This combines very nicely with a walk round Blickling Park nearby - assuming it doesn’t rain! Always a good idea after all that yummy cake.

Itteringham Fayre last year (2011)

The brand new Victorian Nights Festival is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with financial support from Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service and North Norfolk District Council.

Prepare to be entertained and amazed by the festival’s exciting events, which include Victorian fire eaters, escapologists, circus acts, a Victorian photo parlour, a steam train ride, hands-on activities, a Victorian fashion show, re-enactments, archive and feature film, guided walks and the chance to meet lots of costumed characters. Most of the events are drop-in, but some are ticketed. Please see the Victorian Nights website (www.victoriannightsnorthnorfolk.com) for more information.

This brand new festival is part of the national Museums at Night campaign, the annual after-hours celebration of arts, history and heritage. The campaign is co-ordinated by Culture 24, a not-for-profit online publisher, working across the arts, heritage, education and tourism sectors.

The initiative is the work of eight cultural organisations across the three towns: Cromer Museum, RNLI Henry Blogg Museum, Cromer Preservation Society, North Norfolk Railway, The Mo Museum, Sheringham Little Theatre, Sheringham and District Society and Wells Maltings.

Laura Crossley, Victorian Nights Coordinator, said: “Victorian Nights offers people a fantastic opportunity to have fun and do something different, whilst exploring North Norfolk’s stunning cultural and heritage venues. This is a special chance to take part in a brand new festival, with all kinds of activities to amaze and intrigue.”

A volunteer Blogging Team, who are being trained in literacy, marketing and blogging skills by the Norfolk Library and Information Service and local literacy expert Wendy Austin, are blogging about the festival and the Victorian Era. Their handiwork can be seen at http://victoriannightsblog.wordpress.com.

Environmental Awareness event for all the Family – Bill Oddie to open the event.

Saturday 19th May, 10.00am – 5.00pm, FREE ENTRY to event and reserve.
£4 car parking charge or take the X29 bus from Fakenham or Norwich

Archery / Folk music / Wood Carving / Human Fruit machine / Word Orchestra / Build a giant dragonfly / Small Crafts / Pond dipping / Guide in the hide and lots more……
Come and take part in the  Wensum Badge trail.

This year the event is raising money to go towards a DRAGONFLY habitat project in the Wensum Valley.

For more information, visit the Pensthorpe website.

On the 3rd Saturday of every month, over 25 local producers gather at the Old School Hall in Fulmodeston to showcase their high quality produce and to answer any questions that people may have. We believe that “food tastes better when you know its source” and this is the perfect opportunity to meet the businesses that the larger farm shops are eagerly purchasing from. Why pay more when you can cut out the middle man and purchase direct from these wonderful producers?

Not only that, but the Fulmodeston Local Produce Market has a dedicated craft hall where you can purchase some beautiful pieces including photography, bags, hats, jewellery, illustrations, metal craft… the list goes on.

Our next market is being held on Saturday 19th May 2012 between 10am and 2pm. There is also a book sale taking place in the Christ Church, so be sure to visit Fulmodeston and experience shopping in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Entry is free, there is ample parking and we have hot and cold refreshments available – join us and bring a friend or two!

Fulmodeston Old School Hall, Barney Road, Fulmodeston, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0AT

Adults £4.50, Children under 12 free. Free car park, picnic area, home-made refreshments, dogs welcome (on leads). Telephone 01263 863994.

Bar and Cocktail Bar ’til midnight, Dress Snapper Dapper (optional), Doors open 7.30pm, Tickets £6 (buy online or call 07949 922624)

Holt Community Centre, Kerridge Way, Holt NR25 6DN.

[EVENT NOW  OVER - It was a great night - look out for the Sweetbeats again]

One of my favourite finds since living near Fakenham is Sculthorpe Moor, a beautiful nature reserve 1 mile north west of the town (towards Kings Lynn).

Next to the car park, there’s a great visitor centre packed with lots of interesting information about the local wildlife and habitats. Then, after a slightly annoying walk down a stony path you arrive at zone 1 with raised wooden pathways flowing through wet woodlands.

Emerging from the woods, a ‘saw sedge wetland’ beholds you… and whatever time of the year it is, there seems to always be something to spot. It’s a beautiful and tranquil place where quiet and respect are required. And…

They have a live ‘Owlcam’ web feed! There were 4 eggs when I last looked. Can’t wait to see the chicks! Visit their web page at the Hawk and Owl Trust website to learn more: www.hawkandowl.org/SculthorpeHome

He eventually ventured beyond Overstrand and discovered a tower overhanging the cliffs, surrounded with graves and poppies. On a beautiful sunny day, the scene must have been extremely picturesque and became the inspiration behind his verse, ‘A Summer Song’.

In the verse Clement refers to the tower and its surroundings as ‘The Garden of Sleep’ in his ‘Poppyland’. And so the legend of Poppyland was born.

What Scott has actually discovered was the abandoned tower of St Michael’s Church, Sidestrand. The church nave had been moved inland (to its present site – see photo further below), brick by brick. A new tower was constructed.

The abandoned tower became known as Craske’s Tower, named after the Overstrand brick-layer who had built it (following the fall of the original tower in a storm in 1841). Interestingly, the new tower, which can still be visited today) was modelled on the ‘pre-Craske’ version and so bears little resemblance to the tower we often see pictured in old photographs and post cards (as above).

‘A Summer Song’ by Clement Scott.

On the grass of the cliff, at the edge of the steep,
God planted a garden – a garden of sleep!
‘Neath the blue of the sky, in the green of the corn,
It is there that the regal red poppies are born!
Brief days of desire, and long dreams of delight,
They are mine when my Poppyland cometh in sight.
In music of distance, with eyes that are wet,
It is there I remember, and there I forget!
Oh! heart of my heart! where the poppies are born,
I am waiting for thee, in the hush of the corn.

Sleep! Sleep!
From the Cliff to the Deep!
Sleep, my Poppyland, Sleep!

In my garden of sleep, where red poppies are spread,
I wait for the living, along with the dead!
For a tower in ruins stands guard o’er the deep,
At whose feet are green graves of dear women asleep!
Did they love, as I love, when they lived by the sea?
Did they wait, as I wait, for the days that may be?
Was it hope or fulfilling, that entered each breast,
Ere death gave release, and the poppies gave rest?
Oh! life of my life! on the cliffs by the sea,
By the graves in the grass, I am waiting for thee!

Sleep! Sleep!
In the Dews by the Deep!
Sleep, my Poppyland, Sleep!

The photograph below shows the likely location of Poppyland today – on the beach!

Photo taken between the groynes of Overstrand and Trimingham.

This year’s Norfolk & Norwich Festival features a headline show starring the population of Norfolk, one of the world’s most famous violin virtuosos, a company of acrobats at the forefront of modern circus, the brightest new thing on the classical music scene and a chance for the kids to get close up and personal with prehistoric beasts. For more information:

Online www.nnfestival.org.uk
Ticket hotline +44 (0)1603 766400
Visit Norwich Theatre Royal box office