North Norfolk Living Spring 2017

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING COVERING THE COAST, BURNHAM MARKET, WELLS, HOLT & SURROUNDING VILLAGES

Arts

Fashion

Food & Drink

Interiors

People

Spring has landed!

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Hello!

Contents

Spring 2017

W

ELCOME to our spring issue of North Norfolk Living Magazine. We’ve had some glorious blue skies and sunshine over the last few days, and the plum hedge at home is suddenly a mass of green, always a sign for me that spring has well and truly sprung!

This issue is packed with Easter events and activities, news from the local arts scene, interiors trends for spring, plus Harriet Cooper takes the plunge and finds out more about forest bathing (yes, really) on our wellbeing pages.

Meanwhile the fashion team shares some of their favourite looks for SS17 from local shops and boutiques, in our secret garden fashion shoot at Creake Abbey.

One of my favourite parts of this job is meeting fellow locals, often with amazing stories to tell, and this issue was no exception.

Find out more about Jane Maufe’s voyages through the Northwest Passage on pages 10 and 11.

Enjoy!

Am da Loose Editor

@NNorfolkLiving @northnorfolkliving North Norfolk Living Magazine www.northnorfolkliving.co.uk Editor & Advertising Manager Amanda Loose Email: amanda@northnorfolkliving.co.uk 07796 645427 Write to North Norfolk Living Magazine, PO Box 208, Stamford. Lincs. PE9 9FY Head of Design Steven Handley Email: steve@locallivingdesign.co.uk Publisher Nicholas Rudd-Jones 01780 765571 Email: nicholas@bestlocalliving.co.uk Published by Local Living Ltd, PO Box 208, Stamford, Lincs. PE9 9FY www.bestlocalliving.co.uk 01780 765571 Printed by Warners of Bourne

Front cover image: ‘Nuthatch’ by Stephen Clark of Pebbles Photography www.pebblesphotography.co.uk

5-8 Beachcombings: what’s on, 36-44 Living: spring interiors what’s good and where to go

10-11 People: Amanda Loose

finds out more about local author Jane Maufe’s voyages through the Northwest Passage

trends and retail therapy, local gardens to visit plus what’s happening on the local property market

46 Motoring: Brian

Vertigen puts SsangYong’s Korando 2.2 ELX auto 4x4 through its paces

15-18 Arts: local arts news, events and spring exhibitions 21-24 Fashion: our SS17 secret garden fashion shoot 27 Beauty: spring

make-up, masks and more

29-30 Wellbeing: Harriet

Cooper learns more about forest bathing, parkruns and the importance of outdoor play

33-34 Little Living: Easter

fun and shopping with Hattie Goodley and her daughters Willa and Maud

51-56

Food & Drink: Alex Rousso finds out more about field to fork eating, plus the latest news from the local foodie scene

59-60 What’s on: spring fun and activities

62 Out & About: Sarah Whittley takes a turn around Cley Square

SUBSCRIBE TO NORTH NORFOLK LIVING

If you would like to subscribe to North Norfolk Living Magazine (5 copies per year), please write to Local Living Ltd. PO Box 208, Stamford, PE9 9FY. Annual rate £15 (UK only) including postage.

Please enclose cheque made payable to Local Living Ltd. Or you can subscribe via the website at www.northnorfolkliving.co.uk NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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Thinking of letting your holiday home?

Norfolk Hideaways has over 300 self-catering properties from cosy cottages to luxury retreats; close to beautiful beaches, in rural hotspots or in the middle of quaint market towns.

If you own a holiday home or are considering buying one, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

From providing you with an initial rental forecast, guidance on how to renovate your property to supplying names of trusted suppliers. With no joining fee, no restrictions and a targeted marketing strategy to direct as many people as possible to our website to generate you bookings, you’re in safe hands.

Email us at enquiries@norfolkhideaways.co.uk

Call Norfolk Hideaways on 01485 211 022 or visit www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk BGV NNL 0317.qxp_NNL 1/4 20/03/2017 12:16 Page 1

A new shop in Burnham Market

Regarded as one of Norfolk’s principal galleries – with a reputation built on the quality of the work exhibited and its distinctive character – showing a personal selection of the best of the region’s art including nationally recognised artists Overy Road, Burnham Market Norfolk PE31 8HH • 01328 730125 www.burnhamgrapevine.co.uk

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a beautiful and highly regarded art gallery in Burnham Market

Country • Marine • Cycling • Walking • Dogs • Picnics • The Beach • Bird Watching • 58 Market Place, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8HD Tel: 01328 730462

Beachcombings What’s On, What’s Good & Where To Go! A decade of design Burnham Interiors is celebrating its 10th birthday this year and a decade of interior design projects on the North Norfolk coast.

The area continues to be a real inspiration for Burnham Interiors, says owner Nanci Gillett: “I grew up in Vancouver, but have lived in North Norfolk for 27 years now. It is my home and the place where I work but I draw inspiration from all over. Whatever you do in design, there always needs to be a nod to where we live, whether it comes out in a colour, texture, it doesn’t have to be the beach, it can be a field of poppies or the oil seed rape.

“Since 2010, Burnham Interiors has developed into a full service design and build project management kind of business while still providing curtain making, upholstery and decorating” says Nanci. “Really it’s about offering a safe pair of hands to my clients who are not here year round, I do everything!”

• Burnham Interiors, Burnham Market, 01328 730989 burnhaminteriors.co.uk

Art at Drove Orchards

Get booking!

Doric Arts at Drove Orchards Thornham is exhibiting exciting new work from international photographer Richard Heeps this spring including ‘Dream in Colour Pool Installation,’ a new group of framed C-print photography from his Americana series (pictured).

Doric will also be hosting Richard’s major East Anglian exhibition at Drove Orchards, during Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios from 27 May to 11 June.

• Doric Arts, Drove Orchards, Thornham, 07810 730607 www.doricart.com

Tom Jones will be performing at Holkham Hall on Sunday 23 July, in a spectacular outdoor concert.

The concert will feature a collection of the legendary singer’s most popular hits across the decades, including his latest albums.

Tickets are standing only, but concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. Tickets cost £45 plus booking fee for General Admission and £55 plus booking fee for Golden Circle.

• Tickets are available in person from Holkham Ticket Office from 10am to 5pm or 01328 713111, or from livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk

Get creative

© SALT glass studios

If you fancy having a go at creating a piece of unique glass art, then SALT glass studios in Burnham Thorpe run a varied programme of glass art courses throughout the year, for all the family. Short and longer courses are available; from the kiln glass fusing taster course and glass sand casting to blowing glass baubles and screen printing onto glass.

SALT is running Easter themed courses daily until 17 April, including the opportunity to make an Easter egg glass paperweight.

• Courses cost from £15. Full details of the programme are on their website.

Please book on 01328 738873 or info@saltglassstudios.co.uk, or visit www.saltglassstudios.co.uk

My North Norfolk Living

This season Helen Millin is looking forward to…

Eating: at The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, enjoying tapas overlooking the marsh from their fabulous terrace. I usually head to Thornham Deli for breakfast on a weekend; the food and atmosphere are always good.

Shopping: for something special, I head over to see Martin and Sarah Billing at Bringing The Outside In at Holkham or Wells. I have some of Martin’s beautiful canvases hanging in my home and love everything they do.

Exploring: Scolt Head Island. Branta Cruises run boat trips to this amazing place. It’s so unspoilt and you feel like you have the whole place to yourself.

Walking: along the coast path at Brancaster Staithe. Norfolk is all

about the ever-changing landscapes and the views still take my breath away. If I have the time and energy I walk up Common Lane to Barrow Common where the views of the coastline are stunning.

Staying at: one of Norfolk Hideaways’ 330 beautiful cottages. I have a significant birthday coming up so have booked somewhere special to celebrate!

• Helen Millin is the CEO of Norfolk Hideaways 01485 211022 www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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Open Mornings Discover what a Gresham’s education can offer at one of our next Open Mornings. Meet our pupils and staff, explore our facilities and see the school in action.

Senior School – Saturday 29th April 2017 Prep School – Saturday 13th May 2017 For more information or to reserve a place, visit www.greshams.com/opendays A 2-18 co-educational independent day and boarding school in beautiful north Norfolk

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Beachcombings

What’s On, What’s Good & Where To Go!

Iguazu Falls

Get away

Paula Cockcroft, Director of Oundle Travel, shares her top five holiday destinations for 2017 Relaxation…

Croatia and The Dalmatian Coast: outstandingly beautiful, the newest star of the Mediterranean, with beautiful coastline, unspoilt towns, medieval walled cities, churches and palaces.

Activity…

Cuba: why not take one of our cycling tours and combine with sightseeing on this historical island? Ride into the Sierra Maestra mountain range and enjoy staying in small casas with local guides.

Tailor-made adventure…

Argentina: visit Buenos Aires with its classic architecture and a cosmopolitan feel, take in a tango show in a traditional theatre then combine with the Iguazu Falls and end with a stay at an estancia and experience gaucho life!

Family…

Paxos: one of the smallest and least developed islands in the Ionian, Paxos has it all: turquoise waters, picturesque villages and fantastic beaches.

Villas are a firm favourite with families.

Weekend away …

Tallinn: one of Northern Europe’s best preserved medieval towns; founded in the early 13th century Tallinn has been influenced by periods of Danish, Swedish and Russian rule.

• For more information on the above destinations or for further inspiration contact Oundle Travel on 01832 273600 or email sales@ oundletravel.co.uk. www. oundletravel.co.uk

Five Posts East Full © Pebbles Photography

Inspired by nature Our front cover photographer, Stephen Clark of Pebbles Photography, will be showing his latest work at Brancaster Staithe Village Hall, from 14 to 18 April. His exhibition, entitled Inspired by Nature, will feature photographs, framed limited edition prints, canvases and aluminium wall art showcasing Norfolk’s dramatic skies, changing coastline and wonderful wildlife.

It’s also an opportunity to meet the photographer, talk camera techniques and fieldcraft, or find out more about his photography tuition and wildlife workshops.

• Pebbles Photography, 01485 210810 www.pebblesphotography.co.uk

What the Butler saw

Holkham Hall has just launched a new exhibition which gives visitors the chance to go back in time for a behind the scenes look into the lives of the staff who have lived and worked on the estate for the past 200 years.

‘What the Butler saw’ incorporates unseen photographs, historic documents and personal memories, alongside original uniforms, to showcase the various staff roles at Holkham.

Come face to face with key Holkham characters like Surridge the Butler, Paterson the Head Gardener and Scrivener the Chauffeur, find out who the Ladies Maid fell in love with and what it takes to lay a table for a stately dinner party.

What the Butler saw runs until 31 October and entrance is included in standard admission to visit Holkham Hall, Field to Fork Experience and the Walled Garden.

• Visit www.holkham.co.uk for opening times and more information.

Spotted by Richard Campey The bearded tit

Restricted to reedbed habitats, where it is more often heard than seen, the North Norfolk coast is one of the best places in Britain to look for this delightful bird.

RSPB Titchwell Marsh is one of the easiest places to see them, especially on calm, bright days as in windy conditions they tend to stay well down in the bottom of the reedbeds.

The males are striking with a bright tawny body and blue-grey head, which sports long droopy black moustaches. Close up views reveal orange eyes and a bright yellow-orange bill. The female is much duller but the long tail is always distinctive.

Their call resembles a loud “pting” which has been likened to the twanging of a rubber band. They can be quite tame at times, but are always restless and typically move up a reed stem to perch all too briefly on the top, then zip off to start the process again.

© Richard Campey

• Richard is owner of The One Stop Nature Shop, Burnham Deepdale, 01485 211223 www.onestopnature.co.uk News of the latest sightings can be seen on the board outside One Stop.

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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Beachcombings

What’s On, What’s Good & Where To Go! Happy 25th anniversary!

It’s congratulations to Norfolk Country Cottages who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Launched

by Lesley and Richard Ellis back in 1992, the portfolio of properties has grown from a handful to just under 450 countywide.

The business, which began at their kitchen table, has expanded into Bank House in Reepham, home to group services, and their customer-facing office in Holt.

Brand Manager, Lucy Downing says: “Although we’ve grown to become the largest independent holiday lettings agency in Norfolk, we’re as committed to the original vision and values as we ever were: to provide the best portfolio, customer service, local knowledge and homeowner support as possible.

“Norfolk Country Cottages also remains a true Norfolk family affair, with Lesley and Richard’s sons, Tom and James and son-in-law Tom also involved in the business.”

• Norfolk Country Cottages, 01263 715779 www.norfolkcottages.co.uk

Stately Car Boot Sale Bargain hunters will be able to get their hands on a treasure trove of antiques and historical artefacts as the county’s grand houses clear out their attics for the return of the Stately Car Boot Sale at Sennowe Park on 30 April, from 10am to 3.30pm.

The event, with around 150 stately sellers, raises funds for the Norfolk Churches Trust, and is held every three to four years.

Visitors will be able to have their own pieces valued by auctioneers Cheffins and there will be a silent auction throughout the day, including a drawing by Antony Gormley. Bidding will start online before the event, visit www.norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk for details.

• Entry to the Stately Car Boot Sale itself costs £5, under 16s free.

Village Cinema GREAT MASSINGHAM VILLAGE HALL Thursday 20 April, 7.30pm A United Kingdom, (12A) Drama starring Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo, based on the inspiring story of Seretse Khama, King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana) and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in the face of fierce opposition. Tickets £4.

NORTH CREAKE VILLAGE HALL Tuesday 11 April, 7.30pm Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, (12A) When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that stretches across time, he discovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the danger deepens after he gets to know the residents. Directed by Tim Burton. Tickets

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

© Diocese of Norwich

Photography competition The Diocese of Norwich has launched ‘Capturing the Church in Norfolk’, a photography competition open to all, asking entrants to capture what they think church is.

Our county boasts some beautiful churches and the overall aim is to for photographers to get creative and show how the local church, whether as a building or group of people, is serving their community.

The best six photographs from the age categories (16 and under, and 17 and over) will tour Norfolk.

People will be able to vote for their favourite at each tour stop and the winners will be decided by a panel of judges and the public vote.

• The deadline for entries is 31 May. For more information and to enter visit www. dioceseofnorwich.org/photos

A United Kingdom, (12A) Charity film night in aid of Hunstanton and District Food Bank. For tickets call 0781 8028687, £10 each.

WALSINGHAM PICTURE PALACE Tuesday 18 April, 7.30pm A United Kingdom, (12A) Tickets £4, £3.50 for members. Contact walsinghampp@gmail.com £5 each from 07905 805388 or pa.lines@tiscali.co.uk AMY ROBSART VILLAGE HALL, SYDERSTONE Saturday 29 April, 7.30pm A United Kingdom, (12A) Advance tickets £3.50 from 01485 578171/ 01485 578244 or cinema@syderstone.com THORNHAM VILLAGE HALL Wednesday 26 April, 7.30pm

SCREEN-NEXT-THE-SEA AT ALDERMAN PEEL HIGH SCHOOL, WELLS Monday 10 April, 7pm A Street Cat Named Bob (12A) Based on the best selling autobiography of former busker James Bowen, whose life is transformed when he adopts a stray ginger cat. Tickets from www.wells-cinema.com, 01328 710885, Wells TIC or on the door, adults £5, children £3.50.

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People

From North Norfolk to the Northwest Passage Earlier this year local author Jane Maufe’s book The Frozen Frontier was published by Bloomsbury, charting her landmark voyage through the Northwest Passage and back with David Scott Cowper. Amanda Loose finds out more Jane at the McClintock memorial, with Polar Bond at anchor in the distance.

The plaque was erected at Fort Ross by members of the McClintock family, in recognition of their ancestors’ search for the Franklin expedition

B

ACK in 2011, Jane received a Christmas card from old friend and sailor David Scott Cowper. In it, he asked Jane to accompany him on his next expedition to transit the Northwest Passage.

This treacherous sea route connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Archipelago and proved so elusive for so long, that many did not believe it actually existed.

There are seven possible routes through the Northwest Passage and David had sailed through most of them single-handed. “David was only the 39th person to make the transit back in 1986-89 (as he got frozen in) in his converted Watson class lifeboat, Mabel E. Holland. He was, however, the very first person to do it solo,” says Jane.

Now he was proposing to sail through the sixth and most northerly route, from ocean to ocean through the McClure Strait, accompanied by Jane as crew aboard Polar Bound.

If they succeeded, they would be the first private vessel to make this transit. But passage depends on the ice giving way for enough time to allow vessels through. If you don’t make it, you’re stuck there for the season, or worse. Sometimes the ice does not melt at all in the short summer six-week period.

Polar Bound is a custom built, 30 ton aluminium self-righting, all weather vessel based on the lines of a lifeboat. She is regarded as the strongest surface vessel for her size in the world and is 12 times the required Lloyd’s specification.

“My husband died in July 2011 and then David Cowper sent a card asking me if I would like to go on his next voyage. I was very flattered as normally he goes on his own. I was very pleased to go with him and it was wonderful to rekindle our friendship,” says Jane.

There was also a compelling family connection for Jane too. She is the four times great niece of Sir John Franklin on her father’s side. Sir John was lost (along with his 129 crew) trying to chart and navigate a route through the Northwest Passage, in the middle of the 19th century.

The sea and adventure is clearly in Jane’s blood. Her dinghy on the North Norfolk coast, Sorceress, is named after her grandparents’ Bristol Channel pilot cutter in which they voyaged to Biscay and beyond.

Jane is a very experienced sailor; indeed when she first met David in London at the age of 23 or 24, Jane was studying the Captain OM Watts Postal Navigation Course. David gave her tips on how to remember the points of the compass.

Later she met her husband crossing the Atlantic in a sailing boat.

“When we got married we bought our own sailing boat, a Bowman 40. We

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

took our infant son to the Mediterranean. Conrad spent his first birthday hove to in a gale off the Straits of Gibraltar and when it came to bath time, it was just possible to wash him in the galley sink. Following the sale of our boat, we often used to charter.”

But back in 2012, Jane was contemplating a very different kind of trip, aboard Polar Bound, one that would prove extremely physical, and also mentally challenging.

“My slight misgiving was that David would not like his bachelor stronghold invaded by a woman, but I think the idea of having a cook and watch keeper on board was quite appealing to him.

“David carries 10 tons of fuel in five different holding areas, running on one tank for a bit then he goes to a tank on the opposite side to balance the fuel consumption. I wouldn’t have had a clue how to do that, and if David had had a stroke I would have been a sitting duck.”

After much preparation, Polar Bound left Whitehaven on 29 July 2012, with, Jane writes “a plentiful supply of Christmas puddings which had made the journey around the world at least once…” David had already made six circumnavigations of the globe, single-handed.

The outward journey “was fairly straightforward although we did meet pack ice,” says Jane. But it was also extremely gruelling.

“Sometimes the physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation were agony.

The north Atlantic is a very lonely place. Nobody goes there.

“I always went to bed right away, as soon as supper was over. I’d climb into my bunk and in less than a minute would be asleep.

Jane and David enjoying the scenery at Petersburg, Alaska

themselves like long lost-friends, and the whole then proceeded like a “David would be writing up his log and would check the boat and then great juggernaut with unstoppable force…” climb into his “coffin berth” as he called it to sleep himself, having set the Polar Bound made it back safely, completing a round trip of 22,000 alarm clock for two hours.” miles, and a well-earned refit.

When it was her turn to get up, Jane would go up to the wheelhouse “David wanted to renovate the whole boat which he’d not done for 12 “and look out to see if there were any icebergs in the area. If visibility years so everything had to be taken out of her. wasn’t very clear, I would put on the radar. On The rudder came off and the main shaft and the occasions there were icebergs, I would hang nearly all the windows came out.” around, which was agony.

As The Frozen Frontier: Polar Bound through “Just once when I was on watch I sat on the the Northwest Passage went to press, David quarter berth in the wheelhouse and went to set a new world record by completing a transit sleep, bolt upright. I was so ashamed of myself of the seventh route through the Northwest as I’d never done that before. We had just passed Passage, the Hecla and Fury Strait, with his son. through the McClure Strait and I was mentally, Jane says: “I’ve reached a watershed in my physically and emotionally exhausted.” life. I had not really planned to write a book, but Jane and David succeeded in becoming the have now started on another, a sequel which first private vessel through the McClure Strait, begins with David’s trip through the Hecla and and sailed on through the Bering Strait to Nome, Fury Strait, and subsequently becoming the very where the gold rush started, Dutch Harbor in Polar Bound threading her way through leads in the pack ice in first person to make this transit from east to the Aleutian Islands and ended up at Petersburg Prince Regent Inlet west.” in Alaska, where they met some fascinating Plans are also afoot for another voyage, or several by the look of the characters. variable routes Jane pointed out to me on the large Mercator’s map on They left Polar Bound in Petersburg to overwinter, returning the her wall. following May, when David hoped to make the first ever transit of the “David has been indecisive but we are looking at going back to the Northwest Passage by a private vessel via the Labrador Narrows, known Arctic to tidy up a few more passages he’s not been through in the as the Hecla and Fury Strait, which narrows at one point to only half a archipelago if possible. We’re then thinking of going east or to Antarctica.” mile across.

The weather was against them, so they had to take another route.

• The Frozen Frontier: Polar Bound through the Northwest Passage “Going up the Prince Regent Inlet on the return voyage was very

by Jane Maufe is published by Bloomsbury, £18.99, and is available daunting. It was blowing from the north and sending down towards us a from The White House Bookshop in Burnham Market and other huge raft of pack ice. bookshops.

“They were not just little rafts of ice but huge masses coming our way Jane will be giving an illustrated talk at Arthur Beale chandlery in the and it was getting colder. The sea begins to form giant pancakes of ice City of London, on Thursday 27 April at 7pm. which bond together, thus causing an insuperable barrier.”

Jane describes the trip through the Prince Regent Inlet vividly in her All pictures © Jane Maufe book, with the ice “a solid bonded mass to which new drifters attached NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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We are a local firm of solicitors that cover and are experienced in; Conveyancing, family, residential and commercial lease, debt recovery, litigation, wills and probate, and personal injury, contract and professional negligence and dispute matters.

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Arts

IN THE PICTURE Amanda Loose finds out what’s coming up on the local arts scene this spring

Poetry-next-the-Sea It’s the 20th Wells Poetry Festival this May, with speakers including Paula Byrne and Terry Waite CBE. Outgoing Artistic Director and Chair, Fiona Fraser gives us the low down What is the Festival’s background?

“Poetry-next-the-Sea was formed

by Alan Byford, John Coleridge and Kevin Crossley-Holland. They considered that the need to fill the gap between the literary festivals in King’s Lynn and Aldeburgh was called for. This idea proved accurate and PNTS has survived for 20 years, in spite of a shift in the dynamic.

“Kevin, who was withdrawing as Artistic Director and Chair, asked me to replace him. I accepted with great trepidation.”

What are your aims when planning the Festival?

“In planning the programmes, I have attempted to present the most far reaching and profound aspects of the poetic landscape. From the youthfully challenging poetry of Clare Pollard to the academic expertise of the veteran Lachlan Mackinnon, the audiences have had an opportunity to experience this in a small harbour town.

What are your Festival highlights?

“Memorable events for me were the Matthew Hollis talk on Edward Thomas ‘Now All Roads Lead to France’, and Gillian Beer’s talks, so flawlessly presented, have no rival. The incident impossible to forget was Eleanor Bron falling from the platform, (luckily unhurt).

What are you looking forward to this year?

“The events which give me a sense of achievement are those combining my passions, music and poetry, a dialogue which has sadly not been available enough over the years. And from another discipline Chloe Steele’s exhibition of drawings, the skill of which defies human understanding, provide food for the soul.

“I am now retiring as Chair and Artistic Director and withdrawing from PNTS. No one has come forward to replace me. I hope that they will and so continue to enrich the cultural life of Wells.”

• Poetry-next-the-Sea runs from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May at Alderman Peel High School, Wells. For more details email fmfraser7@googlemail.com or call 01328 738243. To book online visit poetrynextthesea.co.uk

Music to your ears Raynham Hall’s 2017 season of recitals begins on Saturday 22 April with a Royal Academy of Music performance of the opera Acis and Galatea by Handel from 7pm.

June’s Raynham Recitals will feature The Gesualdo Six celebrating 450 years of Monteverdi’s music on Saturday 10 at 6.30pm, followed on Sunday 11 by Michael Law performing Travels with Sheridan Morley at 3.30pm.

• Ticket prices vary. For more information visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/raynham-recitals

Festival fever Don’t miss the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2017 from Friday 12 to Sunday 28 May. The packed programme features performance, theatre, music, visual arts, literature and events for children.

Highlights include world premieres, a choral sleepover from The Voice Project, the City of Literature Weekend plus Luke Jerram’s giant inflatable moon (pictured) featuring detailed NASA imagery, his latest large-scale public artwork complete with deck chairs so audiences can bathe in the moonlight. www.nnfestival.org.uk

Art at Houghton Houghton Hall will host a major exhibition of works this season by celebrated British sculptor, Richard Long, including specially commissioned new works.

Running from 30 April to 26 October 2017, EARTHSKY: Richard Long at Houghton will be the first Long exhibition ever to present outdoor works in the landscape.

His new works in the Hall’s grounds use a variety of materials including local Carr stone and tree stumps from the estate. The exhibition will also feature large mud works in the outdoor colonnades and smaller-scale works in gallery spaces.

Look out too for Norfolk by Design’s pop up in the stables from 30 April to 30 September featuring over 40 artists and craftspeople.

Houghton will be open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, weekends and bank holiday Mondays from 30 April to 26 October, from 11am. Last admission 4pm, one hour before closing.

Tickets: adults £18 to visit the exhibition, house, gardens and grounds or £10 to visit just gardens and grounds. Children aged 16 and under free.

• You can book tickets online at www.houghtonhall.com NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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Arts

PICTURE THIS! Our local galleries are putting on a fine show this season, writes Amanda Loose

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First up, Bircham Gallery in Holt is showing paintings by Debbie George and ceramics by Philip Wood until 26 April. Philip’s handmade, sprigged tableware is complemented by Debbie’s still lifes of flowers, mugs and jugs, celebrating her passion for flowers and the objects with which she surrounds herself.

This is followed by the gallery’s Mixed Summer Exhibition, from 29 April to 24 May featuring an exciting selection of new work for early summer, including paintings by Tony Foster.

Meanwhile, The Red Dot Gallery, also in Holt, continues to feature works by Norfolk based artist, Lucy Boydell. Red Dot’s Colin Rawlings says: “Lucy is finding considerable success with her upscale master drawings in London whilst the demand for her limited editions keeps The Red Dot Gallery pretty busy.

“The latest addition to her series ‘From the Farm & Field’ is ‘The Curious Hare’, a limited edition of just 20. The edition, exclusive to Red Dot, is priced at £545 framed.”

Over in Cley, Pinkfoot Gallery’s Easter exhibition, ‘Expressions of a Norfolk Landscape’ will show a collection of Cley artist Suzanne Lawrence’s latest expressionist landscape paintings, from 8 to 21 April.

“Suzanne paints directly from the landscape she walks every day,” says Sarah Whittley of Pinkfoot. “These honest paintings bring a real sense of the weather and light; you can almost feel the spray on your skin and the wind blowing through your hair.”

Pinkfoot is also showing stunning oil landscapes from Peter Wileman, Dafila Scott’s semi-abstract expressions of the landscape plus new woodcarvings of birds and fish by Stephen Henderson, alongside their normal collection of bronze sculpture.

Heading west along the coast to Blakeney, The Flint Gallery is welcoming spring with a new series of vibrant paintings by Steven

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3.

1. ‘Ravilious Coronation mug and Wood Anemones’ by Debbie George, Bircham Gallery 2. ‘Bluebells’

by Steven McLoughlin, The Flint Gallery 3. ‘Holkham Pine Woods’ by Suzanne Lawrence, Pinkfoot Gallery 4. ‘The Curious Hare’ by Lucy Boydell, The Red Dot Gallery 5. ‘Crapaud En Trou’ by Graham Clarke, Gallery Plus 6. ‘Large Stoneware Vessel’

by Katy O’Neil, Quay Art, Blakeney and Wells

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

5.

6.

McLoughlin, as part of its mixed exhibition.

“Steven has used bluebells and other wildflowers found in our woodlands at this time of year as his inspiration for this new series of heavily textured oil paintings,” says Stuart Stotter-Brooks of Flint. “His work captures the mood of a scene, often through weather or light as it affects the surroundings.”

Just along the quay in Blakeney, Quay Art will be showcasing the work of a variety of new exhibitors, including contemporary ceramic vessels created by Katy O’Neil.

Katy’s vessels are decorated with slips before being impressed with marks inspired by her travels. Splashes of colour are added to highlight the texture and mark making, before firing to stoneware. Each piece is unique and slab built with textured chunky black clay. Don’t miss Quay Art’s other gallery overlooking the harbour in Wells.

Gallery Plus in Wells is hosting ‘Café Gout de Grenouille (de Wells près de la Mer)’ a major exhibition of hand-coloured etchings by artist, author and humorist Graham Clarke.

One of Britain’s most popular and best-selling printmakers, Graham has created some 500 images of English rural life and history, and of his own humorous view of the world. He is also the author of several books, including Graham Clarke’s History of England.

Gallery Plus will be transformed into the French ‘Café Gout de Grenouille’ for this exhibition, which runs from 15 April to 6 May and Gaston du Plonk (who you may remember from his 2014 Tour de North Norfolk) will be returning, along with his father Alfonse!

“This exhibition will be a unique and extraordinary insight into the wonderful world of Graham Clarke; a never-to-be-repeated exhibition in Norfolk,” says Joanna Woods of Gallery Plus. Graham will be at the opening, along with his squeezebox.

➧

2017_GalleryPlus_NNLiving_Spring_Layout 1 09/02/2017 14:18 Page 1

L i ve B e a u t i f u l l y

de Wells pres de la Mer A major exhibition of hand-coloured etchings by

Graham Clarke

A unique and extraordinary insight into the wonderful world of this artist, author, humorist and one of Britain’s most popular and best-selling printmakers

Saturday 15th April - Saturday 6th May Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm plus Easter Sun and Mon 11am-4pm

Gallery Plus .Warham Road .Wells-next-the-Sea . NR23 1QA 01328 711609 . www.gallery-plus.co.uk

Interior Design Fabric Furniture Lighting Home Accessories

www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk showroom@elizabethstanhope.co.uk 27 Mill St, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6EA 01572 722 345

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Arts

PICTURE THIS! 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. ‘Port Scene’ Anon, 6.

Pocock’s the artmonger 2. ‘Flight’ by Susannah Penrose, Six Norfolk Artists 3. ‘Evening Light’ by Alice Scrutton, Fairfax Gallery 4. ‘The Lido’ by Jenni Murphy, Great Walsingham Gallery & Framing 5. ‘Light and Shadow’ by Ruth McCabe, Burnham Grapevine 6. ‘Autumn Dahlia Joy’ by Sarah Caswell

Just along the coast, Six Norfolk Artists will be exhibiting at Burnham Overy Staithe Village Hall, from 8 to 17 April. The group of six professional East Anglian artists: Ger Elwood, Tor Falcon, Sara Freakley, Mary MacCarthy, Penelope Madden and Susannah Penrose, have all exhibited widely. This curated exhibition, which will include varied images in oil, pastel and charcoal, is a rare opportunity to see how well they complement each other.

Heading inland to Burnham Market, Pocock’s the artmonger’s Easter exhibition will feature selected marine paintings and drawings from the 19th century to the present day, including seascapes by contemporary artist Melanie Max, who is new to the gallery.

The coastal theme continues with Alice Scrutton’s annual solo exhibition at Fairfax Gallery in Burnham Market from 8 to 18 April, including a collection of North Norfolk seascapes.

Meanwhile, down the road Burnham Grapevine’s exhibition over the Easter period will include a new collection of work from Ruth McCabe.

A finalist and exhibitor in the Sunday Times Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Ruth’s work has been exhibited at Royal Watercolour Society Contemporary Competition and featured on Sky TV’s Landscape Artist of the Year.

The Easter exhibition will also feature new paintings from local artist Sally Temple. Grapevine’s Peter Low says: “Passionate about her local

18

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

surroundings, Sally has been painting since she was 16, predominately in oil on board but using her fingers rather than conventional methods.”

Great Walsingham Gallery & Framing over at Great Walsingham Barns is showing new works this season by ceramicist Ali Tomlin, fascinating folded paper sculpture by Janice Galbraith plus a new range of limited edition prints from Nicky Litchfield, Sam Toft and Norfolk based Jenni Murphy. Next door, you can see Sarah Caswell hard at work producing all-new paintings for her Chelsea Flower Show exhibit throughout the period, as well as showing existing works.

ADDRESS BOOK Bircham Gallery, Holt 01263 713312 www.birchamgallery.co.uk Burnham Grapevine, Burnham Market 01328 730125 www.burnhamgrapevine.co.uk Fairfax Gallery, Burnham Market 01328 730001 www.fairfaxgallery.com Gallery Plus, Wells-next-the-Sea 01328 711609 www.gallery-plus.co.uk Great Walsingham Gallery & Framing, Great Walsingham Barns, Great Walsingham 01328 820900 www.walsinghamgallery.co.uk Pinkfoot Gallery, Cley 01263 740947 www.pinkfootgallery.co.uk Pocock’s the artmonger, Burnham Market 01328 730370 www.theartmonger.co.uk Quay Art, Blakeney 01263 740013, Wells-next-the-Sea 01328 710905 Sarah Caswell, Great Walsingham Barns, Great Walsingham 0774 7613395 www.sarahcaswell.co.uk The Flint Gallery, Blakeney 01263 741791 theflintgallery.co.uk The Red Dot Gallery, Holt 01263 710287 www.thereddotgallery.com

CERAMICS SCULPTURE

•

GLASS

•

CONTEMPORARY FINE ART

The Flint Gallery of contemporary fine art showcases a wide variety of work created by established and emerging artists, all in response to the inspirational combination of countryside and coast.

Located at the end of The Quay in the picturesque village of Blakeney on the North Norfolk Coast, the gallery offers a friendly and welcoming environment in which to enjoy the finest contemporary art including paintings, wildlife sculpture, glass and ceramics.

OIL PAINTINGS

•

WATERCOLOURS

•

MIXED MEDIA

•

Proud to offer the Own Art Scheme

You will also find a striking selection of original contemporary coastal watercolours alongside ceramics, glass and sculpture, all inspired by coast and countryside.

4 The Granary High Street Blakeney Norfolk NR25 7AL

2 Quayside The Quay Wells Norfolk NR23 1AR

T: 01263 740013

T: 01328 710905

ETCHINGS • LINOCUTS • COLLAGRAPHS • WOODCUTS • WATERCOLOURS • GLASS • CERAMICS • SCULPTURE

Quay Art is a printmakers gallery showcasing original printmaking techniques including linocuts, etchings, collagraphs and woodcuts.

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NEW SPRING/ SUMMER COLLECTIONS NOW IN STORE FROM CASUAL TO SMART DRESSING

GIFT UC VO HERS AVAILABLE

t: 01553 631915 Open: Monday to Saturday 10am – 4.30pm w: www.allezchic.co.uk e: cheryldaubney@allezchic.co.uk FIND US: The Old School, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn, PE31 6AG

Silk garments & scarves featuring intricate hand illustrated prints.

Discover the collection at louisecoleman.co.uk 20

Fashion

This spring it’s all about the dress at our secret garden fashion shoot, with prints and pinks, greenery galore, and more than a dash of orange says Fashion Editor, Katy Coe. But don’t despair, diehard trouser fans, you haven’t been forgotten!

PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM STEELE

Dressing up Renée in Ivko shirt dress £179.95, Nicholsons; necklace £585 and earrings £99, Urban Armour

➧ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

21

Fashion

Rachael in Louche Naida dress £45, Renée in Sixton London Arizona dress £69, both Nomad & the bowerbird. Boots models’ own

Renée is wearing Ivko shirt dress £179.95, Nicholsons; necklace £585, earrings £99, bracelet £89, Urban Armour; clutch bag £99, The Tannery; boots model’s own

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Renée in Isabel Marant Étoile Alayne dress £405, Anna; bag £26, Barefoot Living; necklace £585 and earrings £99, Urban Armour; boots model’s own

With thanks to Diana Brocklebank Scott for allowing us to use the Main Barn at Creake Abbey, North Creake, for our shoot. www.creakeabbey.co.uk

Renée in Primrose Park Liz jump suit £199, Anna; bracelet £99, Urban Armour; boots model’s own

In the pink Rachael in Gun Hill Angela shirt £59, pink cut offs £59, Gun Hill; sunglasses £18.99, Gun Hill Great Outdoors; Annabel Brocks belt £55 and Fairfax & Favor Chelsea boots £185, both Christopher William Country; Robertina mini duffel bag in lollipop £109, The Tannery; necklace £89 and watch (just seen) £199, Urban Armour.

Renée is wearing Marble top £43, Allez Chic; NYDJ Clarissa skinny ankle trousers £139, Collen & Clare

Rachael in Adini coral dress £49.50, Allez Chic; just seen bracelet £99, Urban Armour

Renée is wearing the Maya tie waist dress

by Nathalie Vleeschouwer £169, Collen & Clare

THE FASHION TEAM Fashion Editor and Stylist: Katy Coe Florist: Mock Orange Flowers 07917 344639 www.mockorange.co.uk Hair and Makeup: Sophie Stapleton of Rejuvenate at the Bullpen, Manor Mews, Tattersett 07500 009527 Models: Rachael Crowe and Renée Bridges Photographer: Tim Steele Photography 07909 998216 www.tsteelephoto.com Props: topiary and statement plants to buy or hire from Burn Valley Nursery, South Creake 01328 823333 www.burnvalleynursery.uk; gardenalia from Home by Annie Lambert, Creake Abbey 07796 656384; love letters from Pia Plum Events, Grimston 01485 600644 (available to hire) www.piaplumdesigns.co.uk THE FASHION ADDRESS BOOK Allez Chic, Castle Rising 01553 631915 allezchic.co.uk Anna, Burnham Market 01328 730325 www.shopatanna.com Artemis Homes & Antiques, Cley 01263 741674 www.artemisantiques.co.uk Barefoot Living, Burnham Market 01328 738100 barefoot-living.co.uk Christopher William Coastal, Wells-next-the-Sea 01328 710496 Christopher William Country, Creake Abbey, North Creake 01328 738983 christopherwilliamcountry.co.uk Collen & Clare, Burnham Market 01328 730558 www.collenandclare.com Gun Hill, Burnham Market 01328 730015 www.gunhill.co.uk Gun Hill Great Outdoors, Burnham Market 01328 730462 Louise Coleman, louisecoleman.co.uk Nicholsons, Holt 01263 711230 nicholsonsuk.com Nomad & the bowerbird, Holkham 01328 713093, Wellsnext-the-Sea 01328 712282 www.nomadandthebowerbird.co.uk The Tannery, Holt 01263 713642 www.thetannery.co.uk Thornham Deli, Thornham 01485 512194 www.thornhamdeli.co.uk Tilley & Grace, Holt 01263 710201 tilleyandgrace.co.uk Urban Armour, Burnham Market 01328 738880 www.urbanarmour.co.uk NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

23

Fashion

Fashion fix This season we’re…

Orange obsessed

Orange continues to be a key colour for SS17. Our fashion editor, Katy Coe selects her favourite looks from our local shops and boutiques to take you from spring into summer

Getting all dressed up

Ariana dress £119.95, Nicholsons; Fairfax & Favor Regina heeled boots £325, Christopher William Country; powder pink clutch £115, The Tannery; necklace £89, Urban Armour; bracelet £32, Thornham Deli

Luella cashmere star jumper £59, necklace £60, bracelet £32, all Thornham Deli; Barbour Zoris shorts £59.95, Christopher William Coastal; boots as before; tights model’s own

Artemis Homes & Antiques in Cley now stock a collection of bespoke handmade pieces by Terry Macey including this 100% Irish linen dress (£325), tops and shift dresses.

It’s a loose-fitting layered kind of look says Sophie Smith at Artemis, with a range of colours and fabrics to choose from. You can also order one offs. It’s worn here with a Seasalt Thrifty top £25, Christopher William Coastal; Eden clutch £25, Tilley & Grace; ring £59 and earrings £89 Urban Armour; tights and boots model’s own

We’ve recently discovered illustrator and designer Louise Coleman and love her silk garments and scarves, printed and finished in England, featuring Louise’s hand illustrated and painted designs.

Having grown up in the Norfolk countryside, Louise’s work is influenced by our local wildlife, landscape and lore, as well as her passion for Japanese art and designs inspired by the antiques and curios collected by her antique dealer grandmother. These are combined with the quirky, sometimes macabre elements she loves to add in.

This 100% silk Kawii Koi tunic dress is £199.

Nathalie Vleeschouwer Marie linen tie waist dress £185, Collen & Clare; rug £29, Gun Hill Great Outdoors; Amsterdams Blauw La Parisienne skinny jeans £99, Anna; bracelet as before; boots model’s own Model: Renée Bridges Photography (except for Louise Coleman): Tim Steele Props and decoration: see page 23 Stylist: Katy Coe

See page 23 for stockists

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Clutching at colour Frederic blue, orange and yellow handbags £45 each, Tilley & Grace; Eva fuchsia clutch bag £115 and pale pink shoulder bag £80, The Tannery.

collen & clare C O A S TA L C H I C

Aigle Barbour Dubarry Henri Lloyd Lazy Jacks Musto Påramo Seasalt Sealskinz and more‌!

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm Sunday 10am to 4pm @christopherwilliam_norfolk

01328 710496 - www.christopherwilliamcountry.co.uk 55 Staithe Street, Wells-next-the-Sea

Yo g a & M i n d f u l n e s s M e d i t a t i o n Te a c h e r

Beautiful, energising, Zen Flow Yoga sessions in Wells-next-the-sea Mon & Wed 7-8:15pm & Thurs 10-11:15am. All abilities welcome. www.wellbeingbythesea.com Marie Isaac 07913 187251 Private bespoke 1:1 sessions available.

Thyme and Tide

Therapeutic Holistic Therapies in the comfort of your own home: M Technique, Reflexology, Reiki, Swedish Massage, Lava Shell Massage, Holistic Facial Margaret Ayres MFHT

07717 343917 www.thymeandtide.org

Facials, massage, manicures, pedicures, gels, LVL lashes, make-up, hairdressing Rejuvenate at the Bullpen, Manor Mews, Tattersett, PE31 8RS. 07500 009527 info@rejuvenateat.co.uk Rejuvenate at the Bullpen

25 years of sharing Norfolk and its stunning holiday properties with people far and wide.

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SHANE HYDE - FINE ART - Original Landscape Paintings of the Norfolk Coast - Fine Art Commissions including Scenic Art and Murals, Reproductions, Portraits.

- Bespoke Fine Art Picture Framing Service

Kettlestone 01328 822164 / 07805 692341 www.shanehyde.co.uk

Beauty

Get the beauty buzz Christina Bunting finds out what’s new on the beauty scene this spring

H

Bare faced chic!

Less is more for make-up this season. Think fresh, natural looking radiance, says Sophie Stapleton of Rejuvenate at the Bullpen.

“Nude tones and pinks are everywhere this spring, and the looks are pretty and girly,” says Sophie.

Sophie, who does the makeup for our fashion shoots, has created an easy look for us, using just two products - Dead Sea Spa Magik’s Diamond Range Beauty Balm BB Cream with SPF, (£13.50, Rejuveate at the Bullpen) plus Jane Iredale’s In Touch Highlighter, available in Complete, a pale pink, or Comfort, a peachy gold, on the cheeks and eyelids, (£24, Rejuvenate at the Bullpen or The Retreat).

S.P.E.D facial toning with the red and blue lights working (posed by a model)

Photo Tim Steele, cardigan £39, Nomad & the bowerbird

New neutrals… bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in Crush £18, Beauty-nextthe-Sea

bareMinerals’ new Gen Nude collection has 40 shades of nude lip colours including radiant lipsticks, available from Beautynext-the-Sea. Jessica, meanwhile has just launched Silhouette, six new natural nude nail polishes (£6.80 each from The Hoste Spa). u Bare It All from

Jessica’s Silhouette collection

Tease from u Jessica’s Silhouette collection

Tried & Tested

EALTH & Beauty Spot in Fakenham now offer the new CACI Synergy system (£90 with Amanda Loose for 75 to 90 minutes) billed as the next generation in non-surgical antiageing treatments.

This results driven facial uses CACI’s new S.P.E.D technology (Simultaneous Photo Electrical Delivery) to improve your complexion with LED skin rejuvenation and tighten and lift your facial muscles with microcurrent facial toning.

Masking up Face masks are definitely having a moment and are the perfect way to prep your skin for the bare-faced look.

Why not try…

MULTIMASKING: Caudalie suggest four ‘mix and masks’ combinations with their mask collection. Try the balancing duo for combination skin, nourishing dry areas with their Moisturizing Mask whilst using the Purifying Mask on your T-zone to absorb and mattify excess sebum, (£22 each, Collen & Clare).

OVERNIGHT MASKING with Aveda’s new Tulasãra Wedding Masque, inspired by the Haldi beauty ritual from India, part of the Hindu wedding ceremony.

Ingredients include Curcuminoids, a potent extract from turmeric root to help brighten skin’s appearance and organic apricot seed oil to help support the skin’s natural overnight repair process (£48, Six Appleyard).

TOP TIP: don’t forget to exfoliate before masking up. We love Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Honey & Orange Facial Scrub (£16) with rice powder and kaolin, which helps to remove impurities in the skin.

Creative Chiropractic at Pensthorpe is now an NYR Organic Independent Consultant and you can order the products direct from the Practice (01328 854325) or via their Neal’s Yard webpage uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/creativechiroprac. They also offer Neal’s Yard Remedies Signature Body treatments (£55).

Sounds a bit scientific? Well yes, but it incorporates all the elements you’d expect from a regular facial, just most are delivered via the two rods, with red or blue LED lights, depending on your skin and how you’re feeling.

My therapist Nicola explained: “The blue light is calming, hydrating and soothing and also a powerful antiseptic; the red increases circulation, is anti-ageing and can help with scar tissue and sun damage.”

The orbital skin resurfacing and ultrasonic deep cleansing made my skin feel it could breathe properly, and although the wrinkle comb was not a comfortable experience (I wimped out and opted for the numbing gel), it felt like it was definitely doing something.

With hydrated-looking, smoother skin, it was back to work. Several people said I looked very well over the next couple of days, including one of my brothers, proof that I should book in for another treatment very soon!

• Contact the salon for course prices.

CACI treatments start from £30.

ADDRESS BOOK Beauty-next-the-Sea, Wells 01328 710446 www.beautynextthesea.co.uk Collen & Clare, Burnham Market 01328 730558 www.collenandclare.com Health & Beauty Spot, Fakenham 01328 862657 www.fakenhamhealthandbeauty.co.uk Nomad & the bowerbird, Holkham 01328 713093,Wells 01328 712282 www.nomadandthebowerbird.co.uk Rejuvenate at the Bullpen, Manor Mews, Tattersett 07500 009527 Six Appleyard, Creake Abbey 01328 730912, www.sixappleyardcreake.co.uk The Hoste, Burnham Market 01328 737022 www.thehoste.com The Retreat, Old Hunstanton 01485 535376 www.retreat-spa.co.uk NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

27

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Wellbeing

Health, self and emotional wealth (here’s how) Harriet Cooper takes the plunge and finds out more about forest bathing, plus the benefits of outdoor play, complete with muddy puddles!

Tree hugger

If you try one thing…

Bluebells at Foxley Wood © Peter Callf

Embrace the Japanese practice of forest bathing (yes, really) and you’ll reap the rewards

O

K, so we don’t mean you actually take a soak amongst the squirrels and shrubbery. The Japanese practice of forest bathing (aka shinrin-yoku) means just being in the presence of trees. And like so many east-to-west health trends, it’s fast becoming popular over here.

Forest bathing was first developed as a therapy in Japan in the 1980s as a reaction to the pressures of modern-day living.

Studies showed that mindfully walking in silence amongst trees could bring a wealth of benefits, not least reducing the stress hormone cortisol, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, and boosting the immune system. It quickly became a pillar of preventative medicine in Japan and has since gained momentum globally.

Some researchers attribute the benefits of shinrin-yoku as being down to phytoncides - organic compounds given off by plants - which, when inhaled, induce relaxation. Others argue that the soothing effects are simply down to viewing natural beauty. Either way, forest bathing is undoubtedly a Good Thing.

Marie Isaac, yoga and meditation teacher at Wellbeing By The Sea, agrees.

“Throughout our lives of constant striving and doing, we can easily feel disconnected, almost alienated, from the world around us.

“Trees have this magical, nurturing life-force energy or Qi. By taking the time to immerse ourselves in nature, surrounded by these magnificent trees, we can begin to feel calmer, grounded and centred again.”

Luckily for us, North Norfolk is awash with stunning woodland in which to take a ‘soak’, including the Great Wood at Felbrigg Hall and Foxley Wood near Fakenham, the county’s largest swathe of ancient woodland.

But how is shinrin-yoku any different from a regular walk in the woods? To realise the benefits, you need to follow some simple rules: leave all distractions behind (no phone, no Fitbit) and wander in silence. Pause from time to time, to appreciate your surroundings. Breathe deep and enjoy.

• Wellbeing By The Sea, 07913 187251 www.wellbeingbythesea.com Felbrigg Great Wood © National Trust Images Justin Minns

Kick start your day with a kale, avocado, apple and ginger smoothie, just one of head chef Ben Pert’s additions to the Wiveton Hall Café menu this season. I’m loving the sound of the new weekday breakfasts, too - roasted tomato and smashed avocado on sourdough, anyone?

• Wiveton Hall Café, 01263 740515 www.wivetonhall.co.uk

My beautiful life Tricia Betts, co-founder of Christopher William Country, specialists in clothing and living essentials for the outdoors, at Creake Abbey

Holkham Beach © Holkham Estate

What exercise do you like to do?

I go to the gym at least three times a week and also enjoy running.

How important is keeping fit to you?

Extremely! It’s great for both my physical and mental wellbeing.

How do you keep motivated?

By regularly having a new programme and goals. I am currently training for the Grand East Anglia Run (GEAR) 10k at the end of April.

What’s in your fridge?

Lots of fresh veg and a bottle of vodka!

Do you have a favourite healthy recipe?

I love the Mediterranean style of food, so any mix of those ingredients is great.

Secret beauty tip?

Erm… Lots of walks on the beach.

How do you unwind after a busy week?

As we are open seven days a week there is always something to do, so going to the gym helps me to unwind.

Also lighting the fire in the evening and cuddling the dogs.

What makes you happy?

My family and my animals.

• Christopher William Country, Creake Abbey 01328 738983 www. christopherwilliamcountry. co.uk

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

➧ 29

Wellbeing

The call of the wild Outdoor play has never been so important

PHOTO © Save the Children

O

NCE upon a time, kids and fresh air were best friends. Playing outside was encouraged by grown-ups to rid children of excess energy and keep them healthy. But fastforward a few decades and climbing trees and making mud pies are often overlooked in favour of the games console or television.

According to a recent study commissioned

by Persil, three-quarters of children spend less time outside than prison inmates, while a fifth did not play outside at all on an average day (thanks largely to digital technology, parents’ fears and the lack of green spaces).

With a 2012 report by the National Trust concluding that children are “exhibiting the symptoms of a modern phenomenon known as ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’”, getting a daily dose of fresh air has never been more important.

A regular stint outside gives kids a Vitamin D boost (which assists in bone strength); it can also help ward off childhood obesity, reduce the risk of hyperactivity and depression, as well as reconnect them with the natural world.

Outdoor play is crucial for development, too, which is why local nursery schools and playgroups like Valley Farm Nursery in Sharrington and Polka Day Care in Wells-nextthe-Sea encourage their little charges to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air. In fact, Polka are currently applying for grants to redesign their outdoor space this summer.

“I grew up in Zimbabwe where we spent most of our day outside,” Polka Day Care Managing Director Dugan Aylen explains. “We know how important it is for children to feel connected to the outdoors, so we operate a free flow policy

Fancy some fresh air?

Try the National Trust’s free ‘50 things to do before you’re 113/4’ events this Easter at Blakeney on 11 April (10am-4pm) and Brancaster beach on 12 and 13 April (11am-4pm) and learn to catch a crab, go bug hunting and more. www.nationaltrust.org.uk Sign up for Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk (8 to 14 May) to raise money for Save the Children. www.savethechildren.org.uk/muddy-puddle-walk PHOTO Polka Day Care © Catherine Scoles Photography

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Check out the Wild Network, a unique group of 300+ organisations across the UK, on a mission to “re-wild childhood” by campaigning for children to get outside. www.thewildnetwork. com

where children are able to move between the two. My kids often come home telling stories of outdoor exploits and wearing their spare set of clothes.”

For similar reasons, you’ll find woodland learning on the timetables of many of the area’s primary schools, while outdoor parent and child groups, such as Badgers in Swanton Novers are flourishing.

After all, if playing outside and reconnecting with nature is going to result in calmer, healthier and happier kids, there can’t be a better reason to put the iPad down and the wellies on.

• Badgers, www.mightyoaksfoxes.wordpress. com/badgers Polka Day Care, 01328 711699 www.polkadaycare.com Valley Farm Nursery, 01263 861065

Park it

Want to get fit this spring but need some motivation?

Signing up for parkrun could be the answer What exactly is parkrun?

It’s a volunteer-led body that organises timed runs (not races) in pleasing parkland. The runs - 5kms for adults and 2kms for juniors take place every weekend in over 400 locations across the UK. Where can I do one near here?

You’ll find runners taking part in parkrun every Saturday morning at Sheringham Park, Blickling Hall, Holkham Hall and The Walks in King’s Lynn.

Will it cost me?

Nope, it’s absolutely free.

There must be a catch… do I

PHOTO © Janet Acott

need to be fit?

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Mo Farah. The runs are open to all ages and abilities. You can walk, jog or sprint - you can even take your dog.

I’m inspired, how do I sign up?

Register before your first run at www.parkrun.org.uk. Then all you need do is bring along a printed copy of your barcode (if you forget it, you won’t get a time) and you’re good to go. On your marks…

You can follow Harriet on Instagram @girlnextthesea

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Family Fun

Living Hattie Goodley shares her top tips for Easter fun, getting creative plus a spot of retail therapy, with a little help from daughters Willa and Maud

Wells & Walsingham Light Railway

Pensthorpe

© Holkham Estate

Creake Abbey

Miss Amy’s Academy of Dance

Let’s dance!

Budding dance enthusiasts will no doubt already have the legendary Miss Amy’s 1st Academy of Dance on their radars, but did you know she is also available for children’s dance parties? There’s also her annual summer dance camp (31 July to 3 August) - make sure you sign your future Darcy Bussell up ASAP to avoid disappointment!

• www.1stacademyofdance.co.uk

A little doing North Norfolk is brimful of Easter activities for children and we are lucky to be spoilt for choice. Willa and I have cherry picked our top six things to do:  The Easter trail and crafts Eggstravaganza at Pensthorpe (until 17 April), not forgetting WildRootz, the amazing outdoor play area.

Extra activities for this event are included in the standard admission price. www.pensthorpe.com  Hop aboard the White Rabbit Easter Trail on the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway (until 17 April). Four trains daily. Standard fares apply, age 4 and under free. www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk  Easter egg hunting and activities in the beautiful grounds of Creake Abbey (11 to 15 April, 10am to 4pm), supported by Marshes & Flint. Hunt £3 per child and £1.50 per activity. www.creakeabbey.co.uk  The egg hunting continues down on the coast at Drove Orchards, Thornham with all proceeds going to children’s charity, Nelson’s Journey (14 to 17 April, 10am to 4pm). £2 per hunt which starts at Bells & Whistles Kids. droveorchards.com  Quizzes, cooking, face painting and much more at Holkham (14 to 17 April). Tickets included in standard admission. To book call 01328 713111 or visit www.holkham.co.uk  Lend your support to the East Anglian Air Ambulance by joining the Priory Rotary Club of King’s Lynn for their Eaaaster Egg Trail at Sandringham on Easter Sunday 15 April (10am to 2pm), entry £3. www.sandringhamestate.co.uk

A little making …

Willa and I have been busy in the kitchen making these delicious five step Easter biscuits Ingredients: • 200g softened butter • 150g caster sugar • 2 large free range egg yolks • 400g plain flour • 2-4 tbsp milk

1 2

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Lightly grease two baking trays then line with parchment paper Measure butter and sugar into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Whisk in egg yolk. Sieve in flour and add enough milk to give a softish dough. Bring together using your hands.

Roll out to a thickness of about 5mm.

Use your cookie cutters to form shapes and place on the prepared baking trays.

Sprinkle with caster sugar.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for approximately 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Ice and decorate as you please - Willa naturally went for PINK icing and sugar balls!

3

4 5

Magical sound play classes

© Hartbeeps

I was really excited to learn that Hartbeeps have expanded their baby music classes for 2017 throughout North and West Norfolk.

Anna and her colleague Brandi put your child at the heart of their magical, musical adventures, with original and super fun, developmental baby, toddler and pre-school classes, baby discos and amazing children’s parties.

It was the highlight of Willa’s week and I can’t wait to take Maud along. Classes are now available at Farmer Fred’s Heacham on Mondays, Fakenham Children’s Centre on Tuesdays, King’s Lynn on Wednesdays, Downham Market on Thursdays and at Hunstanton, Leziate and Marham on a Friday.

• For more information email anna@hartbeeps.com or visit www.hartbeeps.com

➧ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

33

Living A little shopping …

I love these pompom garlands from Barefoot Living - Willa has a pink version hanging in her room and I’m eyeing up this pretty twinkly white string for Maud’s nursery. £28, Barefoot Living, Burnham Market 01328 738100 barefoot-living.co.uk

It’s time for bed, says Hattie Goodley

Big sister Willa with baby Maud I am always on the lookout for nice nightwear and recently came across this fab pair of robot print PJs. They come in sizes 1-9 years and are available to North Norfolk Living Readers for the special price of £20 instead of £24 at Rumours Boutique. Take your issue in with you to claim this discount before the end of April 2017 (offer subject to availability).

Rumours Boutique, Holt www. rumoursboutique. co.uk

Thornham Deli has a brilliant children’s corner full of lots of great gift ideas such as these toothbrush holders with inbuilt timers. If like me you’re forever badgering your child to keep brushing at bedtime, these are a bathroom must-have. £4.60, Thornham Deli, Thornham 01485 512194 www.thornhamdeli.co.uk

This sweet little Jessica mouse comforter would make a gorgeous gift for a newborn, perfect for tucking into the corner of a Moses basket or cot. £15, The Old Stores, Roydon 01485 600591 www.theoldstoresroydon.co.uk

Willa has recently become a big sister to baby Maud and with a new nursery to kit out, this jolly alphabet muslin swaddle

by Piccalilly caught my eye. They come in a variety of designs including a tractor and London bus print, and are made from organic cotton muslin. £12, Baby O, Holt 07748 266565

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Likewise, this chic knitted elephant motif blanket by Sophie Allport would look right at home in any nursery scheme or wrapped snugly around a newborn. £25, Bells and Whistles Kids, Drove Orchards, Thornham 01485 525676 www.bellsandwhistleskids.co.uk

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03332 079960 www.ruffandtumbledogcoats.com

Doric Arts at Drove Orchards, Thornham, PE36 6LS. 07810 730607 artman1337@gmail.com, www.doricart.com

Clothing from British companies Emile et Rose (Exeter) Kite (Dorset) Piccalilly (Yorkshire) From Autumn: Ruth Lednik (Oxfordshire).

Traditional tweeds & corduroy clothing Baby O, 2 Shirehall Plain, Holt NR25 6HT Tel: 07748 266565 Facebook Babyobabystall

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Eames Executive Work Chair in Leather designed for the Time Life Building. New York 1960 Contemporary Norfolk Oak Dining Table by Frank Falvey 35

Living

Going green Last year’s back to nature trend continues apace, but this spring the volume has well and truly been turned up, writes Amanda Loose

G

REENERY is Pantone’s colour of 2017 and fabric houses are featuring patterns with lush vegetation and blooms along with jewel colours and popping pinks. Combine this with our continuing love of natural materials and raw whites, and the look has become even bigger and often bolder this season.

Best of all with this trend, it’s a look you can make your own. Whether you go for the all out jungle look, (think Monkey Business from Clarke and Clarke’s recent Colony collection), bold florals with the same collection’s Emeline blooms or more subtle shades with natural, textured accessories, like the geometric Garden Plan fabric and wallpaper from Sanderson’s new Art of the Garden collection.

“Greenery is everywhere this season and reinforces the trend for natural materials, raw woods, soapstone and metals. It’s all about

Main wall Singita wallpaper from The Ardmore Collection, £295 per 10m roll by Cole & Son, www.cole-and-son.com. Available from Burnham Interiors

36

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Clarke and Clarke Monkey Business Wallpaper £44.50 per roll, chair pad Clarke and Clarke Monkey Business fabric £40 per m. Available from The Old Stores

Clarke and Clarke Emeline Fabric £85.50 per m, Emeline Wallpaper £44.50 per roll. Available from The Old Stores

From Sanderson’s new Art of the Garden collection: wallpaper (foreground) Garden Plan in Garden Green £62 per 10m roll, (look through) Fruit Aviary in Sage/Neutral £62 per 10m roll, armchairs Garden Plan in Garden Green £46 per m, cushion Pineapple Royale in Garden Green £56 per m, walls Green Almond matt emulsion £43 per 2.5l, www.sanderson-uk.com.

Available from Burnham Interiors

Acanthus Moss wallpaper £59 per roll, from Designers Guild’s Majolica Collection, www. designersguild.com. Available from Elizabeth Stanhope and Burnham Interiors

nature,” says Jo Griffiths, stylist and owner of Joyful Living.

“Greenery is the thing this year,” agrees Nanci Gillett of Burnham Interiors. “Big, exotic vegetation and bold florals with colours a bit more intense. Cole & Son’s new Ardmore collection of wallpapers and borders for example, explores Africa’s exotic flora and fauna.”

Alongside these, natural materials and textures such as rattan, sea grass, bronze and brass, plus exposed brickwork are very popular while real and faux plants are huge, says Nanci.

“I am finding this injection of colour has a direct relationship with our immediate surroundings,” says interior designer Birdie Fortescue. “Green is obviously a major colour this year together with the warm earthy tones of brick and wood.

“I really like mixing wall finishes in a room - part brick and flint and part paint creates a rustic yet sophisticated balance - bringing the outside in.

“Floral prints have also had a come back. We mustn’t be shy to mix patterns and geometrics.

Subtly done, this provides a quirky, eclectic and more interesting look.”

“This season we have seen a continuation of

SieMatic kitchen with built in herb planters, Arcadia Home Interiors

a trend that began last year,” says Tom Clarke at The Old Stores. “Big and bold seems to still be the order of the day, that natural feel with many designs made up of large-scale leaf, foliage and flower.”

“We are definitely seeing an appreciation of the beauty of metal at the moment,” says Eliza Miller at Arcadia Home Interiors. “Copper, brass, polished bronze and nickel in kitchens, bathrooms and lighting, combining and contrasting with the harmonious textures of stainless steel, wood and granite to great effect.

“People often think of metal as cold, but this is far from the case, especially when teamed up with textiles and fabrics inspired by colours found in nature: emerald, sage, forest, jade and apple greens.”

“Palm leaves and cacti continue to be really popular designs, big fronds appearing where you might least expect them - teamed up with hot orange and bright pinks - transporting you to exotic climes!”

Pink was definitely big on the SS17 catwalks and is making its mark in our homes too this season. Designers Guild’s contemporary florals and marbleized textures from their new Majolica collection feature, as always, that Designers Guild pink, says interior designer,

Daisy daisy

North Norfolk based designer Belynda Sharples has recently launched this Daisy fabric, an adaption of her original Daisy wallpaper. The pattern is hand printed onto a Scottish linen union fabric, suitable for curtains, blinds, loose covers and light upholstery. It’s available in four colour ways, including this pretty pink and costs £55 per metre from Belynda Sharples, 01508 531171 or belyndasharples.co.uk

Elizabeth Stanhope. “This season the inspiration comes from the intense pigments and shades found in Majolica ware.”

Jo at Joyful Living is making the look her own, with a great collection of indoor plants and an array of unusual succulents.

“Here at Joyful Living we are featuring our signature pale textures with more ethnic pieces made of natural materials, from further afield,” says Jo. “You will find Moroccan tin trays sat atop wonderful antique, Indian Chakki tables and reclaimed teak bowls.

“Our antique Handira wedding blankets mix all our favourite elements, handmade, traditional and a blend of raw, pale wool with bright, shiny sequins.”

ADDRESS BOOK Arcadia Home Interiors, Fakenham 01328 807063 www.arcadiahomeinteriors.co.uk Birdie Fortescue, Burnham Market 01328 738634 www.birdiefortescue.co.uk Burnham Interiors, Burnham Market 01328 730989 burnhaminteriors.co.uk Elizabeth Stanhope, Oakham 01572 722345 www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk Joyful Living, Drove Orchards, Thornham 01485 525714 www.joyfulliving.co.uk The Old Stores, Roydon 01485 600591 www.theoldstoresroydon.co.uk

NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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NNL Apr 17_NNL qtr 16/03/2017 08:37 Page 1

nursery w w w. g re e nandpl e as ant . g ard e n

Perennials Shrubs Lavenders Grasses Climbers Roses Trees Drove Orchards A149 Coast Road Thornham PE36 6LS

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Living

Get the natural look

Barr Co watercress mint soap £11, Nomad & the bowerbird, Wells

Wave vase small £20.75, large £25.95, Birdie Fortescue

38 light by Bocci £2800, Arcadia Home Interiors

Beetle dish £15, The Red Dot Gallery

Ceramic tea light or posy holder £35, Tatty Tides

Crackle vase small £16, large £22, Joyful Living

Indian chakki table £295, Joyful Living

Large reclaimed wooden serving board £43, Bringing the outside in Holkham

The Botanist candle by Clement & Claude £20, HAND

ADDRESS BOOK Arcadia Home Interiors, Fakenham 01328 807063 www.arcadiahomeinteriors.co.uk Birdie Fortescue, Burnham Market 01328 738634 www.birdiefortescue.co.uk Bringing the outside in, Holkham 01328 713093 www.bringingtheoutsidein.co.uk HAND, Little Walsingham 01328 821276 hand.global Joyful Living, Drove Orchards, Thornham 01485 525714 www.joyfulliving.co.uk Nomad & the bowerbird, Wells-next-the-Sea 01328 712282 www.nomadandthebowerbird.co.uk Tatty Tides, Holt 01263 711505 www.tattytides.co.uk The Red Dot Gallery, Holt 01263 710287 www.thereddotgallery.com

Throw £115, The Red Dot Gallery

Trellis rug £395, Birdie Fortescue NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

39

Living

Gardens to visit Gary Nelson of Burn Valley Nursery takes a springtime stroll around some his favourite local gardens

S

PRING has well and truly sprung, and I like nothing more at this time of year than grabbing my wellies and getting out there visiting some of North Norfolk’s beautiful gardens. We really are spoilt for choice!

Stody Lodge Gardens Gardeners are in for a treat in May at this 14-acre garden near Holt. With over 200 varieties of rhodendrons and azaleas, the gardens are a riot of intense colour, softened by wonderful magnolias, camellias, ornamental and specimen Stody Lodge Gardens © Steven Brooks trees, late daffodils and bluebells.

Don’t miss the two-acre Azalea Water Gardens, which with over 2000 plants, are widely believed to be the largest single planting of the vividly coloured azalea mollis in the country.

Stody Lodge Gardens are open on Sundays in May from 1pm to 5pm, plus Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th May, and bank holiday Monday 29th May, entry £6, under 12s free.

• Stody Lodge Gardens, www.stodylodgegardens.co.uk

Sheringham Park More parkland than garden and designed by Humphry Repton, one of England’s greatest landscape designers, the grounds of Sheringham Park are also well worth a visit in spring for the annual riotous display of rhododendrons Sheringham Park © National Trust Images and azaleas in flower.

Take a stroll through 1000 acres of parkland on one of the many marked pathways and don’t forget to climb the treetop gazebo for a spectacular view of the North Norfolk coast.

• Sheringham Park, 01263 820550 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham

Hindringham Hall Built in the reign of Henry VIII, this fabulous Tudor moated house with four-acre garden is worth a visit. The garden is open to the public from April until the end of September on Wednesdays (10am to 1pm) and Sundays (2pm to 5pm), admission £7.50, under 16s Hindringham Hall © Tim Longville free.

It is in spring though, that I am especially drawn to Hindringham. In early April, you will find a veritable carpet of 32 varieties of daffodil and later on in the month, the same area will be clothed in a shimmering mass of white cow parsley.

While you are there, seek out the Wild Garden for a stunning display of primroses in season and if you are lucky, your visit will coincide with the blooming of the leucojum, which look like giant snowdrops.

• Hindringham Hall, 01328 878226 www.hindringhamhall.org Gary Nelson is a Director of Burn Valley Nursery in South Creake, 01328 823333 www.burnvalleynursery.uk

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Spring stunner Ian Mullard of Green & Pleasant Garden Nursery picks his favourite plant for spring Armeria maritima, also known as thrift or sea pinks, is a gorgeous hardy evergreen perennial bearing compact clusters of cup-shaped pink, white or rose flowers in late spring and summer.

These spring stunners will thrive in most soil types, are generally pest and drought resistant and will weather frosty conditions as low as a Siberian -15 degrees. Sea pinks couldn’t care less where you put them; exposed or sheltered it’s all the same to them! What’s not to like about these super plants?

• Green & Pleasant Garden Nursery, Drove Orchards, Thornham greenandpleasant.garden

Flower power If you fancy bringing the garden indoors this spring, Norfolk Cottage Garden Flowers @ Pocock’s the artmonger in Burnham Market stocks plants and seasonal cut flowers. Look out for locally picked bunches of tulips, ranunculus, alliums, hyacinths, narcissus and cosmos this season plus little plants such as primulas, cyclamen and grape hyacinths.

• Pocock’s the artmonger, Burnham Market, 01328 730370 www.theartmonger.co.uk

The Iron Garden The family behind the Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co has headed outdoors, launching their new venture, The Iron Garden, earlier this year. The Iron Garden offers a range of handmade garden accessories in a variety of finishes and often with a twist, including fire pits, sculpture, lanterns, trellis (pictured), and even a grandfather clock!

• The Iron Garden, Shernborne, 01485 542516 www. theirongarden.co.uk

Gardeners’ tools picture trellis from £165, The Iron Garden. Paul Tibbs Photography

41

Burn Valley Nursery Leicester Road, South Creake, Norfolk, NR21 9PW 01328 823333 www.burnvalleynursery.uk New to North Norfolk, Burn Valley Nursery is a retail plant nursery in South Creake, which has grown out of its two Directors’ passion for horticulture. Directors, Jez Scoles and Gary Nelson, are both fully qualified local Horticulturists with a wealth of knowledge gained through many years of running their own design, landscaping and garden maintenance businesses in Norfolk.

Having successfully worked together for the past 10 years, they have pooled their resources and expanded into the plant nursery business.

Jez and Gary want to make the process of buying plants and related products as enjoyable as possible in the relaxed atmosphere of their nursery.

Since taking over the existing business of Garden Force in September last year, they have worked hard to expand the range of plants available. Browse through the Exotic Plants tunnel where you will find a range of palms, cordylines and tree ferns. Wander through the Tree Stands with their comprehensive range of ornamental and

PLANT SALES

TREES & SHRUBS

fruit trees and stroll through the Shade Tunnel filled with a selection of plants tolerant of low light.

You will also find a comprehensive range of Shrubs, Grasses, Herbaceous Perennials, Herbs, Alpines and Topiary in the nursery, which can be hired for special occasions or corporate events.

The Garden Shop is an oasis of horticultural calm. The Lifestyle area features a great selection of garden gift items, whilst the Green Fingers section has a range of horticultural essentials for successful plant care. Burn Valley Nursery gift vouchers are available, the ideal gift or birthday present for the gardener in your life.

If you’re not sure what to do with your garden, then Jez and Gary offer a full, bespoke Garden Design and Landscaping service with 18 year’s experience, designing everything from small urban to large country house gardens.

Burn Valley is a dog friendly nursery, with a bowl of water always available for your canine companion. Wander around the nursery with your dog on a lead, Tarka the nursery hound, will be happy to greet you!

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ADVERTORIAL

Getting a move on!

Hot on the heels of their first birthday, the independent estate agency opened a new office in bustling Burnham Market, which they’re celebrating by offering a 0.75% plus VAT sales fee

B

arefoot Estates is headed up by Director, Kirsty Wainwright, who has a wealth of experience about the area, having lived in Norfolk for over 18 years. She is also member of the National Association of Estate Agents, the UK’s leading professional body of estate agency.

Having previously worked for a corporate estate agent, Kirsty felt limited in the service she could offer her clients.

“Barefoot Estates very much focuses on selling a lifestyle and a way of life, not just bricks and mortar,” says Kirsty. “We cover the North Norfolk coast and inland, and there’s such a variety of properties available.

“Whether you’re buying your first home or taking the next step and buying a family home, we offer a bespoke service to all our clients.

“And as the sister company of luxury holiday lettings agency, Barefoot Retreats, we also advise on buying the right second home to provide you with a regular income and a coastal retreat to enjoy.

“No two sales or buyers are the same. I keep in regular contact with our buyers and sellers with updates on the progress of the sale. The key for me is getting to know each individual client, to listen and ask why for example, they are selling; different reasons require different marketing techniques.

“With buyers, I ask why they are looking for a particular type of property – if I find they want three bedrooms when they only need two, but want one for a hobby room, then I can show them something different, a two bedroom property with a garage or conservatory, which they might not have considered. I push them out of their comfort zone with surprise houses.

“My main question is why to everything and it’s why I like to do the viewings myself!”

Barefoot Estates’ reduced sales fee still includes their full package, which covers the valuation, floor plans, professional photography and sales particulars, the Energy Performance Certificate and

accompanied viewings, including weekends.

The agency also offers an exclusive concierge service, designed to maximise the sale price of your property, which includes a cleaning service, interior styling and property maintenance.

“We can spring clean and stage your property before it is photographed. People think they have tidied up, but from a professional point of view, I can see what viewers’ eyes are drawn to, like suitcases on the top of wardrobes.”

Barefoot Estates pay for the first two hours of the cleaning service and first hour of styling, then anything after that is chargeable at a discounted rate.

“We put white linen on top of the beds so your eyes are not drawn to a pattern, remove clutter and personal items, and add fresh flowers and fruit. It really makes a difference.”

Barefoot Estates’ property maintenance service can help with all those niggling jobs before you put your property on the market.

They pay for the first two hours, then anything after that is chargeable at a discounted rate.

“People’s objections to coming onto the market will often be maintenance jobs they need to get done first, such as grouting the

bathroom tiles or trimming the hedge. Our handyman can help with that.

“Buyers are busy and look at properties online in their lunch breaks and on their phones so catching their eye with the right pictures is really important.”

Which brings us to marketing your property.

Barefoot Estates understand that marketing is crucial, and their marketing strategy is tailored to your individual requirements. There’s the key online presence on sites like Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location along with the agency’s own active social media pages.

This is combined with their local, regional and national PR network plus glossy adverts in ABC1 local and regional lifestyle magazines. They also keep in touch with their database of potential buyers via their monthly e-newsletters.

To top it all off, Barefoot Estates is also sponsoring the Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials from 13 to 15 April. The team will be there throughout the event so do pop along and say hello.

Barefoot Estates, 17 Ulph Place, Overy Road, Burnham Market, PE31 8HQ 01328 738847 www.barefootestates.co.uk

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Living

On the market

Two local estate agents share their views of what’s happening on the local property market, plus their top tips for sellers

Kirsty Wainwright, Barefoot Estates

Four bedroom, three bathroom detatched family house at Waveney Close, Wells-next-the-Sea £725,000, The Norfolk Agents

Ross Nicholas, The Norfolk Agents “We have seen a strong start to 2017 with many new listings and older stock being sold for the asking price and in some cases above. The main restricting factor in the market remains the lack of available properties rather than a shortage of willing buyers.

“The price range up to £350,000 appears the most fluid at present, with more and more motivated first time buyers and second steppers registering on agents books.

“The middle and higher price ranges remain buoyant with prices holding firm, partly due to the ongoing influx of buyers from out of the area.

“Moving forward we all hope for an increase in stock levels to satisfy the demand whilst remaining mindful about the potential fallout from Brexit which leaves a lingering shadow of doubt over the whole economy.

“Generally speaking we are encouraged by activity and, providing that prices remain at a sensible level, there is no reason why the market shouldn’t enjoy a prosperous spring and summer.”

The Norfolk Agents’ five top tips for sellers • Present your property in its best light. First impressions are key • Get the little odd jobs completed prior to viewings • Ensure your garden is tidy • If possible, remove your pets for viewings • Note the recent sold prices in your area, not the asking prices • The Norfolk Agents, 0808 1689134 www.thenorfolkagents.co.uk Four bedroom detatched family house at Windmill Hill, Great Bircham £299,950, The Norfolk Agents

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

“Spring is certainly the time of year that it’s great to think about putting your house on the market. Our gardens look greener, our houses look brighter, and buyers traditionally come out of hibernation this season and start looking again.

“We are finding there are Four bedroom, four bathroom Bern’s Cottage, Burnham plenty of buyers in our area Norton £1,100,000, Barefoot Estates at the moment, with demand outstripping supply, which is of course great news for vendors and would be sellers, as we are achieving higher prices in shorter time scales.”

Barefoot Estates’ top five tips for sellers • Make sure you get all those niggling jobs done before you have the photographs taken for your details. Buyers notice these things • Ask your agent to look over your property with you beforehand too. As a professional, they notice details you might have missed • It’s a cliché, but white linen, fresh flowers and fruit really make a difference • If you have lots of clutter, box up what you don’t need and store it • Make sure your front door is adding to your kerb appeal.

Add some bright spring flowers to your pots • Barefoot Estates, Burnham Market 01328 738847 www.barefootestates.co.uk Three bedroom, three bathroom Violet Cottage, Snettisham £450,000, Barefoot Estates

Legal matters

Whether you’re buying your first home or moving up the property ladder, solicitors Fraser Dawbarns LLP’s Residential Property department can help.

Their Home Moving team understand that buying a house is probably the largest purchase clients will ever make and are on hand at each step to make sure buying your home is as stress free as possible.

Fraser Dawbarns LLP provide a fixed cost for this service but you will need to pay a variety of other expenses such as Stamp

Duty Land Tax, Land Registry fees, VAT and search fees.

The team can tailor their services to individual needs and as well as house purchases or sales, can advise on new build purchases, remortgaging and equity release, buying a retirement home or shared ownership home, transferring a home, buying a house as a landlord or moving to a rented home.

• Fraser Dawbarns LLP, King’s Lynn 01553 666600 www.fraserdawbarns.com Situated on Station Road, just a short walk from the centre of Burnham Market, Redwalls’ interior has been designed, built and fitted by a well known super yacht fit-out company. This five bedroom, modern house is on the market with Bedfords, with a guide price of £1.7million.

Bedfords, Burnham Market, 01328 730500 www.bedfords.co.uk

A Live-In Care Service as an alternative to residential care

45

Motoring

On the road

Brian Vertigen puts SsangYong’s Korando 2.2 ELX auto 4x4 through its paces

K

OREAN manufacturer SsangYong (which means double dragon) has always specialised in producing 4x4s, starting out building buses, jeeps and trucks in 1954.

Their first exports to the UK were in 1994 and the company now also produces SUVs and MPVs, including the Tivoli, a medium sized crossover vehicle, launched in 2015, and the Korando (a contraction of Korean Can Do).

Last year the Korando powered up, and the 2.2 ELX’s newly developed 2.2 litre diesel engine takes its performance to new levels.

In the past, the old 2-litre diesel was noisy and sluggish. This cannot be said of the new SsangYong designed and built 2.2 litre diesel engine, giving 400Nm of torque from just 1400 rpm, and under 10 seconds to reach 62mph.

My test vehicle came with the Japanese Aisin 6 speed automatic transmission, which is used in other SsangYong models. Fuel consumption is stated to be a combined figure of 41.5. I could not reach that figure my efforts were around 34mpg.

The vehicle supports an on demand 4x4 system, which operates in two modes depending on conditions and settings. In normal conditions the vehicle remains in two-wheel front drive, but when sensors detect a potential loss of grip the vehicle automatically switches to four-wheel drive mode.

It also supports a Hill Start Assist, a great ally when towing, acting like an automatic handbrake to prevent rolling backwards during a hill start.

My test car had a massive array of ‘extras’ including a smart audio system with a touch screen and navigation system, parking sensors, heated front and rear seats, power adjustable Price: test car £22,750. Prices range driver’s seat, lots of airbags and cruise control, from £16,250 to name but a few!

Top speed: 115mph On the road the car was lively and comfortable Acceleration to 62mph: 9.9 secs to drive although at times the automatic Combined stated fuel consumption: transmission seemed to have a mind of its own.

41.5mpg The interior cabin was spacious and offered CO2 emissions (g/km): 177 plenty of room in the front and back.

Insurance group: 26D The vehicle has a five-year limitless mileage Local dealership: Walkers SsangYong, warranty and three years free servicing. If you King’s Lynn, 01553 660800 are looking for a keenly priced towing vehicle www.walkersssangyong.co.uk up to 2 tonnes - this is worthy of a test drive.

Fact file

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Model motors!

RETIRED motor engineer and pattern maker Toby Sutton has carved out something of a name for himself with his wooden models of classic cars. Over the last 10 years, North Norfolk based Toby has made scale models ranging from a limited edition Jaguar D-type inspired by Malcolm Sayer’s long-nose D-type, to an Alfa Romeo 2900 (both pictured) and a Ferrari 458.

Toby uses walnut for the bodies and sycamore for the wheels, headlights and other details. Size and scale varies from 1/20 to 1/12.

“This is not a business, but a labour of love,” says Toby. “I make to order only, as they take a large number of man hours and I like to complete an order within six weeks.

They are handmade here in North Norfolk and I have customers around the world.

“Prices vary from £365 to £700 plus postage and packing. I will also undertake special commissions.”

• Toby can be contacted on 01485 576177 or susutton2@gmail.com

Year Mileage Transmission

2016(66) Delivery miles Semi Auto £234,950

Year Mileage Transmission

2010(10) 7,600 miles Manual £184,950

Year Mileage Transmission

2008(57) 19,300 miles Semi Auto £139,950

Year Mileage Transmission

2010(59) 11,800 miles Automatic £59,950

www.onestopnature.co.uk Enjoy Norfolk’s wildlife

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Beautiful luxury coastal cottages Local knowledge • A personal touch 01263 456888 info@norfolkcoastalcottages.com

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ADVERTORIAL

McKenzie Friend or Foe? Traditionally the role of a McKenzie friend was to offer moral support to those representing themselves in Court. Now, there is evidence to suggest that this role has widened over recent years writes Emma Stearman, a solicitor in the Family Department of Fraser Dawbarns LLP

W

hen a family unit breaks down, it is important to make arrangements for children to ensure that they are able to maintain a relationship with both parents.

Generally, parents are able to agree the living/ contact arrangements for children in line with what is in the child’s best interests. However, when parents are unable to reach agreement and all efforts have been made to resolve matters outside of the Court arena, it may be necessary to resort to Court proceedings.

Following the reduction in legal aid, which came in to force in April 2013, there has been an increase in parents (and other parties such as grandparents, step-parents etc.) representing themselves, which is known as acting as ‘Litigants in Person’.

Understandably, conducting your own litigation and addressing the Court is a daunting prospect, as well as being in an emotionally vulnerable state due to having limited or no contact with your children.

The Courts are encouraged to recognise the problems facing Litigants in Person and generally allow parties to have the moral support of a “McKenzie friend” in Court, which will usually be a friend or family member of the Litigant in Person. Originally, the term derived from the case of McKenzie v McKenzie and since that time, it has become increasingly common for Litigants in Person to be accompanied by a McKenzie friend in Court.

The traditional role of a McKenzie friend was to take notes, organise documents and quietly make suggestions but there is evidence to suggest that their role has widened greatly over recent years. In some cases, McKenzie friends offer their services for payment, which has become a growing concern.

In one instance, the Court granted a

McKenzie friend, David Bright, the rights of audience to address the Court when assisting a Litigant in Person. Mr Bright was a member of an organisation known as ‘The Parents Voice’, which offered McKenzie services in family disputes.

It later transpired that Mr Bright attempted to submit a false report to the Court, purporting to have been prepared by a psychologist when it was in fact prepared by a fellow member of The Parents Voice, who was not a qualified psychologist.

When the deception came to light Mr Bright and his colleague were both charged with perverting the course of justice and received prison sentences for their actions. Whilst this is an extreme example, it demonstrates the need for both the Courts and Litigants in Person to recognise the limitations on McKenzie friends.

Professional bodies (e.g. the Law Society) have recognised that McKenzie friends are unregulated and unqualified but this is not always apparent to the Litigant in Person. A recent consultation proposed a ban on feecharging McKenzie friends and recommended that all McKenzie friends sign up to a code of conduct but a response is still awaited as to whether these proposals will be implemented in the future.

Undoubtedly, there is a distinction between a friend or family member accompanying a Litigant in Person at Court and a McKenzie friend being paid to undertake litigation, including addressing the Court. However, it is important to be aware of the differences in order to avoid falling foul of paying for unqualified and unregulated advice and assistance.

Our family solicitors at Fraser Dawbarns LLP are always happy to offer advice and assistance

in family disputes. We offer “advice in the background” to Litigants in Person in order to keep costs manageable for clients.

This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However, no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy.

Always seek our specific advice. Fraser Dawbarns LLP are always happy to provide such advice.

Fraser Dawbarns, 21 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn T: 01553 666600 www.fraserdawbarns.com

49

All our food is seasonal, locally sourced and freshly made for you. Packaged in oven ready dishes or fridge/freezer containers delivered to you or ready for collection.

All you have to do is eat

Atalanta Keirle | atalanta@feastnorfolk.co.uk 07957 486 886 | www.feastnorfolk.co.uk

THE NORTH NORFOLK

BOATYARD “Daniel has always provided prompt service and high quality work... always with a smile” Mr Paddy Spink Hawk 20 ‘Flo’ A team of highly skilled craftsmen and engineers providing a full range of bespoke boatyard services on the North Norfolk Coast based near Brancaster Staithe with large indoor storage facilities.

Call Simon Fleming or Daniel Loose on 07879 842731

50

Food & Drink

From the fields to your fork

In the orchards at Congham Hall Hotel

Local farmer James Woodhouse

The field to fork movement is a very big deal in North Norfolk and it’s easy to understand why, says local foodie Alex Rousso

Farm favourites

W

Arthur Howell, Owner, Arthur Howell Butchers, Wells-nextthe-Sea: sirloin of beef from the Holkham Estate cattle

E have the marshes, with samphire, mussels and unique herbs. On one side the sea, with its crabs, cockles and lobster. On the other lush green fields with arable crops, root crops, fruits and vegetables aplenty. Add to that mix our well-known tradition for game, and we have a varied menu all year round just with goods from our back yard!

The field to fork movement isn’t just about whether or not it’s necessary to have green beans flown in from Kenya in February. It encompasses the very way we think about food and cooking.

As the name suggests, it is about creating and sustaining local food webs and reducing the number of links between where food is grown or produced and where it is eaten.

As Monty Don puts it “We are losing sight of where food comes from and how it is produced.

Local food is a powerful way to form our own connections to the land, landscape and nature.”

Plenty of North Norfolk destinations fly the flag for field to fork. Pubs such as the Wiveton Bell list their ‘local heroes’ on their menus, even saying how far away they are. Congham Hall Hotel has its own kitchen garden, orchard and herb garden, which supply its kitchen and they aim to source 80% of their ingredients from within a 20-mile radius.

At least 75% of Walsingham Farms Shop’s range comes from within Norfolk, while Drove Orchards in Thornham grow over 160 varieties of apples and pears, 120 of which are East Anglian Heritage varieties.

Holkham Hall even has its own Field to Fork exhibition. The 25,000-acre estate grows rapeseed for local oil producers Crush, and malted barley for East Anglian distillery Adnams among others. Local butchers Arthur Howell sell beef from the cows grazing on Lady

Anne’s Drive (the road going to Holkham beach) and venison from the deer in the estate park.

The exhibition itself explains the history of farming on the estate all the way up to modern production, and has plenty of interactive fun, with the table-top foodie quiz being a particular favourite for the kids.

Inspiring experiences like this are exactly what field to fork is about: whereas older generations are likely to remember times of buying local veg from markets and ingredients being seasonal, those born in the 21st century have grown up with year-round availability of almost anything they can imagine.

To learn about the history of local farming, surrounded by the very fields it relates to, and then eat the food that they yield, is one of the powerful ways of forming connections to the land and nature that Monty Don talks about.

But it’s not just about dining out. This revolution has meant that farm produce is directly available via just one link in the chain: fresh and local. For field to fork ‘local’ usually means within 30 miles. So if you visit shops like Back to the Garden in Letheringsett, Drove Orchards Farm Shop or Walsingham Farms Shop, you’re getting just that – produce direct from a local farm.

And local, of course, also implies seasonal.

Seasonality is a great way to be inspired by food. By allowing what is available locally to drive what we cook, we research new recipes, eat new cuisines and try different cooking methods. It’s not only fun, it reminds us of the relationship between our food, the seasons, and the land around us.

Sam Bagge, General Manager, Walsingham Farms Shop, Walsingham and Heacham: beef from local farmer James Woodhouse.

We work hand in hand with James to rear and breed the exact type of beef we want to sell.

Tom Wheeler, Manager, Drove Orchards Farm Shop, Thornham: if you pushed me to name just one, it would be asparagus (but Brancaster mussels and samphire from the marshes get a mention!)

Clifford Prior, Director, EH Prior & Sons, Creake Abbey, Dersingham and Knight’s Hill Farm Shop: pork sourced from Tim Allen of Morley’s Farm in South Creake.

Meet some of our local field to fork champions u NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

51

Food & Drink

Field to fork, North Norfolk style Alex Rousso meets some of our local field to fork champions

© Lucy Yates

Get cooking!

Philip Milner, Chef Patron at Shuck’s at the Yurt, Drove Orchards “One of the things that attracted us to Shuck’s was the abundance of produce on its doorstep from Drove’s kitchen gardens and soft fruit beds. A menu’s provenance is such an important part of our ethos. It’s an integral part of Shuck’s having the Drove staff drop off the latest offerings from the gardens at our kitchen door.

“A large percentage of our menu features natural fruit and vegetables turned into delicious dishes with minimum ‘tampering’ and processing. As much as possible is supplied by Drove, other local suppliers or even foraged by me! What better accompaniment to that locally caught fish or seafood than a foraged marsh herb picked that day?

“This field to fork explosion has not only taken off due to customers caring more about provenance, carbon footprint and supporting local, but also as we all become more aware that ‘we are what we eat’.

“With the ‘clean eating’ boom, people are realizing more that a sustained healthy lifestyle comes from the basis of cooking from scratch and avoiding over-processed meals and ingredients.”

Tom Wheeler, Manager, Drove Orchards Farm Shop “The mainstay of the produce grown at Drove is the orchard fruits. There is nothing quite like the sight of crates of a wide variety of apples and pears outside the shop during the autumn months.

“I also love the huge array of apple juices, all pressed and processed on site, a fantastic way of being able to enjoy the fruits of the orchards all year round.

“Then we have the kitchen garden. I’m really excited to be working with the chief gardener to try and add some exciting, new and unusual goodies to the planting list.”

Clifford Prior (centre) with Diana Brocklebank Scott and David Prior

Benjamin Pert, Head Chef, Wiveton Hall Café “We try to incorporate as many local ingredients on our menus as possible. Not only does this reduce food miles, it’s important to me to be able to support local businesses, producers and suppliers.

“We are extremely lucky at Wiveton Hall Café to be able to use such a fantastic array of fruit, vegetables and herbs that the hard working farm team and kitchen gardener Amanda have grown, nurtured and picked for us.

“It’s a joy in the mornings when the freshly picked produce is delivered to the kitchen door. When a farmgrown ingredient is in season, we like to celebrate it!”

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Clifford Prior, Director, EH Prior & Sons, now also at Creake Abbey “We try to buy everything as locally as possible. All meat is sourced locally with a few exceptions. Our best-selling local product is beef, which is locally reared from traditional breeds fed on grass.

“We work with local farmers with whom we have long relationships. I will go and select an animal on occasion but I have deep trust in regular suppliers, for example Mr Renaut of Manor Farm, Holme-next-the-Sea, who provides grass-fed beef in season.”

Shayne Wood, Head Chef at The Chequers Inn, Thornham, shares his recipe for softboiled duck egg, asparagus soldiers and Parma ham seasoning

(Serves 4) • 8 duck eggs • 3 bunches of asparagus • 4 pieces of Parma ham • 200g rocket • 50g grated parmesan • Balsamic • Good extra virgin olive oil • Cut off 5cm from the bottom of the asparagus and peel down leaving 5cm at the top.

• Put the Parma ham on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 180°C and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until crispy. Take out of the oven and leave to cool.

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Pop in the duck eggs for 6 minutes.

Drain and put into egg cups • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil then put in the asparagus for 2 minutes.

• Cut the top off the egg to expose the yolk. Crumble half the Parma ham over the eggs. Save the other half as a garnish to be sticking out of the egg.

• Mix the rocket, parmesan, 2tbsp olive oil and 1tbsp of balsamic in a bowl, toss together and serve next to the eggs with the asparagus.

A traditional coastal Inn l

PAVILIONS

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01485 512229 www.chequersinnthornham.com info@chequersinnthornham.com High Street I Thornham I Norfolk I PE36 6LY

01485 512236

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Ship Lane I Thornham I Norfolk I PE36 6LT 53

Thornham Deli, where a warm welcome awaits you A warm North Norfolk welcome awaits you at award-winning Thornham Deli, where you will find a range of locally-sourced, freshly-made, top quality food and drink, including some of the best coffee on the coast.

Whether you are looking for a tasty takeaway snack or to enjoy a meal in our vibrant dining area, you can be sure you are getting the very best that Norfolk offers.

We also stock an array of quality homeware, kitchenware and gardening accessories, one-off pieces of furniture and a range of stylish designer clothing. We pride ourselves on offering an eclectic choice of goods that you will not find in any high street store.

Whether you are a regular customer or a visitor to the area, we are delighted to welcome you into our happy family.

“Thornham Deli - a top destination”

The Barsham Arms – formerly the White Horse Inn, East Barsham

A country pub and kitchen, recently re-opened and completely refurbished with new owners Fresh home-cooked food served daily using locally sourced ingredients Real ales on tap

Dogs welcome in the bar

Food service times vary, give us a call or visit the website for more information.

High Street, Thornham PE36 6LX Tel: 01485 512 194 www.thornhamdeli.co.uk 54

www.thebarshamarms.co.uk | info@thebarshamarms.co.uk Fakenham Road, East Barsham, NR21 0LH | 01328 820729

Food & Drink

New to the North Norfolk foodie scene

J

ON Bingham and Amy Beevers re-opened The Barsham Arms at East Barsham in March, formerly the White Horse Inn, after two months of renovations. The rooms and holiday cottages are currently being refurbished and will open soon.

Jon and Amy were regional finalists in the 2015 Great British Pub awards for ‘Best Turnaround Pub’ for the Crown Inn in Pulham Market, which they own.

So what’s their lowdown on The Barsham Arms?

The vibe: a country pub and kitchen, the interior incorporates traditional features with a modern edge.

The menu: home-cooked meals, freshly prepared on site with locally sourced ingredients, by talented chefs. Expect to see pub classics with modern twists, a specials board changing weekly to incorporate seasonal produce plus traditional Sunday roasts and a snack menu for midafternoon bites.

Their highlight: the setting and the village. We’re settling into North Norfolk life and love the area and its beauty.

Opening hours: daily from noon. Food service hours may vary depending on the season.

• Call 01328 820729 or visit www.thebarshamarms.co.uk for more information

M

EANWHILE, Dan Fancett and Holly Minns opened 20 North Street in Burnham Market this spring, a café and bistro just off the village green.

“We were living in France where Dan was working as a chef,” says Norfolk born Holly. “I was coming back every now and again to find premises in Norfolk, and then this came up. It’s been quite quick, but we’ve been looking and thinking about it for so long.”

Holly describes 20 North Street as a “neighbourhood bistro type of restaurant, serving classic dishes, with a European twist and using seasonal Norfolk produce.”

“We want people to come in and get to know us and be on first name terms. The vibe is relaxed but grown up, with a cosy but contemporary interior.”

20 North Street is open Tuesday to Sunday for lunches and also for dinner on Thursday to Saturday evenings.

• 20 North Street, Burnham Market 01328 730330 www.20northstreet.co.uk

Food News Out to brunch

Mark Orton and Lynne Hammond opened Bircham Stores Café earlier this year with a breakfast and brunch led menu, next door to the existing Bircham Stores.

“I am a fan of brunch, not just the food, it’s the social aspect,” says Mark. “We want to make Sunday brunch a big deal including starting a kipper club – we don’t mind the smell!”

The all-day brunch menu includes delicious soft scrambled eggs with streaky back bacon (pictured). The café also serves deli boards, sandwiches, health drinks and juices plus homemade cakes baked

by Lynne. They are open daily from 8am, last food orders 4.30pm.

• Bircham Stores & Café, Great Bircham 01485 576006

Goodies galore!

Humble Pie is open from Monday to Saturday at its new address in Burnham Market above Gurneys fish shop.

Stocking all of the old favourites, plus some new exciting products, it’s a great place to pick up a spring picnic too. Look out for grilled sandwiches, coffee to go and other goodies in store and available from Easter.

• Humble Pie, Burnham Market 01328 738581

The Norfolk gin run At the beginning of May, the Coastal Exploration Co is planning to sail from Wells to Norwich via Great Yarmouth in their 1950s whelk boat, Salford, without the use of the engine.

They’ll be delivering a cargo of Grey Seal Coffee and Norfolk Saffron to Norwich, and a cargo of Norfolk Gin and East Coast events magazines on the return leg.

“We’re hoping to re-establish one of Norfolk’s coastal trading routes in an attempt to offer an environmentally friendly method of delivery cargo,” says skipper Henry Chamberlain.

“From Great Yarmouth to Norwich and back we’ll be hosting clients from the Purfleet Trust, supported

by Wells Coastal Communities team. They’ll be part of the crew and gain a positive life experience.”

• coastalexplorationcompany.co.uk NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

55

Food & Drink

A veritable feast!

Last year, local Mum, Atalanta Keirle launched Feast Norfolk, delivering handmade food straight to your door, complete with heating and serving instructions.

Feast Norfolk aims to take the stress out of cooking and entertaining, whether you want food to greet you when you arrive for a holiday, you’re planning lunch or dinner with friends, fancy some teatime treats, or would like the freezer packed with goodies for the weekend. All meals are cooked to order using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, with no one taking over your kitchen. “All you have to do is eat!” says Atalanta.

• For menus and more details call 07957 486886 or visit www.feastnorfolk.co.uk

Afternoon tea with a view

Food News

The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe now serves afternoon tea daily, with a delicious range of tempting sweet and savoury goodies to enjoy, along with the views across the marshes to Scolt Head from their conservatory restaurant.

Head of Pastry, Callum Butler, will be serving his take on the traditional afternoon tea, including orange and polenta cake, Norfolk rhubarb tea cake, Norfolk smoked Dapple and Colman’s mustard scones, Letzer’s smoked salmon bagel and minted lamb sausage rolls.

Afternoon tea is served from 3.30pm to 6pm daily, £30 for two. To book call 01485 210262.

Meanwhile, Anglian Country Inns’ two other North Norfolk establishments, The Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe, and The Kings Head, Letheringsett, start their weekend barbecues from Easter and every weekend thereafter, weather permitting.

• For more details visit: www.jollysailorsbrancaster.co.uk www.kingsheadnorfolk.co.uk www.whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk

Kitchen kit Above: 70s ceramic mugs £7 each, Bringing the outside in, Wells, 01328 712282 www. bringingtheoutsidein. co.uk Left: Set of espresso cups and saucers £13.95, Barefoot Living, Burnham Market, 01328 738100 barefoot-living. co.uk

Congratulations to The Chequers The Chequers Inn, Thornham has just been awarded 3AA Silver Stars for their hotel, and the restaurant received 1AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

“We’re delighted at The Chequers to be recognized with such a prestigious award,” says General Manager Martin Edwards. “Silver stars have only been awarded since late 2015 and therefore places us in a very special select group of wonderful properties.”

The recently refurbished coaching inn with 11 bedrooms has also been handpicked by Mr & Mrs Smith, a global travel club offering an exclusive collection of the best retreats around the world.

• The Chequers Inn, Thornham 01485 512229 www.chequersinnthornham.com

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NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

Sweet treats!

Our young baker Henie Lewin makes Easter fairy cakes, with a little help from her Mummy, Lisa You’ll need: • Zest and juice of two lemons • 175g margarine or butter • 175g self-raising flour • 175g caster sugar • 3 eggs • 11/2 tsps baking powder • 1/2 box fondant icing sugar • Decorations • Cake cases (Makes 24) • Preheat oven to 175°C, gas mark 4. If you have a cake mixer, add the butter or margarine, sugar, flour, eggs, lemon zest and baking powder, and mix on a medium speed for 30 to 45 seconds until well combined.

(You can also use a wooden spoon to beat together the margarine and sugar, then add the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and baking powder, then beat in the flour until well combined).

• Put the cake cases into a muffin tray and put one teaspoon of mixture into each case. Bake for 8 to 15 minutes until golden and springy.

• It’s horrible to wait for ages, but don’t mix up the icing until they are all very cool otherwise it stays runny.

• Pour half a box of fondant icing sugar into a bowl and slowly add the lemon juice, a teaspoon at a time. It should be quite thick.

Spread over the cakes and add a decoration.

Give as Easter gifts or keep in a tin or tub for up to four days.

• Don’t forget to lick the bowl and wash up!

SPRING INTO SUMMER WITH OUR FUN PACKED EVENTS

Humble Pie Delicatessen 28 Market Place, Burnham Market Above Gurneys info@humblepiedeli.co.uk 01328 738 581

Brancaster Staithe • Norfolk PE31 8BJ 01485 210314 www.jollysailorsbrancaster.co.uk

The White Horse

OPENING HOURS: Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm

NEW S ROOM

Brancaster Staithe • Norfolk PE31 8BY 01485 201262 www.whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk

BE OUR GUEST!

We’ll be celebrating the launch of our new luxurious rooms and our very own Gin Trap Gin on 7th April, come by between 5pm - 7pm to have a sneak peak, with live music and our 2nd anniversary celebrations to follow into the evening!

Letheringsett • Norfolk NR25 7AR 01263 712691 www.kingsheadnorfolk.co.uk

Set in the peaceful village of Ringstead, only a stones throw from the coast, The Gin Trap Inn is as idyllic as it sounds(we promise!) Serving homemade scrumptuous food everyday, what’s not to love!

A taste of North Norfolk living

6 High St., Ringstead, Norfolk PE36 5JU enquiries@thegintrapinn.co.uk 01485 525264

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O G ME

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www.acinns.co.uk

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What’s on

Diaries at the ready!

We give our pick of just some of the fantastic events coming up this spring Oliver Townend at the Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials ©Julie Walker/MEM

A Taste of India at Blickling

Until Tuesday 2 May Microsculpture, NWT Cley Marshes A ground breaking project by Levon Biss presenting insect specimens from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History like never before. www. norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk Until 29 October A Taste of India, Blickling To mark the 70th anniversary of the passing of the Indian Independence Act this year, Blickling welcomes you to a country house party in July 1938, where amongst the guests you’ll find Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira. Lord Lothian became Under-Secretary of State for India in 1931 and his interest in the subject remained until his death in 1940. www.nationaltrust. org.uk/blickling-estate

from £8 for an adult and £3 for a child visit www.musketeer.co.uk Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 April Puccini & Menotti The North Norfolk Chamber Opera will present a comic double bill of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Menotti’s The Telephone at the Auden Theatre Holt at 7.30pm, with young professional tenor Tristan Stocks and musical director Susie Self. Tickets £14; £13 concessions, box office 01263 713444, audentheatre.co.uk Saturday 15 April Easter Eggstravaganza at The Old Stores, Roydon With all the new season collections, tea and cakes under the porch, plus your chance to win a giant Easter egg if you find the golden egg in store (adults only). From 10am to 5pm. www. theoldstoresroydon.co.uk

Sunday 9 April Militaria Fair, Thetford Breckland Leisure Centre, Thetford Around 120 tables of military collectables from some of the country’s leading dealers, with antique arms, Home Guard, helmets, uniforms, books, medals, badges and more. From 10am to 2pm, admission £3. Organised by Norfolk Fairs 07596 436260, www.norfolkfairs.com Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 April Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials Every year many of the world’s best event riders descend on Sussex Farm, Burnham Market for the annual Horse Trials. For more information and to book tickets,

Saturday 15 April Spring Gift Fair, Creake Abbey With over 40 stands including gifts and art, jewellery, fashion clothing and accessories, children’s clothing, ceramics and much more. 10am to 4pm, free admission and free parking. www.creakeabbey.co.uk Saturday 15 April Woodcock Walk, Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve Join the warden at the Centre at 7pm for an introduction to these highly cryptic birds followed by a walk out on the reserve to look for woodcock displaying. Cost includes soup: £10, FOSM/ HOT members £8. Please book on 01328 856788, sculthorpe@hawkandowl.org or at the reserve.

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 April Vintage & Collectors Fair At North Creake Village Hall, 10am to 5pm. Entry adults £1, under 16s free. www.northcreake.org.uk Sunday 16 April Easter Sunday Funday, Fakenham The town centre will be closed to traffic for the day. Events will

Creake Abbey Spring Gift Fair

include the second Fakenham Criterium races with British Cycling licensed cycle races for various ages and abilities, a 1K Easter Fun run, a 5K Run England mixed ability road race, plus local organisations running stalls and activities. Noon till 6pm. Entry via www.activefakenham.org.uk Sunday 16, Monday 17, Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre Open Days The Heritage Centre at Bircham Newton has a unique collection of memorabilia from the former Royal Air Force station’s past service, which spanned more than 44 years, including two World Wars and The Cold War. Open 10am to 4pm, free entry. www.rafbnmp.org.uk Monday 17 April Easter Monday at The Races, Fakeham Racecourse Gates open from 11am and the first race will be 1.10pm (first race time subject to change) Tickets from £10 per person and 17s and under go free. www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk

Apprentice Drum and Trumpet Band, RAF Bircham Newton, copied with permission of the BNMP

➧ NORTH NORFOLK LIVING SPRING 2017

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What’s on

Diaries at the ready!

Plant and Garden Lovers Day © National Trust Images

Saturday 22 April Plant & Garden Lovers Day, Felbrigg Hall Various specialist nurseries will be attending. A wide variety of plants and other garden related items will be exhibited. From 11am to 5pm, admission free. www.nationaltrust. org.uk/felbrigg-hall-gardens-andestate Sundays 23 April and 7 May Up with the lark, RSPB Titchwell Marsh Listen to the dawn chorus on this 5am walk with an expert guide to introduce you to the calls of common woodland and garden birds. The walk will conclude with a hot beverage and breakfast roll in the Feeding Station. Adults £10 (RSPB members £8) booking essential, call 01485 210779.

Parking free for RSPB members and £5 per car for non-members.

Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May Wighton’s 18th Annual Scarecrow Festival

Dawn chorus RSPB Titchwell, © RSPB Images

With live scarecrows, tractor rides, refreshments in the Village Hall from 11am to 4pm plus a children’s competition with free entry at 2pm on Sunday 30.

Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May Morston Book and Plant Sale With 1000s of secondhand books for sale in aid of Friends of Morston Church. All books will be half the marked price on Monday 1. From 10am to 5pm daily, at Morston Barn. www.fmc.org.uk Sunday 7 May Antiques Fair, Dunston Hall Hotel, Ipswich Road, Norwich Around 55 tables of quality antiques including fine jewellery, silver, early Worcester and Moorcroft, art deco and art nouveau, metalwork, maps, Oriental art, Victorian glass, bronzes, paintings and more.

From 10.30am to 4pm, admission £3. Organised by Norfolk Fairs 07596 436260, norfolkfairs.com

Blickling Walk for Parkinson's

Sunday 7 May Wighton Tractor Festival With tractor road run from 10am to 1pm. After the tractors return, enjoy mini tractor racing and a chance to see the vintage tractors and some stationary engines till 3pm. Wighton Village Recreational Field & Village Hall.

Saturday 13 May Walk for Parkinson’s, Blickling Estate With a range of distances including a 2.5 mile and 5.5 mile walk. Registration fee £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

Registration opens at 10am, start time 11am. All money raised will help Parkinson’s UK’s work. Sign up at www.parkinsons.org.uk/ walkblicklingestate Saturday 20 May Push the Boat Out Head to Snettisham Beach Sailing Club’s Open Day from noon,

Orla Chennaoui, Pedal Norfolk

John Davies © christaylorphoto.co.uk

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as part of the Royal Yachting Association national Push The Boat Out initiative to promote sailing and discover more champions. Everyone is welcome to go along and try sailing – all for free, with no need to book. Sailing taster sessions on the sea from 12.30pm, and on the lake all day. www.snetbeach.co.uk Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May Cromer and Sheringham Crab & Lobster Festival With heritage and seafaring crafts, new art trail, cookery demonstrations, street entertainment, children’s activities and much more. www.crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May Pedal Norfolk Pedal Norfolk is returning to Holkham Hall and festival goers will have the opportunity to ride 20, 50 or 100 mile signposted routes. Sky Sports Cycling Correspondent and Presenter, Orla Chennaoui will be back to take part. They are also launching a brand new Eastern Counties closed road race totalling 70 miles.

There will be fun for all the family and visitors can camp in the grounds of Holkham Hall. To enter into the British Cycling Eastern Counties closed road race, book online at: www. britishcycling.org.uk/events/ details/158359/Pedal-NorfolkClosed-Road-Race-powered-byFatbirds. Tickets for Pedal Norfolk can be booked online at www.pedalnorfolk.co.uk

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ANTIQUES FAIR

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In the Park by Debbie George

Chris Prout Rosemary Vanns Sandra Blow Barbara Rae Jill Leman Debbie George Nicholas Homoky

14 Market Place, HOLT, Norfolk. NR25 6BW. 01263 713312 www.birchamgallery.co.uk Open 9-5 Monday to Saturday

MILITARIA FAIR

SUNDAY APRIL 9TH 10am till 2pm THETFORD LEISURE CENTRE Croxton Rd, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 1JD

Tel: 07596 436260 - www.norfolkfairs.com 61

WALK DATA Time: 1.5 to 2 hours Distance: 3.5 miles Nearest postcode: NR25 7RZ Grid ref: TG 049450 X easting 604988 y 345094 And TG 05943 44149 X 605943 y 344149

Out & About

Taking a turn around the Square

Norfolk Wildlife Trust www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk Photographs © Sarah Whittley

From East Bank eastwards

I know I’m spoilt living in Cley, with a wealth of habitat-rich walks to choose from every day, writes Sarah Whittley. But the Cley Square is special due to its spectacular diversity

Cley beach hut

T

Oystercatchers and rabbits, Cley

HERE are not many places in the UK where prime freshwater habitat nestles so close to the sea; on this walk you’ll cover the beach, reed beds, marsh, pools and a river, which is rather unromantically named Catchwater Drain.

You can start the walk at any point; there’s parking at the beach and Cley Visitor Centre, or if you’re coming by bus there’s a stop by the Beach Road. Sadly and alas, inevitably, the storm surge in January this year flooded the reserve. Although the water was ushered off the land through a network of dykes and sluices, it still caused chaos and death to many freshwater species and any animal that couldn’t escape. Weirdly, this is another reason why this walk is so good as the landscape is constantly changing!

I usually start by walking from the village, along the West Bank path, which runs parallel to Beach Road. If you look to the west there’s a gorgeous track of marsh with pools usually dotted with waders. If you’re walking as the sun dips, the orange pools light up the marsh.

As you arrive on the beach, you’ll see the large Eye Field by the car park. This is a great arena for birds, especially brent geese, lapwings

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and golden plovers. You’ll need to turn right on the beach, if you go left you’ll end up walking to Blakeney Point, and the only way back is either by boat or walking.

Cley beach is a mix of pebbles and shingle with patches of clay ridges. Although the shingle is a pain to walk on, it’s one of the rarest habitats in the country and is host to a variety of specialized plant species. My favourite is the yellow-horned poppy, it’s stunning.

I can’t resist a bit of beachcombing. I’ve heard people have found amber here, I’ve not been so lucky but you can usually find carnelian, a semi-precious stone that looks very similar but is much heavier.

You’ll need to be careful not to miss the East Bank path leading back to the road, otherwise it’s easy to lose yourself and end up in Salthouse! There’s a new hide on the path called the Look Out, which could be a great respite if the weather is against you. From here you can look out to the east across Arnold’s Marsh, a vast brackish pool with a feel of the Camargue.

It might not have flamingos but it does have spoonbills in the breeding season and a whole host of other birds, way too many to list!

As you walk along the East Bank, to the

Eye Pool, Cley

east the marsh stretches as far as you can see across the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s (NWT) recently purchased Pope’s Marsh towards Salthouse. This area is called the Serpentine and has had many rare birds turn up over the years.

Looking to the east, the huge working Norfolk reed bed looks after another Norfolk speciality, the bearded tit. At the end of the path there’s a car park, turn right and head back along the Catchwater Drain.

Although a bit off-piste, I can’t resist popping over the road toward Walsey Hills. The gorsecovered hill and neighbouring trees shelter a variety of wildlife, including adders and green hairstreak butterflies. Snipe’s Marsh is a good spot to see little grebe and listen for the noisy roosting herons and egrets in the pines.

Back to the path, past the Skirts Pools by the car park and follow the freshwater Catchwater Drain all the way back to the West Bank - look out for otters and water voles. It is this vital stretch of water that enables the NWT to keep the pools on the reserve supplied with water.

You’ll pass the NWT Visitor Centre - here you can buy a day pass for the reserve or even better, become a member - not forgetting the well-deserved cuppa and slice of cake!

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