The Great Bear Hunt returns to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, at South Walsham, on Saturday, March 21 and will run until the autumn.
The 10 bears carved by Fairhaven volunteer Andy Usher have been in hibernation over the winter and are ready for another season in the garden. There are also two additional bonus bears, recently carved by Andy, for visitors to discover.
Armed with a trail map, showing location clues, families can have fun hunting the bears, learn about the trees in the garden and make up names for the bears.
Andy Usher explained: “I have volunteered in the garden for the last six years. I am chainsaw qualified, bought a carving saw and began experimenting with creating animals. This led to my idea to carve the bears out of Fairhaven wood and give families a fun activity. All the bears are next to well-known trees and the idea is for children to discover some of the species that make up the woodland garden, as well as enjoy hunting the bears.”
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, signposted off the A47 at B1140 junction, half way between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. Garden entry is adult £7.50, concessions £6.95, children £3.95 and free for Fairhaven members and under 4s.
The garden is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and until 9pm on Wednesdays, from May to the end of August. Free entry to cafe bistro, provisions shop, gift shop and plant sales.
There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including a Sensory Garden and an accessible boat for trips on the broad from April to October (additional charge). Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available.
Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.
T 01603 270449 or see www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.
The gardening team and volunteers at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, are working on their annual winter hazel coppicing campaign. Every year they coppice a section of hazel on rotation, using a battery operated chainsaw to minimise the noise.
This ancient woodland management practice involves cutting young stems down to a stump. The tree then regrows and is cut again on a seven year cycle. All the young stems are used. They are sold in plant sales as pea sticks and bean poles and they are also being bundled up into faggots, which will build up the paths on sections of the Broads and Ranworth Walks.
Notcutts Norwich Garden Centre have donated end of season bulbs to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden.
The gift was facilitated by Ray Etheridge, one of Fairhaven's regular garden volunteers, who works at Notcutts. Ray explained: “Every year Notcutts donates end of season stock to charity. I suggested that Fairhaven would be a good location for our bulbs and was delighted to be able to bring four sacks of daffodils, along with tulips, and crocus to plant in the garden.”
Fairhaven Gardener Lydia Sutton is pictured with Ray planting some of the bulbs.
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham, staged its tenth annual Fun Dog Day and Dog Show on Sunday, September 8.
The Dog Show's 11 categories, including best mover, best sausage catcher, cutest face, best crossbreed, prettiest bitch, handsomest male and best family raised £386 for Great Yarmouth based CARE Dog Rescue, www.care-uk.com.
Nicola Cook from Great Yarmouth won Best in Show with her English Cocker Spaniel, Myrtle, along with Prettiest Bitch puppy to the three years old.
Matthew Wilson from Lowestoft won Reserve Best in Show with his Lurcher, Lily, along with the dog the judge would most like to take home category. Lilly was also second in best sausage catcher.
Event organiser, Georgina Angel said: “I would like to thank all the owners and their dogs for taking part in our Dog Show and making it such a success. We are really pleased to be donating £386 to CARE Dog Rescue.”
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is in Garden News Magazine's Best 100 Gardens in the UK for the second year running. The Best 100 Gardens poll, which was voted on by the magazine's readers, also gave Fairhaven third place in the Midlands region (which includes East Anglia).
Louise Rout, General Manager, Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden said: “We are thrilled to be in Garden News Magazine's Best 100 Gardens again and would like to thank everyone who voted and helped us achieve third place in the Midlands. Our gardening team work so hard to care for the garden and the Best 100 Gardens poll is a wonderful endorsement of their work.“
The garden is open daily from 10am to 5pm . Free entry to tearoom (opens 9.15am), gift shop and plant sales.
There is wheelchair access throughout the garden, including a Sensory Garden and an accessible boat for trips on the broad from April to October (additional charge).
Head to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden this summer, explore the garden and enjoy the popular Great Bear Hunt with additional Teddy Bears' Picnic, plus the Tree-Mendous trail, Den Building, the tree swing and Wild Wednesdays, craft related wildlife activities every Wednesday during the school holidays (11am to 3pm).
All the activities are included in the garden entry charge, which is £6.85 for adults, £6.60 for concessions, £3.95 for children (5-16) and under 5 free.
Volunteer Andy Usher has carved 10 bears from Fairhaven wood to create the Great Bear Hunt. The bears are located throughout the garden next to trees and shrubs. It's a fun way to learn about the woodland and get out and about in the garden.
Andy has also created a special summer Teddy Bears' Picnic area and a Bear Swing. Children can borrow one of our teddy bears at visitor reception, or bring their own and enjoy some quality bear time.