during which time I came to 64

appreciate a food culture where quality ingredients and simple, confident cooking are everything - generous, balanced and comforting.”

For Tristan, rotisserie chicken felt like the perfect place to start - a proper ‘quick fix’ dinner option, whether you’re feeding a family or

simply don’t feel like cooking after a long day.

Whole chickens are slowroasted on the spit, seasoned with a house rub and left to marinate for 24 hours so the flavour penetrates right through the meat.

You can also take away roast potatoes, sides and dips, or enjoy the chicken in several of their sandwiches, made with schiacciata — a traditional Italian flattened focaccia style bread. The dough is made on site and baked fresh daily, creating a light, crispy yet soft base. The Verdura is Portion’s standout veggie option and not surprisingly, it has quickly become a favourite - it’s generously filled with artichoke cream, aubergine, courgette, stracciatella, and sun-blushed tomatoes.

With countertop sausage rolls, chocolate brownies and coffee too, our only problem with this one-stop foodie pit-stop will be resisting the urge to stop by every day.

Vlad is back!

Former chef at The Fountain in Tuddenham, Vladimir Zdarsky - known affectionately as Vlad - is back, but this time as its new owner, a return that has been celebrated by his sizeable local following.

Previously the familiar face behind Vlad’s Patisserie, he later moved on to Retreat East, where the focus on seasonality, local produce and nose-to-tail cooking played a key role in his development.

Now back at The Fountain, Vlad is keen to rebuild its reputation as a place for great food and excellent service - somewhere people feel welcome and eager to return.

“I’m excited about presenting food that speaks for itself - cooking that’s about clean, simple and taste makes sense.

Good ingredients, solid technique, no unnecessary extras.”

If you like the sound of confit chicken leg with mash and mustard sauce or fishcakes with curry sauce and bitter leaves, why not try out the set menu: 2 courses for £22/3 courses for £26, Wednesday – Friday. *at time of printing

For all the latest, follow on Instagram @thefountainpub.

Come in from the cold Having seen how rising food costs and social isolation were affecting people in the community, FramFridge began with a simple but powerful idea - to create a space where good food is shared with those who need it most, and where no one in or around Framlingham feels alone or left behind.

At the heart of the project are two community driven spaces: the Community Fridges, where anyone can share good quality food for those in need, and the Community Growing Space, where volunteers grow fresh produce to stock the fridges.

FramFridge also provides food parcels for

those facing crisis situations, offering short-term support to help people through difficult times - without creating long-term dependence. It is also about connection - chatting while tending the garden, sharing recipes, or lending a hand to keep the fridge stocked. Volunteers are always welcome.

To find out how you can get involved or find support, follow on Facebook and Instagram @FramFridge or email info@framfridge.co.uk FramFridge @ The Sheds, 1 Black Barn Cottages, Saxtead Road, Framlingham IP13 9PU • www.framfridge.co.uk 65

about taste

Wild Garlic & Lemon Risotto Ingredients (Serves 4) • 1 tbsp olive oil • 25g butter • 1 small onion, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 300g arborio risotto rice • 150ml dry white wine • 1 litre hot, good quality chicken or vegetable stock • 60g parmesan, finely grated • Zest of 1 lemon • 2 good handfuls fresh wild garlic, washed and roughly chopped • Seasalt and black pepper

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As the first signs of spring appear across Suffolk’s countryside, you may come across wild garlic on woodland floors and in the hedgerows, bringing a fresh, unmistakable scent to the air. However, if foraging for it is unsuccessful, wild garlic is now readily available in good greengrocers.

This simple risotto celebrates its short season with light, vibrant flavours and the vivid green of early spring!

Method

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.

Now stir in the garlic and cook for approx. 30 seconds, making sure it doesn’t burn.

Add the risotto rice and stir well to coat in the oil and butter.

Pour in the white wine and simmer gently until almost fully absorbed. Now begin adding the hot stock, a ladle at a time, stirring regularly

so that the rice releases its starch, giving the dish a wonderful creamy texture.

Continue slowly adding the stock, this can take 18–20 minutes, until the rice is tender but still has a slight bite.

Stir in the parmesan, lemon zest and chopped wild garlic and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately with crusty sourdough and a glass of dry white wine for a perfect early spring supper.

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round & about

A walk through time With our local footpaths resembling muddy streams and everyone fed up with the effort of slogging across waterlogged fields, this issue, five intrepid explorers opt to leave the kids, dogs and wellies behind and head into Ipswich for an historical walk that leads us in the footsteps of a wool trader in Tudor times.

The walk starts at Christchurch Mansion where we were lucky to find parking along Bolton Lane, although Crown Car Park would also be an easy option. The park is abuzz with people out for a Sunday stroll or a jog and there are dogs of all shapes and sizes, some happily pottering along the path, others (well, spaniels) manically chasing the squirrels that are nipping between the massive oaks dotted throughout the park.

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Mary tells us about a wise old owl called Mabel who used to live in one of the oaks and was a local landmark, and sure enough we soon pass a small wooden statue dedicated to her memory.

We have downloaded an app for the walk and are pinged our first set of facts when we reach Christchurch Mansion. It was built in 1547 by Edmund Withypoll, a wealthy merchant and moneylender, and remains to this day an impressive example of a Tudor house. It is now home to a museum and art gallery where this March The Hay Wain by John Constable will be on public display. The app tells us that we are wool traders and our journey will lead us through the town to the quay where we will try to sell our wares,

round & about

which prompts a lively debate as to whether we are wolves in sheep’s clothing or in fact mutton dressed as lamb!

We exit the park via Soane Street and after crossing the main road, turn left down Northgate Street. Immediately to our right is the second marker, Pykenham’s Gatehouse, a striking timber and brick gateway that is all that remains of a grand residence built for the Archdeacon of Suffolk in the 1470s. Just along from here is a beautiful black and white timbered building that was once a tavern for rowdy traders. Now home to a firm of solicitors it is rather dryer! We turn right along the pedestrianised Tavern Street to the town centre. Here, two very impressive buildings have stories to tell. The historic Cornhill Post Office first opened in 1881, but in Tudor times this site was occupied by ‘The

Shambles’, an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market. Trading back then would have been carried out in makeshift huts, and it wasn’t until 1882 that the Corn Exchange was built to serve the town’s thriving grain trade.

En-route to our next marker we stop to admire the famous Grandma statue by sculptor Miles Robinson, which was erected in 1993 as a tribute to the cartoonist Giles who lived locally. Along from the Buttermarket we reach the Ancient House, also known as Sparrowe’s House, a Grade I listed 15th century timber-framed building with elaborate pargetting depicting the four continents - Australia and Antarctica were yet to be discovered - and home to a string of wealthy merchants. Sadly is it now empty so no wool sales for us.

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round & about

We head along St Stephens Lane to the old cattle market and across to Silent Street, where we come across another stunning Tudor house that used to be the Claude Cox second hand book shop. The app pipes up and tells us that Silent Street may have got its name from straw being laid down to deaden the noise of passing horses so as not to disturb the wounded soldiers laid up in Curzon Lodge, which – back in the late 17th century - was used as a hospital.

On the corner, we shake hands with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey himself. This bronze statue was unveiled in 2011 and depicts Wolsey as a teacher and educator rather than a shrewd political heavyweight who fell so far from grace. He was born in Ipswich, and around 1527 had a visionary plan to set up a public school in the town that was to rival Eton.

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Heading along St Peter’s Street towards the waterfront, we find Wolsey’s Gate, a crumbling Tudor brick gateway that is the sole surviving remnant of his ambitious dream that sadly never came to fruition.

We reach the quay and the end of our journey. Still no takers for our wool but the app says that the warehouses along the front would have given us a good price. It has been an educational morning and as we wander back through The Saints in search of coffee, we all agree it is easy to ignore the history on your doorstep and that once in a while it is good to look up and really notice what is there for all to see.

The app was called Questo and was £9.99 for the map and instructions.

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Stockists about you Aldeburgh Physio and Pilates Studio The Tractor Shed, Kings Field Aldeburgh IP15 5HY T: 07495 901425 www.aldeburghphysioandpilates. co.uk Asteria Wellbeing The Granary Snape Maltings Snape IP17 1SR www. asteriawellbeingandkhaosbarbering. co.uk Collen & Clare 25 Market Place Southwold IP18 6ED www.collenandclare.com Frankie’s Studio The Green Grundisburgh IP13 6TA www.frankies.studio @frankies.studio

Fashion emporium Anna 32 Church Street Woodbridge IP12 1DH www.shopatanna.com Boho & Blyth 7a Market Hill Framlingham IP13 9AN 58 Thoroughfare Halesworth IP19 8AR www.bohoandblyth.com Coes 20-28 Norwich Road Ipswich IP1 2NH www.coes.co.uk

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Henrietta Spencer Grange Farm Hasketon IP13 6HN www.henriettaspencer.co.uk

Harry CJ Wix 69 Thoroughfare Woodbridge IP12 @harrycjwix

Ives Footwear 29 Thoroughfare Woodbridge IP12 1AA www.ivesfootwear.co.uk

House to Home Living Place Farm Old Bury Road, Stuston Diss IP21 4AD www.housetohomeliving.co.uk

Matisa Market www.matisamarket.com Moose Market Hill Woodbridge IP12 4LU @mooseonthehill O&C Butcher 129-131 High Street Aldeburgh IP15 5AS www.ocbutcher.co.uk Out & About 4b Market Hill Framlingham IP13 9BA www.tuckwells.com Ruby Tyger No 1 The Mews Market Hill Framlingham IP13 9AN www.rubytyger.com @rubytyger.framlingham Wahoo 68 Thoroughfare Woodbridge IP12 1AL www.wahoouk.com

Interiors emporium collated Guildhall, Market Hill Framlingham IP13 9BD www.collatedonline.com

Ernest Doe Broadwater Road Framlingham IP13 9LL T: 01728 723963 www.ernestdoe.com

Converge 4 Church Street Framlingham IP13 9BQ @convergeframlingham

Fleur 166 High Street Aldeburgh IP15 5AQ www.fleuraldeburgh.co.uk

Earsham Hall Antiques Denton Rd Bungay NR35 2AN www.earshamhallantiques.co.uk

New Street Market 70 New St Woodbridge IP12 1DX www.newstreetmarket.com No10 Harleston 10 Market Place Harleston IP20 9AD @10harleston Red House Textiles Red House, High Street Ufford, Woodbridge IP13 6EL www.redhousetextiles.com Snape Maltings Snape Bridge Snape IP17 1SP www.brittenpearsarts.org Suffolk Food Hall Wherstead Ipswich IP9 2AB www.suffolkfoodhall.co.uk The Merchant’s Table 10 Church St Woodbridge IP12 1DH www.themerchantstable.co.uk The Woodbridge Kitchen Company 7 Thoroughfare Woodbridge IP12 1AA www.woodbridgekitchencompany. co.uk Vanil 17 Church Street Woodbridge IP12 1DS www.vanil.co.uk @vanil_ltd

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