

Summer 2025
Issue Sixteen
Look no further than aboutsuffolk, the local magazine that packs a Suffolk punch!
Pickmeup and take me home!
The summer issue of aboutsuffolk is a right sizzler! We get behind the lens and take in some spectacular Suffolk landscapes, enjoy a slice of thin, crispy Roman pizza at Pinch and explore the stark, yet oddly beautiful Orford Ness, the setting of a new immersive audio play which weaves fragments of Robert Macafarlane’s book ‘Ness’ into the history of this unusual shingle spit. We marvel at an extraordinary garden in Westleton, and feel the sand between our toes on a visit to a beach hut in Southwold.
Our latest competition offers you the chance to win a session at Suffolk Escape Room, where you and up to five players can test your wits in a mind puzzling race against time. We also bring you ideas and inspiration for your home and garden, our pick of the latest fashion trends, and a roundup of the latest news and events coming your way.
So, grab your sunnies, pour yourself a cold drink, plump up the cushions and settle down for the read.
Enjoy!
Kathy & Sarah
Editorial
Kathy Churchill Sales
Designer Lucy Hart
Silverlace Creative
aboutmedia info@aboutmedia.co.uk 01728 666352 www.aboutmedia.co.uk
lucy@silverlacecreative.co.uk www.silverlacecreative.co.uk
Images Gill Moon Photography www.gillmoon.com who’s about page 10 Beckie Egan Photography www.beckieegan.co.uk about interiors page 26
Sarah Clarke If you would like to sign up to the weekly aboutfram e-newsletter, please subscribe at www.aboutmedia.co.uk/aboutfram
Green Photography
out & about who’s about about style about you about interiors about town about the land about design about gardens about food about taste round & about
7 Competition Time
Your chance to win a session for up to six players at Suffolk Escape Room, worth £120
8 Clicking into place
We get behind the lens with awardwinning photographer Gill Moon who is capturing the raw beauty of our Suffolk landscapes, one frame at a time.
14 Out and about
A round up of local events.
18 Fashion Fix New styles for a new season.
22 Health & beauty
Heating up Scandi-style, perfect beach waves, powerful energy healing and a great local charity supporting the Lowestoft community.
26 Hut life
The nostalgic charm of a beach hut in Southwold where lazy days are spent swimming and building sandcastles before a fish and chip supper on the veranda.
32 Get the look
Chic ideas for restyling your home.
36 about town
Thrive takes a trip to the seaside, a new exhibition by David Riches, what’s going on over at the FlipSide and how, with local support, Akenfield is taking to the stage.
40 Soundfulness
On Orford Ness, the immersive audio landscape of a new collaboration between High Tide and The National Trust brings Robert Macfarlane’s poem ‘Ness’ to life.
46 Living Landscapes
The bizarre and the beautiful come together in an amazing family garden where designer, Sue Townsend is bringing a little magic of her own.
52 Iris charm
Why bearded irises, prized for their ruffled blooms, are tickling the fancy of gardeners across the county.
58 Top that
We share a slice of thin and crispy traditional Roman pizza with Alice Norman, who has added it to the menu at Pinch.
64 about taste
Whenever you’re hungry, we’ve got you covered: breakfast, lunch and dinner!
66 Salmorejo – Gazpacho Sevillano
A delicious variation on gazpacho, a creamy tomato soup, best served chilled.
68 Eye to Eye
A circular walk that loops around the market town of Eye across boardwalks, water meadows and marshes.
72 Stockists
Where to buy all the lovely stuff!
out & about who’s about about style about you about interiors about town about the land about design about gardens about food about taste round & about
Win a session for up to 6 players at Suffolk Escape Room, worth £120
Suffolk Escape Room is located just outside Saxmundham, nestled in the Suffolk countryside within original wartime Nissen Huts - an unforgettable and atmospheric setting.
Perfect for adults and families with children aged 10 and up, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a fun, team-building experience with friends, family, or colleagues.
Choose from three original and immersive games: Air Raid, The Hideout, and The Birthday Pay-Up. Each challenge requires teams to uncover hidden clues and solve puzzles in a race against the clock.
You’ll have just 60 minutes to complete your mission and escape - will your team have what it takes?
The clock is ticking. Let the challenge begin!
For your chance of winning this fabulous prize, please answer the following question correctly:
Q: How long do you have to complete the mission and escape?
Send your answer to prize@ aboutfram.com quoting Suffolk Escape Room in the subject header.
The competition closes at 23.59 hours on 28th September.
who’s about
In the quiet corners of Suffolk, where wide skies meet whispering reedbeds and weathered trees stand sentinel over forgotten paths, professional photographer Gill Moon has found her calling. Since moving here in 2007, she has spent nearly twenty years capturing the raw and gentle beauty of our rural landscapes, one frame at a time.
What began as hobby quickly evolved into something more after Gill was asked to take photos of local sailing regattas. “I used to own a Dutch barge that was moored down at Pin Mill and then at Woodbridge, and so I became part of the sailing community. I rented the barge to holidaymakers and after seeing my marketing images, requests came in for photos of sailing yachts and some of the races.”
Armed with her Nikon Z8, Gill loves wandering the coastline and footpaths
near her home in Hollesley, drawn to places where solitude and nature meet. Her skill at framing the perfect scene led to success with printed cards and calendars and she now runs a number of courses for those seeking to improve their composition and post-production skills. “I love the landscapes that I photograph and there is nothing better than helping others forge a connection with them. At the heart of all my workshops is the joy that being out in the natural world brings.” who’s
about
who’s about
One of Gill’s favourite locations is the hauntingly sparse Shingle Street, where the land seems to slip silently into the sea, her powerful images embracing the negative spaces - the vast sky, the quiet curve of shoreline, the subtle play of light on shingle – and the beauty of the changing seasons. “In winter, the huge skies lend a brooding, almost sinister atmosphere to the shoreline, whilst in the spring it comes alive with flowering sea kale, yellow poppies and rock samphire.” She is also a frequent visitor to banks of the River Deben, mesmerised by its ever-changing reflections and tidal moods; her photos reflecting its movement and transition, and the mysterious Staverton Thicks, an ancient woodland where twisted oaks and hidden clearings evoke a fairytale stillness. The latter is the inspiration for one of her published works,
‘Rooted’. “This is my story of an ancient woodland. It is one of connection: between two tree species, between humanity and nature and, on a more personal level, between a photographer and an ancient oakwood.”
Before moving to Suffolk, Gill was already familiar with the contours of its landscapes as she used to holiday here with her parents. Now, she seeks the quieter places where you can feel the full force of nature, the tide rising, birds lifting, light shifting across water, and it is these places that she shares on her courses. She offers a selection, starting with a relaxing 2-hour Photo Walk where you get to chat with other enthusiasts and experiment with exposure and depth of field before ending up at Gill’s campervan for coffee and cake.
There are 1-2-1 sessions which can be tailored to suit the specific requests of the individual, whether in the field or in the studio, learning how to use Lightroom for the best end results, half or full day small group sessions that are designed to take your photography a bit further, and 7-day residential workshops held in Scotland and the West Country. “You can’t rush past things. You have to slow down and notice the way the light falls, how a reed bends in the wind, or the way the river surface changes minute by minute. Photography trains your attention—and once you start paying attention, beauty is everywhere.”
Gill is currently working a new project, ‘Connection’, a collaboration featuring eight photographers and eight stories of connection based on the landscapes of
Suffolk. The final exhibition will tell these individual stories through eight images that will detail each photographer’s personal connections with the landscape, wildlife, people and rural ways of life of Suffolk. There is a distinctive style to Gill’s work, a quiet sense of reverence, and through her teaching she is helping others rediscover the wonder in places they might otherwise overlook. In an age of distraction and speed, her work reminds us that the countryside still holds quiet magic - if we’re willing to stop, look, and truly see.
The Connection Project will be at Art Space in Woodbridge 4th-10th December. For details of her courses visit www.gillmoon.com
FRIDAY 29TH AUGUST
Thorington Theatre
Tickets £25 from www.thoringtontheatre.co.uk
SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
Octagon Chapel, Norwich
Tickets £15 from www.honeyandthebear.co.uk
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER
The Riverside, Woodbridge
Tickets £17 from www.theriverside.co.uk
Until 23rd: Hamlet
The Red Rose Chain brings you an unforgettable night of Shakespeare from the forest at Sutton Hoo.
10th: Balimaya Project
An exhilarating celebration of the living tradition of West African music. Snape Maltings
13th-16th: Gaslight
A dark tale of a marriage based on deceit and trickery set in dark, dangerous and foggy London. Southwold Arts Centre
16th-18th: Aldeburgh Carnival
An unforgettable weekend filled with music, dancing, food, and fun for all ages.
17th: Music in the Gardens
The High Points bring funk and soul to the gardens at Helmingham Hall.
23rd: Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s gothic horror classic comes to life in this thrilling adaptation. Thorington Theatre
23rd-24th: Summer Fest Suffolk
A weekend of unforgettable music, family fun, and summer vibes. Framlingham College
25th: Classic and Sports Cars by the Bridge
A full day for owners near and far with food, drink and fun for all the family. Suffolk Food Hall
26th: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Three Inch Fools perform in the magical setting of Butley Priory.
29th: Honey & the Bear
British folk and roots duo combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. Thorington Theatre
29th: This Classical Life.
Jess Gillam from BBC Radio 3 joins forces with BBC Concert Orchestra. Snape Maltings
31st: Suffolk Dog Day
A much-loved family event hosted by St Elizabeth Hospice. Trinity Park
Sept:
5th: Myth and Magic
A sunset tour of the Anglo-Saxon Royal Burial Ground at Sutton Hoo.
5th: Music by Moonlight
An intimate concert featuring the songs of Adele set beneath the glow of a giant moon in the magnificent Great Hall at Helmingham Hall.
6th: Legends of Motown
A high energy tribute show jam-packed with all of Motown’s biggest hits. Seckford Theatre
11th-14th: Clay in Claire
A ceramics exhibition showcasing the beauty and versatility of clay. The Old Goods Shed, Clare
12th: Radio Caroline
A fascinating history of pirate radio and Radio Caroline, the pioneering pirate radio station. The Hold, Ipswich
14th: Autumn Plant Fair
Specialist nurseries, artisan products, conservation zone, live music and children’s activities. Helmingham Hall
16th-17th: Penned Up
A powerful celebration of storytelling, second chances, and the unexpected bonds that form behind bars. Wolsey Theatre
25th-17th Oct: Teechers
A fast-paced comedy from Eastern Angles with a vital message about the entrenched inequalities of the UK’s education system. Touring
27th-28th: Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival
A celebration of Suffolk’s finest food and drink, with cooking demos, workshops, talks and live music. Snape Maltings
28th: India Electric Company
A blend of traditional instruments, folk melodies and subtle electronic influences. Wingfield Barns
Oct:
3rd: The Angel and The Shadow
Reimagining the poetry of Gertrud Kolmar. An immersive musical journey with Professor Julian Marshall. Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall
3rd-5th: Ipswich Book Festival
Author talks, book signings & meet-the-authors, workshops & writing masterclasses. Dial Lane Books
4th: Nothing but a Good Time
Two hours of iconic rock anthems from Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, and more! Seckford Theatre
4th: Talk by Simon Barnes
The author and journalist on spring, love, poetry and religion. Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall
9th-25th: Don’t Look Now
A chilling reimagining of Daphne du Maurier’s iconic supernatural thriller. The Wolsey Theatre
22nd: Hamlet
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® brings you a drunkenly stomp all over the greatest dramatic work ever committed to page. Corn Exchange, Ipswich
23rd-26th: SPILL Festival
This international arts festival returns to Ipswich.
30th: Halloween Disco
A night of frightful fun and ghoulish grooves for all the family. Suffolk Food Hall
31st: The Tales Our Mother Told! Two brothers unravel their mother’s tales, seeking truth, clarity, and reconciliation. The Common Ground Theatre Company. Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall
7. Mora cuff bracelet
Alba Jewellery
£180
8. Button through dress
Oui @ Darcy B
£199
9. Place du Soleil dress
Matisa Market
£65 Size (M : New with tags)
10. PP Kylie trousers
Anna £101.50
11. Lapis skirt
Ruby Tyger
£42
12.
Henrietta Spencer
£69
From its humble beginnings as a homeless night shelter in Lowestoft, over the last fifty years The Access Community Trust has grown significantly in scale and reach and today champions homelessness support across East Anglia. The charity provides a range of mental health and wellbeing assistance through community hubs and outreach programmes for vulnerable individuals of all ages, as well as families and wider communities that find themselves socially isolated.
A shining example of their work is Sam’s Wellbeing Hub + Cafe in Lowestoft. This vibrant social enterprise serves as a welcoming community hub, providing essential services, including employment support, mental health guidance and practical assistance like free meals for vulnerable families. Sam’s also hosts a diverse range of community events and acts as a base for other important charities, such as ANDYSMANCLUB - a men’s suicide prevention charity - and Women’s Wellness Group - an informal, women-only meet up where you can seek advice and guidance across a number of topics.
If you would like to learn more, or would be interested in volunteering, please visit www.accessct.org
In Scandinavia sauna is a way of life, and over the last four years Sauna Box has brought this philosophy to Suffolk with its mobile saunas popping up at Dunwich beach every weekend. Its mantra is health, happiness and community, all of which are provided by the ladle-full as soon as you step inside one of the beautifully converted horseboxes. You can book a single slot or take over the whole sauna for an hour with up to seven friends. There are also special full-moon sessions, sound baths, ice plunges and yoga classes – all good for the mind, body and soul.
If you love the idea of sauna as a way of life, Sauna Box also specialises in crafting bespoke, authentic Finnishstyle saunas that blend timeless tradition with modern design. Available in three different styles and with prices from £5450, this may just be a lifestyle choice you can’t live without!
www.saunabox.co.uk
Who am I truly when the world isn’t watching? What unresolved emotions and strengths did my ancestors pass on to me? These are questions of the soul and an intuitive healer can support you with uncovering them.
Cat Rowe is a Psychic Energy Healer, certified Polyvagal Therapy Practitioner and Trauma Informed Bodyworker qualified in Swedish Holistic Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Reiki Level 2 Healing. Her signature treatment is Insight Healing, a powerful yet gentle form of energy healing that combines Reiki, intuitive channelling and deep presence through nervous system awareness and massage therapy. She is passionate about helping people break free from the unconscious emotional patterns and beliefs that hold them back, so if you’re noticing a pattern that keeps cropping up in your life, maybe your relationship with self, others, money or health - Insight Healing could be for you.
Cat is also a skilled Tarot/Intuitive Card Reader, channelling past life/ancestral imprints and spirit guides during her readings. Based at Woodbridge Natural Health Centre, her sessions are safe, grounded, and bring a high level of intuitive awareness developed through years of meditation, somatic practices and psychic development.
For contact details and testimonials, please visit www.catrowehealingmassage.com.
Want to know the secret to perfect beach tousled hair but without the sand, sea and sweat! Just give it a few squirts of Texturizing Sea Salt Spray from professional brand Insight – an environmentally conscious brand that uses natural ingredients and is certified vegan. This brilliant spray contains sea salt and organic aloe extract which hydrates hair, boosting body and volume to effortlessly create beach waves all year long. Non-greasy and non-sticky it is suitable for straight, curly, long or short hair. Just shake, spray and scrunch dry!
Available from Asteria Wellbeing at Snape Maltings.
Above the golden sands of Southwold beach, just a stone’s throw from its iconic pier, stands Jabba, a weather-worn and much-loved family beach hut. One of only seven private huts along this part of the promenade, its blue and white clapboard walls and striped canvas awning are instantly reminiscent of summer holidays at the seaside.
Jabba is owned by Judith and Phil, who have been visiting Southwold for over thirty years, initially with Judith’s parents who used to rent a house down on Ferry Road, and then with their own family after they bought a second home in Reydon. “We always dreamt of having our own beach hut and when I put my name on the waitlist I couldn’t have ever imagined that ten years later we would get the opportunity to finally buy one.” That was eleven years ago and now, Jabba is very much part of the family, a trove of memories, layered with years of laughter, stories and sandy footprints.
Sharing a small stretch of beach with the other six huts, from the veranda you enjoy an enviable view of Southwold Pier stretching out into the North Sea, and inside, the hut is a nostalgic blend of past and present. A pair of deckchairs with sun-bleached canvas sit neatly folded by the door, a banquette offers the perfect spot to slip off your flipflops and curl up with a book, and hanging from a peg rail is a battered straw hat, a painted sign pointing to the ‘seaside’ and a beach bag filled with sunscreen, goggles and spare towels. A wooden dresser is home to a collection of brightly coloured mugs, an
assortment of beach finds, jars of tea and coffee and dog treats, and below a wooden crate is stuffed with cosy blankets for when the sun dips and the evenings turn chilly. To one side Phil has built a small counter to hold a gas stove, the bottle cleverly hidden in the cupboard below, and from the ceiling an ornate lampshade with a pull on/off light gently sways in the sea breeze.
Above the bi-folding doors is a ledge where a jumble of buckets, spades, cricket bats, bodyboards and windbreaks are stashed, each one offering memories of happy sun-kissed afternoons on the beach. “Before we were lucky enough to buy Jabba, we used to rent a hut further up the beach, and I have so many memories of the kids, William and Harriet, spending hours busying themselves on the beach, only coming back
for money for an ice-cream or to wolf down a sandwich. We now rent out our hut so it is rather lovely that other families will be able to replicate this care-free fun and store up cherished memories of their own.”
Jabba can be rented for the week or by the day and Judith has got to know many of the visitors personally as they have become regulars, often booking the same week each year. It is also dog-friendly and although dogs are not allowed on the main beach during the summer, the hut is a great spot for them to people-watch and escape the sun. Judith also explains that after October half term all of the huts along this stretch are lifted off their plot and stored in the carpark behind, only returning at Easter. “It is quite a sight to see them dangling below the crane and being swung around! During this time
we repaint and do any needed maintenance as the sea air can be brutal.” There is also a great sense of community amongst the hut owners, with shared WhatsApp messages keeping those that don’t live locally up-todate with any news or reporting back after bad weather.
Although no-one is allowed to stay overnight in the beach huts, the evenings bring their own seaside magic. After a day spent swimming, beachcombing, and exploring the arcades, the family gathers on the veranda for fish and chip suppers wrapped in newspaper and steaming hot. The twinkling lights strung along the pier reflect back from the inky water below and the hiss and swish of the waves rolling over the shingle adding a rhythmic backbeat. “It is a very special place and, although William and
Harriet are now adults, they still love coming back. Suffolk has very much become part of their summers and Jabba is an integral part of our life here now.”
And, after just one sunny morning spent here with Judith, I can keenly feel the draw of its nostalgic charm. Coffee in hand, sat on the veranda with the sunlight shimmering off the sea and the salty air filling my lungs, it wouldn’t take much for me to grab a bucket and spade and race down the steps to build a little sandcastle of my own.
Jabba is available to rent via Durrants and www.beachhuts.com Follow on Instagram @jabbathebeachhut
7. Inspired interiors 2 The Fold
8. Portuguese glassware The Vintage Way @ Marlesford Mill
9. Showstopper cake stand Jamie Oliver @ Woodbridge Kitchen Company
£39.99
10. Beach paraphernalia Orlando’s
11. Melike Kilim cushion Snape Maltings
£35
£265 (stand only)
The lifestyle shop Thrive, which brightens up a little corner of The Stables at Helmingham Hall, has taken a trip to the seaside and opened a second shop in Felixstowe. Owned by Megan Clarke, the store sells a delightful selection of carefully curated homewares including collections by some of East Anglia’s best independent artists, makers and small businesses with sustainability at their core and celebrating joyful design, made with care. The Felixstowe store also has a little coffee shop, with seating inside and outside, making it the perfect spot for a tasty treat whilst supporting this fabulous independent business. Open five days a week, Megan is planning a collection of artist-led creative workshops too. Keep up to date via www.thrivelifestylestore.co.uk and Instagram @thrivelifestylestore. (Photo courtesy of Beckie Egan Photography)
While much of Europe embraces offshore infrastructure, the UK government is pressing ahead with plans to bring massive National Grid interconnectors directly onto landcutting through some of the region’s most beautiful and ecologically sensitive towns and villages. In many people’s eyes, these projects threaten to permanently alter the landscape and disrupt wildlife in areas officially recognised for their natural and scientific value, and Walberswick-based painter David Riches is responding with passion and paint, curating a major solo exhibition, A Sense of Place, featuring more than 40 stunning landscapes and still lifes created in and around the very location now facing industrial transformation. “It really feels like we’re under attack from all sides here in this part of Suffolk,” says Riches. “It’s a total Green Wash… the public outcry recently at the felling of just two trees (the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian’s Wall and the Toby Carvery Oak) has been justifiably huge, yet here in Suffolk over 21,000 trees have been cut down just for preparatory workers car parking at Sizewell and it’s hardly hit the news.”
Riches’ work has a quiet urgency. Painting en plein air, he captures the shifting moods and textures of the Suffolk coast. His paintings are not just artistic impression, they are a tribute to the fragility, vibrancy and irreplaceable character of a threatened landscape.
A Sense of Place runs from 21st to 26th August at the Ballroom Gallery, Aldeburgh.
A new stage adaptation of Ronald Blythe’s iconic book Akenfield; Portrait of an English Village has recently been completed by writer Glenn Wilhide, who lives in Suffolk and is best known for producing the first series of The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne, among other TV and film credits. The new play will be produced and directed by Jenny Hall, the daughter of Peter Hall who produced and directed the 1975 film of Akenfield, and Liz Cook of
This year’s FlipSide, Suffolk’s day-long festival of literature and ideas, returns to Framlingham on 27th September with a timely focus: how do art and imagination help us make sense of a rapidly changing world? In a period marked by uncertainty - political, economic, even existential - creativity offers not just comfort, but clarity and connection. From Philip Hoare on the enduring force of William Blake to Tony Peake’s portrait of Derek Jarman, from Laura Cumming on the quiet power of family art to Melissa Benn’s reflections on public service, Flipside gathers voices that inspire thought and action.
With writers, artists, and filmmakers including Ali Smith, Geoff Dyer and Sarah Wood, this year’s festival explores how we live with doubt, seek meaning, and build resilience - together. Join the festival at The Old Theatre for talks, conversations, and ideas that matter. www.flipsideuk.org
the Benhall-based theatre company SHAKE. It will initially be shown as nine previews in Framlingham, Halesworth, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Saxmundham this September and October before going on tour in 2026. Like the film, which was performed by non-professional local people, the stage play is being cast authentically from within the Suffolk community, and original music is being composed by young local folk musician Finn Collinson, who will be playing live on stage with other musicians during performances. Renowned Suffolk sculptor Laurence Edwards has also recently
joined the creative team and will be designing the stage set, so all in all it promises to be a truly local production. Tickets are now on sale via www.ticketsource.co.uk/ shake
Orford Ness is renowned for its evocative, ever-changing and starkly beautiful landscape and its chequered past. Once the site of secret military testing, still evident in the fragments of twisted metal that are slowly being swallowed by the shifting shingle, it is now a protected nature reserve and the setting for a new immersive audio play inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s poem ‘Ness’.
Sitting just south of Aldeburgh, Orford Ness is separated from the mainland by the comings and goings of the River Ore and, being 10-miles long, is ranked as the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe. Once a secretive site of military innovation (1913–1987), it was used for experimental trialstesting bomb ballistics, early radar systems, parachute flares, and even atomic bomb components - but since 1993 it has been owned and managed by The National Trust. Internationally significant as a nature
reserve, sensitive habitats thrive here: rare beetles and spiders inhabit the shingle, reed marshes attract breeding marsh harriers and bearded tits, and the tidal creeks and mudflats provide rich feeding grounds for migratory waders.
Today I am here to experience an innovative new audio play created in collaboration with The National Trust and theatre company, HighTide. Created and directed by associate artist Zoë Svendsen
Orford Ness is a solitary place, the bleak horizons studded only by markers of its about the land
and award-winning sound designer Carolyn Downing, headphones connect to your phone via an App and the audio landscape programme invites visitors to experience Orford Ness through sound. After taking the short ferry ride from Orford Harbour, the experience is very much an individual one, small red arrows guiding you on a journey that evokes crashing seas, shifting shingle ridges, buzzing invertebrates, murmurs of the reedbed, and ghostly echoes of past military activity. You are free to pause and linger at key features which trigger a specific part of the narrative, wisps of sound caught in the landscape via GPS.
There are over 150 geo-located zones that bring the poem Ness’s layered story to life, brilliantly evoking Robert Macfarlane’s
characters: As, It, He, She and They –spirits of nature that slip and creep, morphing into the landscape with a sense of urgency about its impending doom. Walking past coils of rusted chain, the story whispers, “It is drift: it has cuttlefish nail & sea-poppy horns, it breathes in rain & it breathes out rust,” and as I cross a stretch of shingle, the sound of my heavy, rhythmic steps bringing to mind lines of marching soldiers, I hear, “Here they come, their eyes are hagstones & their words are shingle.” It is beautifully told and builds towards its conclusion in the Green Chapel - the derelict ruins of Lab 1 where bomb casings and fitments were tested for the nuclear programme of the 1950s.
military history: the Black Beacon, Bomb Ballistics tower, and abandoned pagodas which were built for nuclear weapons testing. The connection between this residue of human innovation and the project’s soundscape make the experience deeply moving and keenly prophetic. As I climb the steps of the tower, I disturb a pair of kestrels who are using this abandoned building as their own watch tower, and as they wheel overhead, I feel a deep connection with the haunting beauty of this place. “Here he comes, his bones are willow & he sings in birds. By day from his throat fly finch & fire-crest & in anger he speaks only in swifts.”
The spoken words are incredibly powerful and the experience is ground-breaking in terms of climate dramaturgy, the art or
technique of dramatic composition. Robert Macfarlane is one of the UK’s finest nature writers, and this new project perfectly brings to life the spirits of Ness, mythical beings that swirl and slither, forcing us to understand the fragility of nature and how fine the balance is between destruction and redemption. “Listen, Listen now. Listen to Ness. Ness speaks. Ness speaks gull, speaks waves, speaks bracken & lapwing, speaks bullet, ruin, gale, deception.”
Ness: An audio landscape is on until 26th October.
Book tickets via www.nationaltrust.org. uk/suffolk/orford-ness-national-naturereserve
We explore the extraordinary and beautifully bonkers garden of a family home in Westleton. Covering thirteen acres, it delights and surprises at every turn with a bizarre mix of statues and sculptures, where tribal masks sit alongside chunks of the Berlin Wall and you can lose yourself in a reconstruction of the Mycenaean Palace of King Nestor.
Spanning sixty years and four generations, the gardens were originally inspired by the imaginings and travel experiences of Amédée Turner QC, a barrister and local politician who was renowned for his wit and eccentricity. He was Suffolk’s first MEP and, as a member of the European Parliament committee, travelled extensively, often returning home with bizarre artifacts and collected treasures which he would creatively incorporate into his designs and the landscaping of the garden. Today, I am shown around by his daughter-in-law Sue Townsend who, as a professional garden
designer, is committed to continuing his legacy, carefully maintaining the garden and also adding a little magic of her own. “I am experimenting to see which plants are suited to climate change and introducing habitats for wildlife to increase biodiversity including log walls, dead hedges, sand banks and wild flower areas.”
The garden really is a wonder to behold. A pair of Art Deco-inspired gates lead to a small wood where the lower branches of the sycamore trees have been deliberately pruned
– the straight trunks and raised canopy reminiscent of a scene from ‘Lord of the Rings’. To the left, two huge speakers salvaged from a 1950’s lido sway on poles, earning the witty name Speaker’s Corner, and a narrow path leads us out through a dense clump of towering bamboo to the Cocktail Garden, where seats have been fashioned from the nickel plates of lift doors rescued from the old ICI HQ building in London. “Family parties would always start here for drinks and to the centre is a font which was christened ‘The Font of all Knowledge”. A mown avenue called Icilon West runs between more nickel panels and to the left we enter a small den where the grotesque faces of West African tribal masks all look inwards towards the visitor, hence its name, The Synoptic Garden.
Across the avenue, parts of old lawnmowers have been added to poles, one tall, one small,
making them look like two people taking a stroll through the long grass and this sculpture is rather wistfully called, Conversations with My Father. As we continue up the avenue, there is a sense of symmetry to this part of the garden that contrasts perfectly with the chaos of the other vistas. At the top we come across the remains of a small chapel where Sue and her husband Andrew had a ceremony after his sister Pippa married them in the village church, and at one end she points out a small metal cross that is made from the steel girders at Ground Zero. “Pippa did voluntary Chaplaincy work in New York during the recovery operations following the devastation of ‘9/11’, and this cross was made for her by a policeman from the PAPD (Port Authority Police Department) who also worked there.”
At the top of the garden, magnificent eucalyptus trees stand out from the native
species, their silvery bark lit by the afternoon sunshine, and we stroll down a walkway that represents the journey of civilisation, and there is also Britain’s Route marked with stamps of the Commonwealth, poppies to commemorate the war, and two arches symbolising the EU referendum where you can choose either to remain or leave! Sue and I pause on a beautiful old carved bench to admire her gravel garden, one of the newest areas which was only established last year and is planted with drought-resistant species. The soft mauves and purples of lavender, verbena and agapanthus sway in time with the golden stems of the ornamental grass achnatherum, whilst spikes of sea holly stand in line with the ragged cones of pink echinacea.
On our return loop we pass a Roman arena where the emperor’s seat waits for a thumbs up or down, enter the Sacred Blue Stone Circle
configured to mirror the original stone circle at Stonehenge, and cross the track to the Mycenaean Palace, complete with Throne Room, Queen’s Hall and Sacred Dance Floor. It really is all so incredulous and amazing and bizarre, but there is also a feeling of reverence and deep thought to be found here. As Sue and I circle back to the centre, where she and Andrew have designed and built the most beautiful natural swimming pond, you can’t help but feel moved by this space. It may indeed take you from the bizarre to the sublime, but there is also a real sense of joy and fun to be had by breaking from convention and allowing yourself the freedom to be creative.
Follow Sue on Instagram @ suetownsendgardendesign for details of garden open days.
Specialist in tennis court maintenance in and around East Anglia with over 35 years’ experience in the industry.
01473 730806 or 07900806980
Email: info@suffolktenniscourts.co.uk www.suffolktenniscourts.co.uk
Bearded irises (Iris germanica) are popular perennial plants prized for their elegant, ruffled blooms and sword-like foliage. They are characterized by having three upright petals and three cascading petals which have a row of short fuzzy hairs along them – hence the name. They come in a wide range of colours and sizes, including dwarf, intermediate and tall varieties, and whether planted in drifts, dotted throughout your borders or used to brighten the edges of a gravel drive, they are a fabulous addition to any garden.
Late July to early October is the best time to plant bearded irises as this allows them time to establish before winter. They grow from rhizomes (thick underground stems) and prefer full sun and well-draining soil, so if you have heavy Suffolk clay you will need to prepare the bed beforehand with compost, sand or fine gravel to improve drainage.
Dig a shallow hole and form a small mound in the centre. Place the rhizome on the mound with roots spread around it, keeping the top of the rhizome exposed or just barely covered with soil. Space them about 30-40 cm apart to allow for air circulation, which reduces the risk of fungal disease.
Bearded Irises are a real crowd pleaser and, being relatively low-maintenance, are great plant to try if you are just getting started or don’t have much time. As they are drought tolerant they only need watering during prolonged dry spells and only require lifting and dividing every 3-5 years to prevent overcrowding and help maintain vigour. With good drainage, plenty of sun and a light natural phosphate feed in the spring, they should flourish for decades, offering stunning displays from May into early summer and earning their place as a British classic.
(Woottens of Wenhaston is a local iris specialist nursery)
Summer is now in full force, and after such a long dry spring many plants have given us an early display of colour, especially the roses. Deadheading will prolong flowering and bring a second flush of blooms later in the season. Keep your beds free of weeds and fill any gaps with bright, cheerful annuals such wallflowers, sweet william, petunia and cosmos. If you have space, sow autumn crops such as spinach and radishes, mow the lawn regularly, and water if needed. The hot colours of summer bring vibrancy to your borders, with rudbeckia, crocosmia and dahlias taking centre stage, and swathes of white Japanese anemone always make for an elegant backdrop.
September brings a slightly slower pace, with misty mornings and golden afternoons. Enjoy being outside and busy yourself dividing perennials, pruning lavenders and roses and building compost bins, ready for the leaves that will start to fall as the days shorten.
Plant your early flowering spring bulbs, tucking them up for the winter, ready to awaken come the spring and delight with their joyful bursts of colour. Lawns will benefit from a robust raking to remove moss, spike well-trodden areas with a fork to aerate and reduce compaction, and reseed worn patches. Make sure trees or climbers are well staked to protect them from wind damage and, while there is still strength in the sun, give the shed a fresh lick of paint.
October is the month to get all the jobs done before the weather turns. Clear fallen leaves and compost them. Tidy beds and apply a thick layer of mulch, and if you have an empty bed sow green manure seeds to help enrich the soil before next year’s growing season. Sow hardy annuals such as ammi, scabiosa and cornflowers, and lift and store tender plants such as dahlias once they have finished flowering. Give your tools the once over, drain and store your hosepipe, and declutter the shed – all satisfying jobs that help to signal the end of another season in the garden.
August Keep deadheading
Sow autumn crops
Top up bird baths
September
Prune climbing roses
Cut back faded perennials
Plant spring bulbs
October
Compost fallen leaves
Mulch beds
Sow hardy annuals
When we first met Alice Norman at Pinch , her newly opened café at Maple Farm Shop, she was delighting customers with a delicious mix of coffee, crullers and gelato. Now, four years later, she is excited about adding traditional Italian Roman pizza topped with a tempting selection of seasonal homemade flavours to the menu.
It has been a busy four years for Alice: not only has she been hard at work growing her business and nurturing unwavering loyalty for her exquisite crullers - a deep fried choux pastry topped with a selection of incredible glazes - she has also just moved the café into a larger space on the farm. With the help and guidance of Willam Kendall, who owns Maple Farm and was the CEO of both The Covent Garden Soup Company and Green & Black’s, Pinch now occupies what was once the turkey barn and Alice has the space she needs to
expand and enhance her offering. Light and airy with a large counter running along one side, bar stools line the far wall ready for lazy Sunday chats over the paper and there are tables both inside and out where groups of friends or families can gather to catch up on the day-to-day.
To fit in with the existing ethos of the café as a place designed for customers to come and relax and linger, Alice knew that serving slices of pizza would be the perfect fit. But, as with her crullers, she wanted to
make sure that her pizzas were special. “I did my research and Roman pizza seemed the perfect fit. It is cooked for much longer than the standard Neapolitan pizza –thirteen minutes as opposed to two - and we cook them in heavy cast trays so they are thin and crispy.” Alice is excited about the new space and the possibilities it offers. The kitchen is well-equipped and she has invested in an industrial oven that allows the team to cook sixteen pizzas at a time. “As well as selling over the counter by the slice, we are doing take-away so people can pre-order and then collect – either to take home or to enjoy here in the garden with a glass of wine.”
The pizzas come with a variety of toppings that reflect the seasons and availability of the fabulous range of produce grown on the farm. “I have always used local ingredients
where possible and being here at Maple Farm is amazing as I can see what is being harvested and can instantly incorporate it into my menu. The flour for the pizza dough comes from wheat grown and milled at the farm, eggs for the crullers are collected daily from the free-range hens, and our slushies are made from elderflowers picked from the hedgerows or from fig leaves out of the garden.” The pizza menu is exciting, with choices such as courgette and marjoram with garlic, parsley and lemon oil, thinly sliced Alouette potato with rosemary and parmesan which has a deliciously sweet, nutty flavour, and tomato with sobrasada, shallots and chillies drizzled with hot honey and parmesan.
Over the counter, Alice also sells a selection of open sandwiches served on the pizza dough. “These are really popular and I love
experimenting with different ingredients and flavours. This spring a real winner was a combination of Westcombe ricotta, Spenwood cheese and asparagus topped with a mix of pea shoots and mint from the farm, and the subtly smoky, soft and peppery Westcombe ‘Jesus’ salami is the perfect partner to St Jude cow’s curd and some sharp pickled chillies.” The homemade gelatos are equally as delicious, swirled through with Maple Farm’s plump, juicy loganberries or studded with chunks of Pump Street Chocolate, and served in waffle cones made in the kitchen. As well as coffee and speciality Postcard Teas, for those looking for a tipple with their pizza, you can also buy Pinch cider and a range of organic wines by the glass, including a light, fruity Italian red and an aromatic and refreshing English wine from a vineyard in Kent. Alice also plans to host a range of
supper clubs and dinners where guests can enjoy a relaxed evening over a range of tempting dishes across shared tables.
Pinch has grown into a destination, a regular brunch spot for many and a place to head at the weekend for coffee, crullers and conversation. And now, with pizza on the menu, it is also somewhere to come for a lazy lunch over shared slices and a glass of wine. A place to gather and enjoy the very best of fresh local ingredients, expertly combined to offer a Suffolk twist on an Italian classic. Congratulazioni Alice!
To order a pizza visit www.eatpinch.com and follow on Instagram @pinch.suffolk for details of future events.
A real hub for the local neighbourhood, The Green Room on St Margaret’s Green in Ipswich has a new owner, Jean-Marie Orhan. Having moved from Southeast London four years ago with his family, he struck up a friendship with café founder Sui Ling, and thus, when he heard that it was up for sale, he says “a spark lit up in me”. Housed in a jewel of a place - former antiques shop, garage, waterworksit really is two different spaces: inside, and… not so inside. The former garage is now a sheltered terrace, and within the former shop a beautiful La Marzocco coffee machine now takes pride of place. The coffee served is single estate, imported and roasted on demand by the excellent Climpsons in East London. The tea is loose leaf (unless you just want a cuppa), and the matcha is ‘superior’! Chef Elyse’s menu is constantly evolving in her off-site kitchen: her recent creations include an indulgent 100% vegan chocolate torte, a super healthy yet nourishing Iranian salad, and a deliciously surprising polenta and clementine cake. JeanMarie also has sourdough loaves delivered twice a week for pre-order or for sale over the counter, and much more is planned, including an alcohol licence, but why wait for that when now is the time to GO!
Open 8:30am - 4pm Monday to Saturday, 9am - 3pm on Sunday. Whet your appetite on Instagram @the_green_room_coffee
Are you longing for that weekend vibe of tucking into a deliciously late breakfast, maybe Radio 6 in the background, but can’t face the shopping, the mess or the washing up, then check out the (almost) monthly Breakfast Club with Jazz at The River View Café in Snape. You can chill to the soulful tunes of their resident jazz band, at the same time savouring breakfast dishes including the Hungry Maltsters - designed for two to share - with Bacon Chop, Bloody Mary Beans and homemade Smash-Browns! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available. Next Breakfast Club: 13th September. Monthly thereafter to the end of the year. Check www.brittenpearsarts.org events page for more details.
Can’t make the Saturday? How about Jazz with a Farm to Fork breakfast over at Jimmy’s Farm on Sunday, September 14th or October 18th instead… www.jimmysfarm.com
By George!
In 2013 The George in Wickham Market was almost destroyed by a devastating fire. Now, twelve years later, after several rounds of negotiation and hard fought fundraising, it has finally reopened as a community-run pub. Believed to date back to the early 16th Century and the time of Henry VIII, this beautiful Grade II Listed building has been carefully renovated into a bustling social place where people can spend time together over a drink or a meal. There’s a fine selection of beers from local Suffolk breweries, alongside guest ales and an interesting range of wines and spirits, and the newly appointed Head Chef,
Carina Sage, has come up with an exciting new seasonal menu. With a large sunny beer garden to the rear, it’s set to become Suffolk’s hottest destination this summer.
www.thegeorgecommunitypub.co.uk
Suffolk based Two Magpies Bakery recently teamed up with Lane Farm, well-known, award-winning local producers of hams, sausages, salami and chorizo, to employ their know-how in creating a delicious pastrami, made from British beef; a project that the Lane Farm team took on with relish! Now team that with Rendlesham based Stokes horseradish mayo, Emmental cheese, dill pickles and watercress, sandwiched between the Two Magpies’ signature sourdough, and you have their take on a classic across the water in the Big Apple. We think it’s a New Corker!
To find a Two Magpies café in Suffolk near you, visit www.twomagpiesbakery.co.uk
Ingredients - Serves 8
1.5kgs fresh tomatoes
1 garlic clove – chopped
1/2 small red onion – chopped
1 green pepper – chopped
1 cucumber – chopped
240ml extra virgin olive oil
c. 2 tbls sherry vinegar (not the sweet variety)
1 thick slice of stale
white country-style bread
c. 120ml ice-cold water
½ tsp ground cumin
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt & sugar to taste
Garnish: finely diced cucumber, green pepper, onion and/or hardboiled egg
Gazpacho is one of the quintessential Mediterranean soups and, along with paella, one of the first dishes that come to mind when people think of traditional Spanish cuisine. Salmorejo is a delicious variation, synonymous with Sevillian cooking. Feel free to experiment with both the consistency and the garnishes but one ingredient is non-negotiable: juicy, ripe, ideally homegrown, freshly picked tomatoes!
Method
Firstly, peel your tomatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Gently cut the skin of your tomatoes around their circumference and then place for a few seconds in the boiling water before lifting out to cool. Draw back the skin, remove and roughly chop the flesh.
Soak the bread briefly in cold water before squeezing out the excess.
Blitz the tomatoes along with the garlic, onion, pepper and cucumber in a blender until pureed. Then add the oil and vinegar slowly until fully blended.
Roughly tear the soaked bread and add to the mix along with the cumin and cayenne and blend until smooth.
Add salt (and sugar –depending on the variety/ ripeness of the tomatoes) to taste along with more sherry vinegar, adding as much icecold water as you wish until you achieve a relatively thick soup consistency. It should be lovely and creamy but if still too coarse, and depending on whether for own consumption or for guests, consider passing through a sieve. You can use anything left behind as a useful addition to a tomato sauce!
Garnish and then tuck in!
This issue my trusted side-kick Louise and I enjoy a circular walk that loops around the market town of Eye, renowned for its beautiful historical architecture and impressive Grade I Listed Church of St Peter and St Paul. The name Eye also means island, and this walk crisscrosses the River Dove and the meandering tributaries that surround it.
We park at Pennings Nature Reserve on the outskirts of town, and after a quick squint at the map on my phone turn left out of the car park and walk back towards the main road. On the left, the River Dove flows under the handsome arched Abbey Bridge, and we pause just in case a kingfisher
happens to be passing. A well-worn patch on the bank indicates what looks like a favoured swimming spot, probably for dogs but perhaps for the more adventurous amongst us, and there is a well-positioned bench in case you want to perch and enjoy all the fun. We cross the main road, turn right and then almost immediately left down the track leading to Abbey Hall, a 15th century stone barn that is now used as a creative space, fluttering bunting stretched between the trees hinting at the latest celebration held here.
After passing through a gate, we cross the River Dove via Bolser Bridge and from here you have a view across the water meadows
back towards the church. Through a second gate we spot an enormous bramble patch and are excited by the sight of a few juicy blackberries. Fools! Seconds later we are spitting out the sour pips and gurning like goons! More squinting at the map informs us we need to bear right, and the track follows the line of reeds that show the continuing flow of the river. We reach some hardstanding and then turn left, uphill along a farm track lined by mature hedgerows that are no doubt a haven for local wildlife.
At the end of the track, we reach Century Road and here turn left through a relatively new housing estate, following a cycle track at the end, crossing over a road and then down beneath a huge willow tree that
round & about
towers over the small bridge that crosses Lamsey Beck, a tributary of the Rover Dove. We pop out on Wellington Road and after turning right arrive at the main road through town, Lambseth Street. On the right are a pair of almshouses and a little further down we can see the crinkle crankle wall of Chandos Lodge, once the home Sir Frederick Ashton, choreographer and founder of the Royal Ballet. We cross the road and just after the fire station pick up a footpath that takes us into a small wildlife area where a grassy path leads us along the edge of Lamsey Beck.
Here a wooden plaque tells us we are now on the ‘Way of Healing’, which we decide can only be a good thing. The trail leads us over boardwalks and across water
meadows and marshes where we are delighted to see several peacock butterflies dancing on the breeze. We arrive at a road, cross and pass through a gate to follow the track into Town Moors Woodland, 14 acres of restored and replanted woodland that are maintained by volunteers and home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna, including the rare Turtle Dove, although sadly today we do not hear its distinctive gentle purring song.
We emerge onto a larger farm track and here – after a final squint at the map – turn left. A flock of sheep grazes the low meadows, their bleats breaking the stillness of the early evening calm. At the main road we zig-zag right and left to walk along The
Rookery, a pretty lane lined with impressive houses, some hidden behind wrought iron gates, others behind walled gardens, but all telling of the historic status of Eye which was once at the heart of the lacemaking industry. On reaching Castle Street we bear right and wander up to the 14th century Church of St Peter and St Paul, its 30 metre tower literally towering above us. Outside the main door sits a sculpture of a rather dandy Highland Cow, painted green with gold hooves and horns, that is part of the Blossom Art Trail which is in situ around the town until the end of September.
As we stroll back to the car, Louise and I both decide that this small market town has more to offer than meets the eye!
Access Community Trust www.accessct.org
Asteria Wellbeing
The Granary
Snape Maltings
Snape IP17 1SR www.asteriawellbeingandkhaos barbering.co.uk
Cat Rowe www.catrowehealingmassage.com
Sauna Box www.saunabox.co.uk
Alba Jewellery www.alba-jewellery.co.uk
Anna
32 Church Street
Woodbridge IP12 1DH www.shopatanna.com
Boho & Blyth
7a Market Hill
Framlingham IP13 9AN
49 Thoroughfare Halesworth IP19 8AR www.bohoandblyth.com
Collen & Clare
25 Market Place
Southwold IP18 6ED www.collenandclare.com
Constance & Denny www.constanceanddenny.com @constanceanddenny
Darcy B
The Hill House 13 Market Hill
Framlingham IP13 9AN www.darcy-b.co.uk
Henrietta Spencer
Grange Farm
Hasketon IP13 6HN www.henriettaspencer.co.uk
Lisa Angel
20 Thoroughfare
Woodbridge IP12 1AQ & 64 High St
Southwold IP18 6DN www.lisaangel.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
Ruby Tyger
No 1 The Mews
Market Hill
Framlingham IP13 9AN www.rubytyger.com
2 The Fold
The Thoroughfare
Harleston IP20 9AX www.2thefold.com
Fram Home & Gifts
30 Bridge St
Framlingham IP13 9AH www.traditionalpottery.co.uk
Goldfinch
17A Thoroughfare
Woodbridge IP12 1AA www.goldfinchwoodbridge.co.uk
in da cottage
The Old Reading Room Fore Street, Framlingham www.indacottage.co.uk
No10 Harleston
10 Market Place
Harleston IP20 9AD @10harleston
Orlando’s 120 High St
Aldeburgh IP15 5AB www.orlandosaldeburgh.co.uk
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
The Vintage Way @ Marlesford Mill & Thorpeness Emporium @thevintageway_
Thrive
Helmingham Hall Gardens
Helmingham IP14 6EF & 34 Orwell Road
Felixstowe IP11 7DB www.thrivelifestylestore.co.uk