Village People South Norfolk edition – December & January 2021 (Winter)

DELIVERED TO 61,000 HOMES IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

AWARD WINNING

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

RIVER WALK

at Hardley Staithe

Recipe for Mixed Plum Tarte Tatin MEMORIES OF PULHAM MARKET

Falcon Meadow wildlife spotting challenge A festive giveaway with Norfolk Gin Cosy chic fashion for the chilly season

South Norfolk Edition - December / January 2021

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Contents DECEMBER / JANUARY 2021

Out & About 8

Good news from our region

12 Poetry Corner - Louise Warnes from Needham

Home & Garden 19 Festive jottings from The

33

Garden Enclosure

20 On your plot - frosty beauty

46 Bird spotting this winter 49 Vegan recipe for M’hancha 51 WIN a bottle of Norfolk Gin plus a cocktail recipe for Norfolk Bluey

53 Falcon Meadow winter wildlife spotting challenge

55 Where do you keep your Village People magazine?

57 Fashion - cosy capes and ponchos

39 25 Recipe for mixed plum tarte tatin

27 Brecks appeal with Norfolk Wildlife Trust

29 Recycling - make do and lend

59 Help from YANA for isolation in rural communities

Shopping, Health & Beauty 63 The health benefits of Echinacea

64 Refreshing Waters talks to The Watoto Children’s Choir

67 Animal Welfare plea from the Carmelite Monastery of Quidenham

Jobs, Money & Business 69 WIN £100 M&S Voucher 71 Smart Money Secrets - using an independent mortgage broker

73 Bungay Bitesize - trimming the Christmas tree

75 Dogs Trust appeals for foster carers

76 Find a local business or service in our directory

78 Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

30 Walking for health around Hardley Staithe at The Broads

33 Memories of Pulham Market 37 Gospel from The Saints 39 Rural History - from Denton farmer Ed Winter

41 Art - New Year traditions 45 Canine communication with Julia Collins

25 Are you looking for a particular product or service?

Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 76 & 77 5

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Welcome WIN

’Tis th he seasson n of goodwiilll and we hav ve plenty to sharre witth you in the forrm of competitions and giveaways. Ou ur usu ual sea arch is on for Bella a the Beag gle, who is hidden in the magazine, so settle down with a cuppa, have a good The VP team in read from cover to co over and happier times you miight be the lucky one to win a £100 M&S voucher. Clue, she could have her Christmas hat on!

ADVERTISE WITH US!

We’ve teamed up with fellow locall businesss Norfolk Gin to give away four tote bags filled with gin! So hop onto our website and enter your details to be in with a chance of winning. The Norfolk Bluey cocktail looks delicious too.

TWO BOTTLES OF NORFOLK GIN Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 61,000 homes every two months. Four editions of Village People provide unrivalled coverage of Norfolk and Suffolk, reaching more homes than ANY other local magazine. For more information, call our friendly team on 01284 788623 or send an email to editor@village-people.info

And there’s another great competition to WIN a Happy Hippodrome Christmas, with two family tickets on offer for the legendary Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular in Great Yarmouth. Check your diary, as we have a short closing date for this one.

We also bring you the inspirational story of a new local business that was born out of lockdown, Botanical Forrest. Four of their scentsational amber candles are up for grabs as a giveaway, so get onto our website today and enter your details.

I’d like to say a very big thank you to our regular financial expert Andrew Hagger, who writes his final editorial prior to starting a long and happy retirement. We’re on the lookout for a local financial expert to take over, so if you know of anyone please ask them to contact me by email.

So, as we wave goodbye to 2020, with hope for a very different 2021, I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. Stay safe, look after each other and roll on a fresh New Year.

Lily

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vpmagazine Read all our magazines issuu.com/villagepeoplemag

DELIVERED TO 61,000 HOMES

River Walk at Hardley Staithe MEMORIES OF

Pulham Market RECIPE FOR MIXED PLUM TARTE TATIN

Falcon Meadow wildlife spotting

DELIVERED TO 61,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AWARD WINNING

Memories of Pulham M Market arket Recipe for Mixed Plum Tarte Tatin RIVER WALK AT HARDLEY STAITHE

challenge

6 January

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

Visit our website to find out more www.village-people.info

AWARD WINNING

NEXT DEADLINE

Falcon Meadow wildlife spotting

challenge

February / March (Early Spring issue)

DELIVERED TO 61,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

AWARD WINNING

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

RIVER WALK

at Hardley Staithe

Recipe for Mixed Plum Tarte Tatin

MEMORIES OF PULHAM MARKET

F l

M

d

DELIVERED TO 61,000 HOMES

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

AWARD WINNING

IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

RECIPE FOR MIXED PLUM TARTE TATIN Memories of Pulham Market RIVER WALK

at Hardley Staithe

Falcon Meadow wildlife spotting

WINNER of five National Publishing Awards

challenge

7

Good News from our region COLO SADDLES UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH A Norwich man is undertaking an incredible 5,000-mile charity cycle ride, aiming to journey through every village in Norfolk to raise money and awareness for mental health causes. Matt Colley, known as Colo, launched his campaign in September after cycling 500 miles during August for charity.

“I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for much of my adult life,” said Colo, “and during lockdown my mental health deteriorated significantly. I started my own business last year, but coronavirus wiped

out most of my custom. I was drinking too much, eating too much and not getting enough exercise.”

In August, Matt decided to take to the saddle. “I had a road bike in the garage gathering dust, so I decided to start cycling. One month later I’d raised almost £4,000, lost a stone in weight and improved my mental health significantly. I figured that if I could ride 500 miles in a month, I could ride 5,000 in a year. I thought about which Norfolkbased causes were important to me and set about creating my

#5000colo campaign.

“So far I’ve cycled 900 miles and visited more than 250 villages, and I’m keen to meet people anywhere in the county with an interesting story to tell. If you’re doing something charitable or communityfocused, I’d love to ride out to meet you.”

You can email Colo at colofivethousand@gmail. com, visit his website and blog at www.edidit.co.uk/5000colo or connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @5000colo.

Donate at tiny.cc/5000colo

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Good News

GRANT A HORSE’S CHRISTMAS WISH

All the rescued horses and donkeys of Redwings Horse Sanctuary want this Christmas is the chance to continue living a life free of fear and neglect. Christmas shoppers can help make their wish come true by sponsoring a Redwings ‘Adoption Star’ as a truly unique gift for a loved one. Every penny goes towards their care and that of their 1,500 fourlegged friends at the Sanctuary.

Sponsorship costs from just £15 a year, and there are more than 20 adorable Adoption Star horses, ponies and donkeys to choose from, each with their own moving story to tell.

To sponsor a Redwings Adoption Star this Christmas, head to www.redwings.org.uk/adopt or call 01508 481000.

A SUFFOLK LITERARY FIRST Suffolk’s first literary agency has opened its doors in Laxfield, and will provide representation for authors in both Suffolk and Norfolk. Emma Shercliff, who has launched Laxfield Literary Associates, started the business partly in response to a report which highlighted the lack of literary agents outside London.

Emma says: “There are no other literary agencies in Suffolk or Norfolk, despite the fact that Norwich is a UNESCO City of Literature and home to the National Centre for Writing and the prestigious Creative Writing MA course at the UEA. Both counties are full of great

writers, from Anthony Horowitz to Melissa Harrison. Accessing an agent can be a huge challenge for an author. I really want to do things differently, and for us at Laxfield Literary to be seen as open and accessible.”

To celebrate the opening, the agency is launching the New Anglia Manuscript Prize, a competition looking for the best new writing from Suffolk and Norfolk in the form of a Debut Novel from an unpublished writer. For further information about Laxfield Literary Associates or the New Anglia Manuscript Prize please visit www.laxfieldliterary.com.

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Good News

WIN

A HAPPY HIPPODROME CHRISTMAS!

Christmas is just around the corner, and now is your chance to add some ‘WOW’ to your holidays. Village People is offering a chance to win 2 family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) for the legendary Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular in Great Yarmouth, which runs from the 12 December 2020 - 10 Jan 2021.

The Hippodrome Christmas

Spectacular is one of Europe’s largest festive shows and brings together a truly unique combination of awe-inspiring elements; world class circus acts, swimmers, acrobats, aerialists, stunning effects and the heart stopping Wheel of Death.

Seating will be social distanced and masks are to be worn unless exempt.

Let’s do the very y best we can! ✔ Government Funded Hours available on all sessions! ✔ No additional fees for baby wipes, nappies or snacks! n re d il For ch ✔ Owned and Managed s th n 9 mo

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If the show is cancelled due to Covid-19, vouchers will be issued for use next year. Tickets exclude 19 – 31 December.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 8 December 2020 and the usual Village People rules apply.

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Good News

SCENT-SATIONAL! A new Suffolk-based business, producing a range of therapeutic scented candles, has been launched during the pandemic to help people’s wellbeing at home.

Botanical Forrest is the brainchild of Clare Forrest who, like many, has had a difficult year. After two decades of commuting to London, she was made redundant on the day the Prime Minister announced lockdown in March, and decided it was time to work in Suffolk and leave the city world behind.

At th hat poiint I started d look king “A for ways to contribute to people’s emotional wellbeing, including my own, because this

period has been so hard for everyone,” says Clare. “Many of us associate burning candles with calm and relaxation, so I started making candles during lockdown.

Botanical Forrest was born out of my love of scented candles – the sense of wellbeing they create and the memories they invoke.

“All our products are made by hand in Suffolk in small batches using 100% soy wax and natural cotton wicks. We use plant-based soy wax, made from soybeans, as an alternative ditiionall petrolleum-b based d to trad paraffin candles. The soy wax is vegan-friendly and has not been genetically modified.”

WIN

Village People has 4 Botanical Forrest amber candles to give away. To enter, simply visit www.village-poeple.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 14 December and the usual Village People rules apply.

IF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE EMAIL US AT editor@village-people.info

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Poetry

Poetry Corner

This great poem by Louise Warnes, from Needham, will resonate with many of our readers! Louise has 9 grandchildren, 4 daughters and d a husband, and wh hen sh he isn’tt helping her family she enjjoys sewing, crafting, writing poetry, and working on her life story.

Louise Warnes

LOCKDOWN NANNY

(WITH TWO BOYS AND A PUPPY!) At first it seemed a good idea Just two weeks maybe three To have the grandkids just to stay So my daughter could be free To go and care for those in need While lockdown comes in force To stop, defeat the virus Until it runs its course Well let me tell you once and for all I’m not cut out to be A lockdown nanny, oh no way That’s definitely not me!

The first wall of resistance Was....yes you guessed that’s right School work...you must be joking!

They’ y’d ’ rather play and fight I go on Google Classroom Encourage boys to look Exclaim at how much fun there is Should we read that book?

Or maybe build a castle With a working drawbridge fine And NO boys, YOU are making it It’s all your work...not mine!

I threaten zero screen time I promise treats galore I’m sounding like a nanny

From a bootcamp more and more ty y is part restored Sanity By the daily walk outside We walk across a field of grass To a place where boys can hide Another walk is down Mill Lane Again I wear a frown With so much water I just fear They’ y’ll ’ both fall in and drown They climb a gate and call the cows They stroke them without fear As I am try rying y desperately To say, don’t get too near Back to base, it’s time again To fill their hollow legs!

One loves chips and dippers While the other one loves eggs In between home-schooling Eating, being bored and walks I seem to go from nanny chats To bootcamp nanny talks By five pm I’m on my knees But still, there’s tea to cook And aft fter t bath and cleaning teeth There’s to read a bedtime book Now let me introduce you To Mabel...our small pup

She’s the sort who never grows much more Then the size of a coffee cup!

She wees and poos wherever That place is smelling right!

She eats and sleeps and runs around And loves to play and fight Because she is so tiny I have this fearful dread We may not see her tiny self And on her we may tread!

She’s like a new-born baby I thought those days were past So by the time they’ y’re ’ ALL asleep I can go to bed at last Seven weeks. Still counting I am nearly on my knees Each day I pray so earnestly And the Lord has heard my pleas Six more days, yes only six Then dare I say it…free!

No longer lockdown bootcamp NAN But gosh...just plain old ME. Phew!

Are you a poet from Norfolk or Suffolk? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Email a selection of poems and a bit about you to editor@village-people.info for the chance to be featured in a future issue.

12

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Enjoyable Days Out throughout the Year!

Date

December 2020 Thurs 3rd Dec Fri 4th Dec Sun 6th Dec Tues 8th Dec Thurs 10th Dec Sat 19th Dec Mon 28th Dec January 2021 Thurs 28th Jan February 2021 Thurs 4th Feb Fri 12th Feb Sun 14th Feb Thurs 18th Feb Sun 21st Feb Sat 27th Feb

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Gardens

Festive jottings from

The Garden Enclosure

T

here’s no doubt that mankind is a destructive species, with so many people in the world our impact on the planet is not only causing harmful damage to ourselves but affecting everything else in the process. Global temperatures are rising, weather events becoming more severe and frequent, and our ‘use once, then throw away’ mentality is polluting everything around us. It’s obvious that we cannot continue in all our ways, and so we need to moderate the rate of our damage and help improve our environment. We can all do a little bit to address the problem, and planting trees ticks lots of environmental boxes.

Imagine a forest covering thousands of acres of land planted with over seventy million trees, looked after by a team of custodians who check it regularly, carefully manage it, and responsibly harvest around ten percent per year, and then replant an equivalent amount to maintain the size and sustain numbers. A forest which provides a habitat for countless species of wildlife, both fauna and flora, insects and bugs, a whole ecosystem cleaning the air of carbon and pumping out oxygen for us all to breathe. It’s not a dream, this forest already exists fragmented into plantations across our green country.

A Christmas tree takes about ten years to reach around six foot and even longer for taller sizes, all this

time they are doing their bit for the natural world; they’re planted to be harvested, and this vast forest only survives due to us choosing to decorate our homes with a real tree, such as the beautiful soft-tothe-touch Nordman Fir. If you’ve got an artificial tree and it looks ok keep using it for as long as you can, but think carefully before you buy another one; they’re manufactured overseas from a mixture of materials that are impossible to separate and so will be destined for landfill, where they will take hundreds of years to degrade down to their chemical forms.

Our range of non-drop Nordman Firs are grown in Norfolk so there’s no need to worry about excessive pollution from transport miles, it also means they’re cut late so stay fresh for longer, and as they don’t cost the earth they really are the natural choice for your home!

For your festivities this year you can choose to be naughty or nice, but whichever way you think about it a tree is for life, not just for Christmas.

Seasons Greetings to you all!

Cheers Ken,

We close at Christmas & reopen on Sat 16th Jan 2021

INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRE & GIFT SHOP 01953 888043 www.gardenenclosure.co.uk Fresh local Christmas trees & wreaths, seasonal plants, fabulous gifts & gorgeous goodies, floristry sundries, garden bird & pet supplies, gift vouchers … & more!

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Gardens

Frosty Beauty

JOBS FOR UARY EM DEC BER & JAN

l e a ve s t h a t c o u l d n Rake up fallen d pests harbour slugs an d compost soggy n Clear away an perennial stems lbs and corms n Check stored bu t ro for signs of d water for the n Put out food an birds

pansies and Deadhead winter gularly other bedding re s ing climbing rose n Continue prun t an rm do e while they ar

n

PROTECT YOUR BEST BUDS! Wh hile plants generally survive harrd winter freezes, blossoms on win nter-flowering plants such as camellias and plum and cherry tre ees aren’t so lucky. When buds arre swollen and blooming is im mminent, a hard freeze can damage d the buds, showing up in n the form of brown spots on t petals. the To avoid this, cover plants that have buds and open flowers with an old sheet or a frost cover. Don’t use plastic, it can quickly create an oven

effect when the sun shines on it.

You can also trick Mother Nature by cutting the buds in advance of the freeze and bringing them indoors to let them open in the house. If a freeze is predicted before buds have been set, there is no need to add a protective covering.

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or

Gardens

WINTER GARDEN DOS Continue to plant – as long as the ground is soft enough to dig a hole.

Be sure to hydrate aboveground shoots as well as the roots.

Add mulch – it will help keep root temperatures stable.

Bring in houseplants – Spray both sides of the leaves with an insecticidal soap and water thoroughly with an insecticidal drench that’s safe for people and pets, to kill hitchhiking critters. Position plants indoors where they will receive indirect, bright light for at least five hours a day. Keep them away from drafts and heating vents and water sparingly; most houseplants don’t actively grow in winter.

Add compost – it delivers organic nutrients into the soil, but no more than three inches thick.

Water – Watering before a freeze helps plants, especially potted plants and annuals, because it allows them to take up moisture before the ground is frozen and prevents water from reaching the root zone.

WINTER GARDEN DON’TS Fertilise – Over winter, garden plants go dormant and rest. Forcing them to start new growth before the ground warms in the spring not only interrupts this period when they are rejuvenating, but hard frosts will kill tender new growth.

Skip your regular watering cycle – During dry periods when the ground isn’t frozen or covered with snow, a once-a-week deep watering is beneficial. New plantings especially need to be watered in.

Worry about bulb foliage – Leaves of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs should be just fine during temperature dips.

Forget to give container plants extra protection tection – Cover with frost cloth or other heatt retentive blankets, and move pots and othe er containers close to the foundation of the house h or under eaves.

Neg glect tree trun nks – Some anim mals like rabbits and mice feed on tree k when food sources bark are scarce. s Protect young trees and shrubs with tree guarrds or hardware mesh.

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22

A D V E R T O R I A L

CAISTOR HALL

Elegance all the way

N

estled in the suburbs of South Norwich in rural Caistor St Edmunds, Caistor Hall is a gorgeous Georgian building set within 35 acres of grounds and woodland. The elegant buildings and beautiful surroundings make Caistor Hall the perfect setting for weddings, and we offer a variety of spaces and packages to suit your exact needs and make your special day perfect.

We are very proud of our bespoke approach to weddings — whether you want to hire the entire venue on an exclusive basis, or prefer a small intimate boutique affair, our team at Caistor Hall will work closely with you to make your wedding dreams a reality.

Caistor Hall has a fascinating history.

It was built between 1795 and 1797 in the time of King George III by the Dashwood family.

The actual site can be traced back even further to before the Norman Conquest, and originally belonged to the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds until it was confiscated during the dissolution of the monasteries. Caistor Manor and land then passed to the Godslave family, who owned it until the early 1600s, and then in turn to the Pettus family.

Through marriage the land became the property of the Dashwoods in 1793. The first recorded owner was Horatio Dashwood, who lived in the hall with his wife Harriet and their children.

Caistor Hall offers 20 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, a variety of elegant and traditional reception rooms, and a Pavilion marquee suitable for up to 300 guests. Our friendly and dedicated team of professionals is on hand to help plan the most memorable day for you, and they are supported by dressing, theming and catering partners to add a dash of inspiration and flair if needed.

We are particularly proud of our accommodation at Caistor Hall. The bedrooms vary in size and location, but each one offers elegant and stylish interiors blending old and new. Vintage furniture partnered with high ceilings and sash windows marry the traditional with a fresh colour palette and modern bathrooms — adding a chic contemporary feel to our historic venue.

TEATIME PERFECTION

Everyone loves afternoon tea; proper china cups and saucers, delicious sandwiches and cakes, it’s sheer elegance. And Caistor Hall is the perfect place to enjoy it, freshly prepared by our team of in-house chefs, and served in our stunning Regency rooms. Sandwiches, homemade cakes and pastries and a wide variety of teas to choose from. What could be better?!

01508 494 998 | www.caistorhall.com Caistor Hall Hotel, Stoke Road, Caistor St Edmunds, Norwich, NR14 8QN

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Contact us for a no obligation quote and see how we compare 24

Recipe

MIXED PLUM Tarte Tatin

This delicious tart can be made with several different fruits, including the traditional apple. Try pears, apricots or nectarines, or mixed plums as we have done here. You need enough fruit, when halved or sliced, to fit really snugly in the base of your tin.

Tip:

Make tin w sure to u ith a s fixed e a or yo base u’ll lo , se caram your el!

Serves 10 378kcal/41g carbs per slice INGREDIENTS 70g plain flour 60g ground rice (not rice flour) 140g softened butter, diced 50g caster sugar 1 large egg, beaten Topping: 120g butter 120g granulated sugar Roughly 8 plums, 8 greengages and 8 mirabelles, all halved and stoned, or other fruit METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC/170ºC fan. Have ready a 23cm round baking tin or ovenproof dish. Put the flour, ground rice and butter into a large bowl, and rub together with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs. Stir through the sugar, then add the egg and squidge the mix with your hands into a ball.

Pop into the fridge while you make the topping.

2. In a large pan, melt the butter and add the sugar.

Let it bubble over a low to medium heat, stirring rarely,

until it begins to caramelise and turn light brown. Take off the heat immediately and pour into your tin. Arrange the halved plums in the caramel, skin side down.

Take care not to touch the caramel with your fingers, it’s very hot!

3. On a floured board, roll out the pastry into a circle to fit the pan snugly — about 1cm thick. Place on top of the fruit in the tin and press down lightly. Bake in the oven on a baking tray for about 30 minutes until nicely golden.

4. Allow to cool for 10 minutes,

then carefully turn out onto a large plate. Perfect served warm with thick cream. It also reheats well, even with a zap in the microwave. Keeps for four days in a cool place.

The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink “Best Baking” Award. The café, in Pulham St Mary, is open Mon-Sat, currently from 10am to 2.30pm. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660 The Pennoyer Centre, Station Road, Pulham St Mary, IP21 4QT

25

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26

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Agricultural

Commercial

Wildlife Appeal

S

NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST Brecks Appeal

ydney Long, founder of what is now Norfolk Wildlife Trust, loved the Brecks. Long before it was a nature reserve, he would visit East Wretham Heath in March each year to record the return of the wheatears which bred there.

Since then, in Sydney Long’s honour, Norfolk Wildlife Trust has known many successes in the conservation of Brecks wildlife. Shortly after his death in 1939, we began to acquire East Wretham Heath, with its precious fluctuating meres. In 1942 and 1945 we purchased Weeting Heath for its priceless Breckland flora and nesting stone curlews, known then as Norfolk plovers, and in 1970 a unique arable weeds reserve was established there. We have since worked with partners including The Forestry Commission and Natural England to restore numerous sites.

in restoring arable land to Breck grassland.

But these projects do not come without a cost. We must raise £625,625 by spring next year to secure these two precious pieces of land. Thanks to a humbling and remarkable legacy, the figure we still need to raise is just £200,000. With your help, even at this time of global crisis, we can protect Thompson Common, one of Norfolk’s most exceptional natural sites, against future vulnerability.

One of the most remarkable nature reserves in the Brecks is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Thompson Common, known for its landscape history, many rare species and sheer diversity of habitat. The greatest threat to Thompson Common, both to rare wildlife and resilience to climate change, is its isolation in a landscape of intensive agriculture.

Today, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is set to take the next bold step in Thompson Common’s restoration.

We have an exceptional opportunity to acquire 53.5 hectares of land adjacent to our Thompson Common reserve, and a further 42 hectares of farmland, where we can build on our recent success

Please help us secure a bigger and better Brecks for wildlife. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/appeal or call 01603 625540

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Recycling

MAKE DO and LEND

W

Caroline Topping tells us how sharing and lending items can help slash the creation of waste

e have had ‘Bring and Take’, ‘Make Do and Mend’, ‘Fashion Exchange’, and now ‘Make Do and Lend’. If an item can’t be repaired, reused, upcycled or eventually rot, then there is something seriously wrong with its construction. Everything should be designed with its longevity as a useful product in mind, if it is not designed to be continually used in some form, then it is a flawed design.

Times are tough. Our pockets are suffering, and so is the planet. How many others, like myself, go out and buy one-off ‘distress items’ and then put them away ‘safely’ until next time? Some time in the future, perhaps never to be used again. How many paint rollers and trays have been used once? Over the years I have had neighbours with children come to me for fancy dress items; they know I am a hoarder and will have something that will fit the purpose. So I lend the items of clothing, the event takes place and the items are returned to me.

We all need to expand this idea and develop a Make Do and Lend attitude. Rather that buying something for a one-off use, we can borrow from someone who already has one. Your local community is perfect for this, and social media too. Let’s make the effort and gather a little group about us of family, friends, neighbours, and a local Facebook Group, and agree to ask each other if they have the item required, before going out and buying another. This will save our pockets, cupboard space and our planet. We must do what we can and pull back from the ‘throw away’ society we have become.

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Local walks

WALKING FOR Health HARDLEY STAITHE Reviewed by Dougie Dingwall, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Central Norfolk Walking for Health

Walk Information Meeting Place

Hardley Staithe

Wheelchair/ Buggy Friendly

No

Grid Reference

OS Map OL40 TG 38842 01172

Walk Length (Miles / Km)

3.5 miles / 5.6 km

Approx Time Required

1 hour 15 minutes

Footpath Type / Quality

Grass Pathways. Two small stretches of road. Approx 85% soft surface, 15% roads. This is part of the long distance Wherryman’s Way footpath and information and signage can be seen along the route.

Gradients

Minor

Steps/Stiles

Yes 1 set / No stiles

Seating On Route

No

Toilet Facilities

None

Specific Hazards For This Walk

Uneven ground and path runs near to water. Small amount of traffic on one rural road.

Parking / Parking Charges

Free at Hardley Staithe, Hardley Staithe Road, NR14 6BU. To get there: at the crossroads in Chedgrave, drive all the way down Lower Hardley Road to St Margaret’s Saxon Church. Drive past the church and take the left hand fork into Hardley Staithe Road.

Nearest facilities

Loddon

Additional Information

This route can be flooded during winter or high tides. Check for weather warnings.

30

DIRECTIONS At Hardley Staithe car park, take the steps on the right side (which run along the east side of the dyke) and continue on the riverside path with the River Yare on your left. This walk always veers right. After about one mile you will come to the Hardley Cross monument on this side of the riverbank.

Continue to veer right, this time with the River Chet on your left. Pass through two wooden gates and a final third gate at the end of the riverside path.

At the end of the riverside path turn right through an iron gate and onto a track. Look out for a Wherry ryman’s y Way signpost.

Local walks At the end of the track, where it meets Hardley Hall driveway and a road, turn right onto this road, which is Hardley Hall Lane. At St Margaret’s Church, bear right onto Hardley Staithe Road and walk back to the car park.

We have restarted our group walks, with limited numbers of walkers allowed. Please check our Facebook page Central Norfolk Walking for Health to see what’s available and to book onto a walk.

Route Instructions, Rhona Shuttleworth Photography, Dougie Dingwall Mapping ©️Ordnance Survey

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LOCAL HISTORIAN

MEMORIES OF PULHAM MARKET Local historian, Dennis Cross from Diss, shares with us his fascinating collection of old postcards, focusing on a different village in every issue.

This time, we take a walk down memory lane in Pulham Market.

In 1911, the Post Office was in The Street.

Mr C A Garrard was the Postmaster.

A 1910 view taken from the hurch h tower, look king toward ds ch Long Stratton.

This 1910 view shows the green with the Crown pub and church in the th background. b k d

In the post-WWII period, The Street had a Barclays bank and a petrol station, where you can see a car being attended to here.

33

Pu ulham Market Great Eastern Railway Station opened with a line to Harleston in 1855, and then to Bungay and eccles in 1860. Passenger trains Be ran until 1953 and goods trains to arleston until 1966. The stationmaster Ha at the time of this 1912 postcard was Frrederick Wright. The station is now a prrivate house.

Pulham Market school, school with masters masters’ esidence, was built in 1852 and re enlarged in 1910 for 180 children.

William Pumfrey was headmaster at he time of this 1920 postcard. th Station Road looking towards the village in 1934. You can just see the church tower in the distance.

The Norfolk Postcard Club meets regularly in Trowse in Norwich and new members are very welcome. Meetings have currently been suspended.

Dennis is also the author of several local history books that can be purchased by contacting him direct.

Aldrich & Bryant Stores in 1920 overlooking the village green. It was later the Post Office, serving an ever-growing village.

34

If readers have any local postcards of Diss or the surrounding villages, please get in touch with him after 7pm on 01379 651897. Š

PAINTER & DECORATOR Interior & Exterior Work R.C.SOUTH Over 30 Years Experience

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Window & Door Doctor Windows & Doors not opening or shutting properly?

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36

Village Life

Gospel from THE SAINTS

By Julia Collins, who lives in Saint Nicholas

T

“

his Christmas is going to be different.”

Nothing wrong with that! Sometimes it’s all too easy to repeat the familiar, without even considering the alternatives.

How often have you half mockingly groaned about the ‘slog’ of Christmas shopping, both food and gift, let alone the preparations and (if you’re lucky) round of get-togethers? There is almost heroism in surviving the festivities, entertaining the entire family, and so on.

I bet a fair few of you have secretly admitted, and agreed with friends, that a pared down, quieter Christmas would be altogether welcome. More feet up, cosy inside with a glass of something, less whirling around people pleasing, salving your conscience. There certainly seems to be quite a bit of guilt involved.

A straw poll might well produce surprising results.

Chatting over coffee with a friend recently, we took the usual conversational stroll through the run-up to Christmas. Examining the essentials, as opposed to the (perceived) expectations, she admitted that just getting through, ticking everyone’s boxes, before feeling comfortable about sitting down and finally relaxing, really seemed to be the name of the game.

Perhaps we should take a rest from the customary bustling through wintery streets, surrounded by all those sparkling shop windows we barely appreciate, in the rush to purchase and work through the list of myriad acquisitions we have been conditioned to equate with Christmassy celebration.

Already newly aware of our need to cut back and find more ethically sound presents for each other, we are well placed to enhance this sentiment now that it fits so well with our current, more reflective values.

Smaller, well considered gifts convey love, appreciation and goodwill just as effectively as flashy, commercial gestures. Spending the currency of kindness and thoughtfulness will always outweigh financial outlay, the flash of a plastic card versus the ping of real satisfaction when you track down just the thing; the present that will truly delight, and locally made!

Likewise, catch up calls, either in person, by phone or on screen, can be as uplifting as a card. An impromptu invitation for a coffee and a mince pie in the garden on a delightful sparkling winter morning could well do more for a neighbour than a quickly signed card, popped through their letterbox, involving no eye contact or chat.

A brisk walk through our gorgeous countryside, enjoying the natural beauty that forever surprises and delights, is far more uplifting than a department store, and cheaper by far; no expensive parking, no arduous journey home.

In slowing down a little and appreciating all the small but lovely things we are lucky enough to have, we begin to feel spoilt for choice. Gratitude and attention can fill in an awful lot of the gaps we believe we might experience this Christmas. Try it and see.

37

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38

Rural History

FROM SCYTHE TO Satellite Denton farmer, Ed Winter, marvels at the changes he has seen in his 90 years

A

s I recently reached my 90th birthday, I couldn’t help looking back on the changes that have happened during my lifetime, which seem to me quite astounding. During the second World War, our family was evacuated to North Wales, where we lived in a very small village in the Conwy Valley.

As an eleven-year-old boy, I witnessed the local farmer cutting around the headland of their oat field with a scythe, and I actually helped tie the corn into sheaves using the straw knotted together before the binder came in to finish cutting the field. What a contrast to the present day when a satellite-controlled combine harvester could probably finish the field in two passes!

I came to Darrow Green Farm, Denton, in 1957.

My greatest shock when I started to cultivate the fields was the overwhelming abundance of wild oats – no spray to control them at that time. So I decided to go for dairying, working up to 130 cows with predominantly grass cropping using wheat as a break crop. This gradually broke the cycle, but by the time we decided to change from dairying to arable and beef farming, sprays had solved the wild oat problem.

This change of farm practice left us with a lot of surplus buildings, so we filled the barns with a turkey rearing enterprise. Eventually, as the market for catering turkey production decreased, we reduced this in size and continued with a smaller free-range turkey, mainly for the Christmas trade. We find this much more satisfying, especially for the welfare of the birds. So the milking parlour and dairy has been adapted to process our oven-ready turkeys and some of the Lincoln Red beef which we market on a retail basis.

39

40

Art

THE ART OF NEW YEAR Celebration

Art writer Kristy Campbell takes a close look at our New Year traditions and how we strive to create a night to remember

L

ately, I’ve been reading a book called Seven Keys to Modern Art by Morley (2019). The seven keys were established for the art spectator, to facilitate them in critiquing an artwork; The keys are designed to help the enquirer engage or connect with the work in greater depth, reaching new understandings.

The seven keys comprise the Biographical, Historical, Theoretical, Sceptical, Market, Aesthetic, and Experiential. These autonomous keys consider the background of the artist, anecdotes and comments from critics, visual and textual properties, value and commodity, and so much more.

In this article, I thought I’d use Morley’s keys to look at the concept of a New Year. I am indeed implying that a New Year celebration is itself a work of art, because to the inquiring mind this experiential and often aesthetic annual occasion takes a significant amount of designing

and staging. I’ll be discussing how we came to associate fireworks and sparklers and dancing lights in the night sky with the pending year to come, why we decide to make merry, and what the poem-song Auld Lang Syne really means. See if you can identify where the different keys have been applied; perhaps you might add your own analysis and opinion to the sections.

Traditionally, countries all over the world fill the sky with explosive strings of bright lights on the stroke of midnight to ward off spooks and evil spirits. But over the years fireworks have been integrated into a whole host of celebrations, including birthdays and bonfire nights to commemorate an occasion in an effective uplifting light. In an attempt to rid our homes and lives of negative energies, some people bang drums, others open doors, and some pat on the walls of rooms. As the glowing beams of light soar through the air, screaming and spiralling, they disperse

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Art and fall, dressing the surroundings with their layer of warmth and peace as the crackling and popping fades out. The glaze of smoke left behind drifts over us, wiping clean the events of the past, ready for the New Year to wake.

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the happenings and arrange our hopes for the times to come. Standing among loved ones, friends, company, or singularly beneath a starry sky, you may have hummed or heard the old folk song called Auld Lang Syne. This Scots language poemsong is attributed to Robert Burns, dating back to 1788. In colloquial terms, we translate the title to ‘old long since’ or ‘days gone by’, which ties in particularly well with Burns’ influence on the Romantic Movement, where one would liberate their emotional connections with the past and nature. Burns’ childhood family home is in Scotland, known now as the Burns Cottage Museum – an archive and homage to times passed.

While some wish to forget the year, some can’t help but not remember! Toasting the New Year, or having a ‘knees-up’ is a classic means of merging the last and first days of the years together, into a sort of blur. Toasts of good health date right back to Roman times. Throughout history we have heard the clinking of the glass to symbolise different things: some say the chiming of the

glasses scares off the devil, and others will tell you that the sloshing of drinks prevents individuals from poisoning one another. And somehow, all scariness aside, it was the pairing of a snack and cocktail that became known as a Toast.

Whether it’s music, bright lights, food and drink, there’s an ‘Art’ to arranging a night to remember, or forget. Although it’s been a year of tremendous challenge and determination, I bid you all to know that your efforts have been appreciated. Wishing you a wonderful and warm winter, I hope you find the key to a healthy and happy 2021.

Writer: Kristy Campbell kristycamp17@gmail.com @kristycamp www.axisweb.org/p/kristycamp

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Canine Behaviour

Parlez Vous POOCH?!

Blogger and qualified ‘Dog Listener’ Julia Collins looks at how our canine companions can teach us to relax and live in the moment.

W

e humans spend an awful lot of time and effort — both physical and mental — teaching our dogs to behave in the manner we desire. Yet, we have all come to realise ewh hat that ‘Dog Training’ is a some outmoded concept.

Understanding how to effectively communicate with our canine friends is really the way to a wonderful relationship with them.

Pursuing this realisation further – how about us learning even more from utine. them? Take the morning rou Your dog wakes up – that’s that, job done! Same little furry suit, always a perfect fit, nose to tail, suita able for most weather, no accessories, make-up orr deodorant required.

Customary check around while visiting the garden before a reassuringly predictable breakfast – no need of toothbrush, mouthwash, lipstick touch up.

Hopefully, and THIS IS IMPORTANT – a walk, but, apart from the importance of sniffing as much as possible within a given time limit, stress is kept to a minimum. Even office pooches, who accompany owners unable to carry out their daily jobs without canine supervision, do not stress over traffic or parking spaces.

So, what can we learn from these slightly wardrobelimited but common sense rich companions?

Accept, keep your body loose, expect the best, do not catastrophise. Why fill your head imagining all the worst case scenarios you might, only might, experience?

How much better smoothing along, (sticky wet nose pressed to the window if commuting office pooch) gliding through the day, expecting that all will be well. In the absence of genuinely serious, negative indicators, it does make sense.

If you notice, animals are amazingly quick to react to situations but, unless there is an unnatural stressor evident, they remain remarkably relaxed. There is no ego to defend, energy is not wasted on anything as human as ‘what if’, ‘I should’, or ‘I oug ght to’. Our dogs’ behaviour re elates to the moment, exactly the place we humans are increasingly informed we should be mindfully experiencing in our lives.

As with all truly wonderful natural things, the concept is beautifully pure and simple.

For our cluttered, anxiety riddled d human brains, it is a modus operandi we find very challenging to adopt. How many times have you worried and fretted your way through a situation only to look back on it and realise that, having decided upon and taken the relevant action you had at your disposal, the outcome sorted itself out. The coating of fuzzy, brain addling worry you felt compelled to add, contributed absolutely nothing, except fatigue, an inability to concentrate on other matters and, most likely, a thumping headache.

A dog’s mind doesn’t endlessly hop between regret over the past and fear about the future. Whereas, honestly, if we just stop for a moment, that is exactly what we do an awful lot, isn’t it?

So, next time you cuddle, scratch or stroke your remarkable canine companion, feel how relaxed he is and pinch a little bit of his nonchalance for yourself. He won’t mind one bit. In fact you will both be the better for it!

To find out more, or contact Julia, go to www.walksoflife.co.uk or Instagram walksoflifessuffolk.

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Nature

WINTER Visitors

A

By Helen Baczkowska, Conservation Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust

s I write, the leaves are turning from green to brown and gold, and the hawthorn bushes in the Clayland’s hedges are full of small scarlet berries. When winter comes, these berries will be vital food for many birds and are a reminder that, despite the short days and sometimes gloomy weather, winter brings with it a host of visiting bird life.

Hawthorn berries are a favourite food for fieldfares, a large member of the thrush family.

Fieldfares are handsome birds, with a grey head and rump, a black tail and chestnut-red back and wings. Like many other thrush species, they have a speckled chest. They often descend on hedges in big flocks a day or two ahead of cold weather, as they migrate south in search of food.

Look closely among the flocks of fieldfares and you might well spot a few redwings. These are also a species of thrush, but are smaller than fieldfares and lack the striking grey and black plumage. Instead, redwings are mostly brown, but have a distinctive red patch beneath their wings and a creamy-white stripe above the eye. Both fieldfares and redwings breed in northern Europe and Scandinavia, and while some will over-winter in the UK they will keep moving south when the weather is cold.

Arable fields, especially those left fallow over winter, can also be good places for spotting birds, including lapwings, which migrate into Britain from early September. In really cold weather, lapwings will tend to head for coastal estuaries, where food is easier to find, but on milder days they can gather in great flocks on inland fields.

Lapwings are easy to spot, with their plumed heads, broad rounded wing tips and distinctive twisting flight. From a distance, lapwings look black and white, but up close their backs have an iridescent green sheen – this gives them one of their other names, ‘green plover’, while their other common name, ‘peewit’, is the call they make.

Winter is also a good time for watching birds in the garden and a wide range of different feeders and feed will attract different species. Seed feeders (transparent tubes) will suit tits, greenfinches and siskins, while niger seeds, which need a special feeder, are popular with goldfinches. Halfcoconuts filled with fat and specially made ‘bird cakes’ or fat balls can be hung and will attract a wide range of birds, from sparrows to blue tits.

A flock of fieldfare enjoying a feast of berries, credit Elizabeth Dack

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Nature

Fieldfare, credit Chris Gormserall

Redwing, credit Chris Gomersall

Lapwings like to nest on millet stubble

Peanuts in a mesh feeder are also popular, and in cold weather even shy species like woodpeckers and nuthatches will venture into gardens to feed from them. It is important to give all of these feeders a good wash once in a while and avoid a build-up of food in them, as mouldy food is a health hazard to small birds.

Seeing birds close to home can brighten up even dull winter days, and watching flocks of fieldfares devour a hedge full of hawthorn makes it worth putting on a warm jacket and venturing into the lanes of the Claylands. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Coal & Blue Tit on feeder, credit Alan Price

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M’HANCHA

This is a sweet treat made from filo pastry filled with chopped dried fruits, sugar and vanilla, then rolled up and baked. It has a Christmassy flavour, but is perfect all year round, especially with a cup of tea or coffee.

Time to prepare: 15 minutes Time to cook: 20 minutes Makes 15 slices

INGREDIENTS 8 sheets of filo pastry (leave these in the packet until ready to use) FOR THE FILLING 100g vegan margarine, melted 50g caster sugar 50g glacé cherries, chopped 100g ground almonds Zest and juice of one orange 75g orange marmalade 150g mixed nuts, chopped and lightly toasted 1 tsp vanilla essence ¼ tsp mixed spice

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/360°F/gas mark 4. Place half the margarine and all the remaining ingredients into a bowl and combine.

2. On a large work surface (see chef’s tip below) place the filo pastry sheets in a row, overlapping by approximately 5cm. Spread the filling out in a line 10cm from the top. Quickly drizzle half of the remaining margarine over the pastry and filling.

3. Fold over the left and right edges of the pastry to seal the ends. Carefully roll the pastry from top to bottom. This can be tricky, but don’t worry if the filo breaks.

Once rolled into a sausage shape, carefully form into a coiled snake.

4. Carefully transfer to a lined baking sheet and drizzle on the remaining margarine. Bake for 20 minutes. Transfer to a large serving plate and garnish with a few chopped nuts and a dusting of icing sugar, or alternatively a squirt of maple syrup. This is a sweet treat so you’ll only need a small piece. Start with the end of the ‘tail’ and work your way to the ‘head’!

Chef’s tip: You will need a large, clean work surface, such as a long kitchen worktop, to make this on, so it’s worth clearing an area before starting. This cake will keep well for up to a week.

Recipe taken from the Vegan Baking guide – published so that older vegans receiving care can enjoy their favourite sweet treats.

GARNISH A little icing sugar A few chopped nuts

Image credit: flavourphotos

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Competition

CHEERS TO A HAPPY CHRISTMAS WITH NORFOLK GIN! To mark the season of goodwill, Norfolk Gin is generously offering four lucky Village People readers the chance to win two bottles of their utterly delicious herbaceous gin. Enter below. Plus, they are sharing a recipe for a colourful cocktail that is sure to set your festive season aglow!

Simply answer the question and we will pick four winners at random from all correct entries received.

Each winner will receive a large bottle of Norfolk Gin (70cl) and a small bottle (10cl) of Norfolk Gin (worth £61) delivered in a very cool tote bag.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page. Closing date is 16 December 2020 and the usual Village People rules apply.

QUEST TION:

Norfolk Gin n began in which year?

Norfolk Gin is a small-batch, botanical gin, with each bottle filled and sealed by hand.

Buy online or in person from a range of retailers throughout Norfolk, including Jarrold’s Food Hall, Bakers and Larners of Holt, The Norfolk Deli in Hunstanton and Thetford Garden Centre. www.norfolkgin.co.uk

NORFOLK BLUEY COCKTAIL

Despite the vivid neon blue colour of this cocktail – reminiscent of a bad 1980s mix – the orange flavour of the blue Curaçao with the cardamom rich Norfolk Gin produces a tasty long drink much more subtle and sophisticated than its colour would suggest. If the colour really bothers you, use triple sec instead.

Photo Credit: Sue Telford @4theloveofgin

Glass: highball Ingredients: • 30ml / 1oz Norfolk Gin • 10 to 15ml / 1/3 to ½oz blue Curaçao or triple sec, depending on your colour preference • 7.5ml / ¼oz freshly squeezed lemon juice • Soda water Method: 1. Pour the gin into a highball filled with crushed ice.

2. Add the lemon juice.

3. Top with soda water leaving space for the Curaçao.

4. Drizzle the blue Curaçao over the top.

5. Garnish with a slice of orange and a small paper umbrella if you are feeling nostalgic for the 80s!

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Falcon Meadow

I Spy on FALCON MEADOW

Here is a winter wildlife spotting challenge, from the Falcon Meadow Community Trust As the days get shorter, it’s more important than ever to get outside for some fresh air and a bit of bonus Vitamin D. Falcon Meadow, in Bungay, provides the perfect doorstep adventure and green retreat – so take a thermos of tea, a pencil, and head out to see how many of the following you can spy:

TOTAL SCORE

1.Falcon (10 points) The wooden falcon sits proudly on the gatepost at the Ditchingham end of the meadow. Thanks to our lovely volunteers, he’s been freshly painted for the winter and is looking particularly splendid.

2. House Sparrows (15 points) You might hear sparrows before you see them!

These cheeky little birds make a lot of noise, and love to hide in dense foliage – so we’ve left plenty for them to enjoy on the meadow.

3. Black Poplar (20 points) Falcon Meadow is lucky enough to have its very own black poplar – Britain’s rarest native tree. Find it at the far end opposite the Scout Hut, to pay your respects and earn some points!

4. Kingfisher (50 points) A sure sign that conditions are good on the meadow – kingfishers are regular visitors to the river. Look out for a dazzling flash of blue travelling at speed – one of the most beautiful sights to see in nature.

5. Kestrel (25 points) Turn your eyes to the skies and look out for the distinctive hovering silhouette of this bird of prey. They will be hunting for voles in the tussocky grass that we have cultivated on the meadow for this very reason.

6. Barn Owl (40 points) You’ll need to walk in the early morning or at twilight to see one of these, but well worth setting your alarm for. A barn owl before breakfast (seen, not eaten!) makes for a magical day.

7. Otter (100 points) Again, an early start is best. Distinctive large ripples on the surface of the water and a stream of bubbles as tell-tale signs.

A good place to position yourself is the far end of the meadow, on our beautiful curved bench, which gives excellent views up and down the river.

8. Grey Heron (30 points) The Nicholas Lyndhurst of the bird world, this gangly and slightly self-conscious looking bird of prey (remember it’s a predator) can be spotted standing motionless in the water waiting to strike, or flying (awkwardly) overhead.

9. Mallard Ducks (15 points) The unsung hero of the Waveney River. You can have 15 points for each one you spot – which could make your score much more interesting!

10. Robin (25 points) Robins are famously bold and curious, which makes them easy to spot; and they are particularly visible during the winter months, thanks to their characteristic red breast.

If you enjoyed this, or saw something exciting that we didn’t mention here, we’d love to know about it.

Get in touch at info@falconmeadow.org.uk or find us on Facebook. Falcon Meadow is there for you to get a bit muddy and enjoy nature on our doorstep.

We hope it gives you a natural boost this winter.

With best wishes Falcon Meadow Community Trust If you’d like to make the meadow even better for wildlife, please visit www.falconmeadow.org.uk and click on ‘Support Us’.

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We’d like to see where you keep your Village People, so we’re inviting you to take a photo of wherever it lives. Please do include yourself, a family member or even a pet in the photo as well. Hop onto Instagram and tag us @vpmagazine We’ll share it with our readers, and we might even print a few of the most creative photos in a future edition of the magazine. Maybe there are a few of you out there with lots of back copies, so grab your phone and let’s see who has the most!

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Mental Health

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN Rural Communities A Norfolk charity offers mental health support for farmers

T

he impression of farming and rural businesses is invariably the jolly figure, rolling acres, the lovely farmhouse and a four-wheel drive vehicle. The reality is that those in farming are at high risk of depression and, tragically, suicide, with one person in farming in the UK taking their life every week.

A Norfolk-based charity has made a great impact on reducing the stigma and increasing the discussion about mental health, and becoming a major influence in providing exactly the support needed by rural communities.

YANA (You Are Not Alone) provides confidential support and counselling and builds a better understanding of mental health. A call to the confidential helpline on 0300 323 0400 can result in fast-track access to fully funded sessions with professional counsellors who understand rural life and the pressures of working in farming and countryside businesses.

YANA invests in Mental Health First Aid training and to date has trained nearly 100 people, providing them with the skills and confidence needed to support colleagues, family and friends. The charity also runs a compelling suicide prevention campaign, Seven Tractor Facts to Save A Life, encouraging those who are concerned about someone to act.

If you are in any rural business and suffering from depression or anxiety, please remember You Are Not Alone: it is not unusual and good support is available.

For more information visit www.yanahelp.org Confidential helpline: 0300 323 0400. If you would like leaflets, car stickers or suicide prevention cards, or if you are interested in the Mental Health First Aid courses, please email admin@yanahelp.org

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Health

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As shown by lots of careful researcch, Echinacea works by strengthening g the immune system so that you arre better able to fight an infection.

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Echinacea is definitely the go-to product for a healthier winter!

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Real lives

MISSION OF Love And Hope TO THE WORLD

Norfolk journalist, Sandie Shirley, spotlights the inspiring stories of men and women from the region and beyond that have seen them reach for victory.

For more stories visit Facebook: Refreshing Waters Christian Media

S

miling faces, angelic voices and rhythmic dance showcased the African culture and set the stage alight, as the Watoto Children’s Choir performed in Thetford earlier this year. Mercy, kindness and unending love has helped the members defy poverty and hardship, as lives have been transformed and future dreams are poised for reality.

They performed at the Charles Burrell Centre – part of a four-month UK tour – presenting their stories of abandonment and poverty that have been turned to hope and triumph. Rising above their circumstances, the children, many of them orphans, are answering the call to be part of the new Africa, ready to make a difference to the world and rebuild their nation.

The tour promoted their latest album ‘We will Go’ to publicise and further finance the on-going charity that turns lives around. It includes three children’s villages in Watoto, Uganda, that bring comfort and love to redeem and restore the lives of 3,000 children, as well as vulnerable women from Sudan and Uganda, by providing homes, education and medical care.

Various Watoto Children’s Choirs have travelled across six continents since 1994, as hundreds of thousands of people, including royalty and heads of state, hear their compelling stories that say: “It is possible to have joy, to laugh and to have hope, no matter what you are going through.”

Over the years, thousands of orphans have been placed in families with help from sponsorships and donations. Babies and child soldiers have been rescued, and vulnerable women empowered to reach their communities. The challenges in Africa have changed over 35 years, but the vision remains the same: sharing Christ’s love while working alongside the most vulnerable, raising them as lifechanging leaders.

A huge global ‘family’ of people work together, ensuring that the forgotten have a place to belong in loving families where their physical and spiritual needs are met.

64

Frank was welcomed to a Watoto village with mum Katherine, who now serves as a mother within one of the homes.

With teary eyes he recalled that his mum used to struggle to provide food and could not always afford The Watoto to send him to school.

Children’s Choir Now he is overjoyed that they both have plenty to eat and a home of their own, while Frank can go to school with the help of donations and sponsorship.

At 23 years old, Diana struggled to raise her two children after leaving war-torn Sudan. But the single mother found peace and a growing Christian faith when she joined the Watoto neighbourhood. Now she is starting to see her potential and ability to raise her children and change their future. She is choosing to believe in the power of tomorrow over the pain of yesterday.

The Watoto venture began after Marilyn and Gary Skinner from Canada felt a calling to Kampala in Uganda in 1983 during the civil war. Their desire was to speak hope and life to the nation that began with planting an expanding church that has since spawned nine separate congregations totalling 28,000. Committed to celebrating Christ and caring for the community – particularly orphans and widows, the church began its growing Watoto mission of support. www.watoto.com Facebook: Watoto Children’s Choir

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Animal Welfare

A SECOND CHANCE at life Sister Nicola Di Mino, from the Carmelite Monastery of Quidenham, makes a plea for local wildlife rescue charities

O

ver the past few months, our appreciation of wildlife in our local area has seen a real surge, possibly because the restrictions imposed on us have highlighted the freedoms enjoyed by the natural world.

The listless days of lockdown were brightened by the sight of birds visiting our gardens, parks and roof tops. If you were lucky you might have even seen hares, owls or deer. These animals have always been there, of course, but we have had much more time to notice and appreciate them.

But stop for a moment and consider that the barn owl, hedgehog or fox is only there because someone has helped it to survive. I’m talking about the dedicated staff and volunteers at animal rescue and sanctuaries across our region. An outstanding example is PACT at Hingham, but there are many others across East Anglia, all of whom do magnificent work with minimal resources. They are, quite literally, lifesavers, and give animals a second chance at life.

Personal assistance, shopping, meals, companionship, local transport, decluttering, general housework & more..

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YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE

What a great vocation for any human to embrace!

Sadly, the current crisis has seen the funding of these amazing charities plummet.

Remember how confined and restrained you felt during the endless weeks of lockdown, trying to live in an area that was too small and resource poor to provide quality of life over a long period. This is the reality for many wild animals today, forced into smaller and smaller pockets of suitable home habitat.

Wildlife is perfectly capable of looking after itself, given enough room. Every living creature needs its own space in which it can find suitable food, water and shelter. That’s all they need — wild animals ask for very little. But by simply being there they give so much back to us. Their beauty, simplicity and sheer joy in life, living for the moment, all lessons that we need each day to be happier in our own lives.

So it’s time to support the wonderful organisations that help wild creatures to survive in a very difficult landscape. Please consider supporting PACT animal sanctuary, or another animal rescue and care unit in your local area. Donations and volunteers are always desperately needed. We all deserve a second chance at life. www.pactsanctuary.org

BLISS HEALING

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We pride ourselves in being friendly and approachable Accounts and tax preparation for all businesses Tax returns from £50 | Bookkeeping Payroll Bureau | VAT returns Business Plans

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Competition

Can you find Bella the Beagle?

WIN A £100 M&S VOUCHER! To be in with chance of winning a £100 M&S voucher, simply read this magazine from cover to cover and find Bella the Beagle.

She looks exactly like the picture of heer, but much smaller!

How to enter the competition Visit www.village-people.info and follow the links to the competition page.

Closing date is 18 January 2021 and the usual Village People rules apply.

Where Bella was hiding in our previous issue – Fitness Superstore: page 79

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Relax and enjoying what life has to offer Equity release could help you enjoy the lifestyle you deserve.

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Money

USING AN INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE BROKER can save you thousands

M

ortgage rates are close to record lows and there are some excellent deals to be had. But that doesn’t mean that the job of finding the most suitable home loan has got any easier.

The number of different mortgages on offer runs into the thousands, and even if you’ve already worked out whether it’s a variable rate or fixed rate product that suits you best, you still need to think about how long you want to fix it for, weigh up all the fees and try to figure out the cheapest deal for you.

Unlike loans or credit cards, the answer isn’t as simple as looking at a best buy table on a comparison website – although many lenders still market attractive looking interest rates, hoping that it will be enough to win custom from those who don’t take the time to shop around or use the services of an independent mortgage broker.

Banks and building societies continue to develop products with profit margins based on a wide range of rate and fee combinations, and while it may work for their business, for the man on the street it can be tricky to pick the most suitable mortgage.

One of the biggest problems for consumers is working out which is the most appropriate mortgage based on the total cost, which means not just the interest rate but also the associated fees which can vary enormously between lenders, Loan to Value (LTV) and individual products.

Choosing the right mortgage product isn’t a simple task, because it’s not a case of one mortgage fits all. The best deal will also depend on your own personal circumstances, including the length of the term and the amount you’re looking to borrow.

It doesn’t help matters when you see newspaper front pages proclaiming ‘lowest ever’ mortgage rates. In reality, the media has fallen for the PR and marketing hype and failed to factor in the impact of four digit associated fees.

When you consider that your mortgage is likely to be the biggest financial transaction you’ll undertake in your lifetime, it makes sense to seek advice to ensure you don’t make what could be a potentially expensive mistake.

If you want to take the first step to seek out a new home loan, you can find details of an independent mortgage broker in your area, by visiting www.unbiased.co.uk and typing in your postcode details.

By Andrew Hagger Founder of Moneycomms.co.uk

71

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Bungay Bitesize

Bungay Bun ngay Bitesize Bitesiize

TRIMMING THE Christmas m tree ma Local Historian Christopher Reeve steps back in time to explo ore Bungay’s history

G

“

o to sleep NOW,” shouted our mother up the stairs, for the third time. “Or Father Christmas won’t come, and there will be no stockings filled, and no presents under the tree!”

As children, growing up in the 1950s, we didn’t see the Christmas tree until Christmas morning. Our parents did all the decorating late on Christmas Eve, so it would be a magical surprise for us on the following day. They must have been exhausted by the time they retired to bed, because they also had the stockings to fill and presents to wrap for five children.

Our Dad always dressed in a bright red Santa outfit, with curly white beard, then he’d tiptoe into our bedrooms and attach the stockings to our bedposts.

This was to ensure that if we were still wide awake it was Santa we saw, not Dad! We were living in the war and post-war era, a period of ongoing austerity, which meant that attractive toys and Christmas decorations were in short supply. Dad made various toys himself; wooden lorries and trucks, animals, jigsaws, and a wonderful array of furniture for a second hand dolls house for my sister Jasmine, which she greatly treasured.

The Christmas tree decorations were also mainly homemade. They consisted of colourful fairies and goblins and nursery rhyme characters cut out of books or magazines and mounted onto cardboard backed with silver paper from cigarette packets.

But there was also some prewar silver tinsel, which became Children’s Christmas Annual 1952 increasingly

A children’s Christmas party in the 1950s

tarnished and skinny, as it couldn’t be renewed. We always had real candles on the tree, long after most families preferred new fangled electric fairy lights.

Candlelight is so atmospheric; the scent of the candle wax, and the flames warming the pungent dark green needles of the fir tree thrills me all over again as I write!

The candle holders were special, as they were Victorian ones passed down through my mother’s family, made of metal in decorative leaf shapes.

Although white tallow candles were easy to buy in any local store, essential in times of power cuts, Christmas tree candles were much scarcer. We managed to get some slender red ones and then, later on, as the war ended, packets of attractive colours with spiral moulding.

The fairy on the tippy top of the tree was a skinny pink plastic doll with thinning blonde locks, crumpled wings and an alarmed expression. Not surprising with all those candles burning around her! Her special moments were on Christmas night, and when the family came to visit to exchange gifts.

The candles were lit at about 6.30pm, the lights switched off, and we gathered around to sing carols.

A favourite was The Twelve Days of Christmas, for which each of us sang a solo, from the youngest to the oldest. It was an enchanting way of ending Christmas Day.

73

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Animal Welfare

DOGS TRUST APPEAL could you foster a dog?

D

ogs Trust Freedom Project, a pet fostering scheme run by the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has launched an appeal for animal lovers in East Anglia who could temporarily care for the dogs of survivors of domestic abuse, enabling their owners to flee to safety.

Dogs Trust launched its Freedom Project in 2004, offering a lifeline for dog owners who are escaping from domestic abuse. The project provides foster homes for dogs and enables survivors to access safe accommodation without the fear of what may happen to their dog if they cannot go with them.

To date, the Freedom Project has helped over 1,400 people fleeing domestic abuse by fostering over 1,600 dogs.

Dogs Trust is currently expanding the project into East Anglia and urgently needs foster carers to support this vital service across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. With its existing operation in Essex, Dogs Trusts will now be able to offer full coverage in the East of England.

Sarah Rowe, Freedom Project Coordinator for East Anglia at Dogs Trust, said: “It has become clear that a dedicated pet fostering service is needed in East Anglia to support people and their pets fleeing domestic abuse. By establishing a specialist pet fostering service in

this area, we can help dog owners in East Anglia find refuge away from their abusive perpetrator, without worrying what will happen to their beloved pet.”

The Dogs Trust Freedom Project is looking for volunteers who are at home during the day, potentially people who are retired or work from home. They must have some experience of caring for dogs, have their own garden or access to a communal garden, and be able to commit to fostering a dog for at least 6 months.

If you think you can help, or would like more information on the service, you can visit www.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk, call 0808 196 6240, or you can apply at www.moretodogstrust.org.uk/volunteer

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STOP PRESS very limited space left in the

LOCAL DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTANTS Accounting Solutions 72 De’ath Downton Accountancy Ltd 68 M+A Partners 68 Tax Assist Accountants 72 ANIMAL SERVICES Bliss Healing 67 Thornwood Kennels 39 Uplands Way Vets Ltd 21 APPLIANCE REPAIRS Appliance Plus 28 ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING Andrew P R Love 50 Keith Day Architects 27 ARTS & CRAFTS Susan’s Work Basket 62 BATHROOMS Coopers Bathrooms and Wet Rooms 55 Creative Bathrooms 35 Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 43 BUILDERS, HANDYMEN & SUPPLIERS DJA Handyman Services 27 NSH Developments Ltd 44 Surface Repair Solutions 8 Upgrading Norfolk Homes 46 CARE & MOBILITY Aspire Homecare 67 Home Instead Senior Care 80 Prestige Nursing Limited 20 Purely Care 62 CARPENTERS & JOINERS Adrian Bird Carpentry 35 Complete Carpentry 52 Hunter Solutions EA Ltd 8 CARPORTS, GLASS VERANDAS & AWNINGS R G Cabins 17 CARS, CARAVANS & GARAGES Attleborough Service Centre 26 Mill House Garage 59 Highfield Garage 3 M N Engineering 28 Wicklewood Auto Centre 44 CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS McCallum Project Management 44

CLEANING Conservaclean Crystal Clean Home Maid Domestic Cleaning JPB Cleaning Stuart’s Carpet and Car Care COMPUTER, WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES Affordable Price PC Bailiwick IT Ltd JM IT Services Philippa Green Web Design DAYS & NIGHTS OUT, TRAVEL, HOLIDAYS IC Travel ELECTRICIANS Ashleys’s Electrical Services Dave Ramstead Electrician Harling Electrical Ian Myhill Electrical TCS Electrical Services FINANCIAL, INSURANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL SERVICES Priory Insurance Signpost Mortgages Spire Solicitors FUEL MERCHANTS Reeder Timber S G Rout Ltd FUNERALS Andy Free Funeral Director Rosedale Funeral Home FURNITURE & RESTORATION Bespoke Handcrafted Furniture GARAGE DOORS, GATES, SHUTTERS & AWNINGS Cooks Blinds & Shutters Ltd The Doors Group Limited GARDEN SERVICES Andrew Sillett Tree Surgeon Ashtree Office & Garden Rooms Black Dog Tree Services Broadland Tree Services C J’s Garden Machinery CG Tree Care Eclipse Gardens & Grounds Jack Grice Garden Services

56 26 4 38 35

68 10 72 72

14 28 22 26 54 36

70 70 74 28 29 63 62 22

22 43 22 18 36 18 26 18 18 47

JDMA Paving & Landscaping 40 Lake and Pond Aquatics 18 Lifestyle Garden and Leisure Ltd 50 PDC Landscaping Ltd 47 The Garden Enclosure 19 Tree Fellas 35 GROUNDWORKS, DRAINAGE & SEPTIC TANKS Rory J Holbrook Ltd 26 HEALTH & BEAUTY Footsure 62 HEALTHCARE Contact Care Lifelines 54 HM Government 60 HOME IMPROVEMENTS Stellar Home Improvements 31 JOBS Home Cleaning Vacancies 69 KITCHENS Richards & Co 54 Supreme Bathrooms & Kitchens 43 Voyager Kitchens 24 LOCKSMITHS Kingfisher Locksmiths 26 OPTICIANS & EYE SPECIALISTS Cecil Amey Ltd 61 Ocuplan Ltd 65 PAINTERS, DECORATORS & STOCKISTS Just Paint & Decorate 52 Raymond South 35 PEST CONTROL Bracken Pest Control 18 PLASTERERS Cringleford Plastering 11 PLUMBING, HEATING, BOILERS & DRAINAGE Barnards Heating Solutions Ltd 11 C J Plumbing 32 Daniels Plumbers 28 Else Heating & Plumbing 32 Gasworks South East 28 Industrial Domestic Boiler Services 32 John Rushforth 32 P & D Tank Services Ltd 26 P & K Plumbing & Heating 32 Stuart Bunn Plumbing and Heating 32

Village People is a trading name of Village People Magazines Ltd. Village People accepts no liability for loss, damage, or difficulties resulting from contracts made through the magazine, nor from errors, omissions or claims made by advertisers. Publication of any entry does not imply a recommendation. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content Copyright © Village People Magazines Ltd. 2008-2021

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next issue to feature local businesses T W Services PROOFREADING Templarproof PROPERTY MAINTENANCE M M Installations PUBLISHER Mediamedica Ltd REMOVALS John Ryder Removals Van and a Man RESTAURANTS, PUBS, HOTELS, CATERING & FUNCTIONS Caistor Hall Hotel The Queens Head ROOFING Breckland Roofing Ltd EFL PAC Roofing R G Leverett Ltd SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, EDUCATION & CHILDREN Homeopathic College

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23 13 28 38 28 58

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Hummingbird Preschool Norfolk County Council Community Learning Services SHOPPING, BUYING & SELLING Adcocks Cosy Carpets and Comfy Beds John Doe Carpets & Furniture Ltd Peter Beales Garden Centre Redwings Horse Sanctuary Top Tracks Music SKIP HIRE / RUBBISH REMOVAL Yorjunk SPORT, FITNESS & RECREATION Anne Staffiere Fitness Superstore STONE MASONRY Cutstone Ltd STORAGE Attic Access Norfolk Local Self Storage Diss STOVES & FIRES Norfolk Woodburners

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Crossword

Exercise your brain cells

CLUES ACROSS 6 Earlier, in the past, preceded by unspecific duration (3) 8 One’s own interests could be the principle possibility (4, 6) 9 Tediously uninteresting but subtle with it (3) 11 Dishonourable discharge from the teller’s desk (7) 13 Uncle Tom could be found inside one that’s cheaper than those outside (5) 14 The general meaning of a high pitched voice (5) 15 On which a high performer passes through the air (6, 7) 16 Pill for a swift passage (5) 18 Bundle of wires to hold a bridge or lift a car (5) 19 Vengeful Dane’s suggested destination for his girlfriend (7) 20 Make a pea change to imitate a human cousin (3) 23 Giving grounds for a session in court (10) 24 Luminous discharge between two conductors in a portion of a circle (3)

CLUES DOWN 1 Small demon found in Lincoln (3) 2 Not quite the full quid, in short (3) 3 Would this canoe turn turtle in a big sea? (5) 4 Money placed on a metal fixing — instant payment (4, 2, 3, 4) 5 Group of eight playing together in concert (5) 7 Medusa with Emile and a blue Italian cheese (10) 10 Change a reply paid envelope into a journal (5, 5) 11 Title of a French revolutionary (7) 12 Sprayer turns a tatty car into something almost new (7) 17 Two of these precede double D, a bit on the side of 2D (5) 18 Fly with prodigious long legs (5) 21 A steady flow in tidal fall (3) 22 Energy provided by a special talk (3)

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 7) Care, 8) Ethereal, 9) Well-to-do, 10) Gear, 11) Twirl, 13) Neutron, 15) Algebra, 17) White, 20) Trot, 21) All in all, 23) Last word, 24) Exit DOWN: 1) Date, 2) Cellar, 3) Venom, 4) Whoopee, 5) Bright, 6) Gad about, 12) Well read, 14) Creator, 16) Estate, 18) Hinder, 19) Glade, 22) Lair

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Happiness at home

At Home Instead we believe in a more personal approach to care for our loved ones.

It’s one of the reasons why our home care service is rated outstanding by the care quality commission.

Hourly Care

Live in care

Continuing to live at home as you age can be a great comfort. However, as you or your loved one ages, simple daily tasks can be become demanding. Dedicated home care services from Home Instead Senior Care will allow you or a loved one to stay at home, the place where you feel happiest and most comfortable.

If regular visits aren’t enough and your loved ones require more support, we offer live in care options too. Caregivers will stay for an extended period of time to deliver our outstanding care services.

CQC Outstanding rating Local family business

Dersingham

Holt Cromer

King’s Lynn

Matched Caregivers

Fakenham

Caregivers throughout Norfolk Award Winning flexible support

Downham Market

01362 709390 80

Hingham

Wymondham