Snetterton Race Circuit Auug 29th and 30th British F3 and GT - Snetterton welcomes rising single seater stars and seriously powerful supercars when the British F3 and GT Championships visit the flat, quick Norfolk circuit over August Bank Holiday. Concerts at High Lodge, Thetford Thursday 10 June 2010 - Keane Friday 11 June 2010 - Simply Red Saturday 12 June 2010 - Doves Thursday 8 July 2010 - Scouting for Girls Friday 9 July 2010 - The Saturdays Saturday 10 July 2010 - Katie Melua Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/livemusic to book! Photography Workshop Saturday 27th June 2009 Get some top tips on photographing wildlife from award winning photographer, Roger Slade. This practical wokshop is designed for enthusiasts of all abilities. Don't forget to bring your camera! 10am-1pm Adults ?10, children ?5, RSPB members are half price Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, Station Road, Lakenheath, Brandon, Suffolk Tel: 01842 863400 Local Food Evening Saturday 27th June Enjoy a three course menu at Elveden Estate packed full of the regions finest produce including fresh vegetables and meat from the Estate. ?28.95 Bookings available from 7pm Elveden Estate An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh Thursday 25th June from 6.30pm Elveden Estate In aid of the NSPCC. Tickets ?25. Please e.mail for further details Elveden Estate Vintage Coach Trip Sunday 21st June Vintage Coach Trip from Brandon to Oxburgh Hall and Gooderstone Water Gardens. At Oxburgh, visit the Boys & Their Toys event, with displays be various model clubs, a model railway layout & model traction engines, or take a tour of this historic house(National Trust) Or on board the caoch again to an optional short visit to Gooderstone Water Gardens. Coach Trip ?8 Entrance to the Oxburgh Gardens ?3.10 Gardens and Hall ?6.75 Entrance to Gooderstone ?4.75 (concessions ?4.25) Coach leaves Brandon Station 11.00am Jools Holland & his Rythm and Blues Orchestra play Saturday 6th June Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra featuring Gilson Lavis and special guest star Dave Edmunds and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall have announced they will be appearing at High Lodge, Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk. Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have become established as one of the most prolific touring artists in the UK, creating their own unique big band sound playing a mix of boogie-woogie, swing, jazz and R&B. Tickets cost ?32.00 (subject to booking fee) and go on general sale from 9:00 am on Friday 19 December from the Forestry Commission Box Office, tel 01842 814612 or online at Forestry Commission Beachamwell Open Gardens Sunday 7th June from 12noon until 5pm. A great day out for all the family with Ploughmans Lunches, Afternoon & Strawberry Teas, Raffle, Tombola and performances from Hilgay Silver band on the Village Green, Molly Dancers at the Old Rectory and Organ Recitals in the Church. In aid of St Mary's Church - another millennium caring for the village. Tickets ?3.00, Couples ?5.00, Children Free Tickets are avaiable from the Church and the Village Green. For more information call 01366 328817. Paul Weller Plays at High Lodge Friday 5th June 2009 Described as both the ?modfather of rock? and ?Britpop?s elder statesman?, Paul is ultimately acknowledged by the media, fellow musicians and the public as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of British popular music. Since his early days in The Jam, then Style Council and subsequently as a hugely successful solo artist, Paul continues to make pioneering music. Last year saw the release of the critically acclaimed number one album ?22 Dreams?, his ninth solo album in a career spanning over three decades. Tickets cost ?33 (subject to booking fee) and go on sale from 9:00 am Friday 16 January from Forestry Commission Box Office: Tel 01842 814612, or in person from the venue. James Morrison Plays at High Lodge Thursday 4th June James Morrison has announced a woodland date for this summer. This will be a welcome return to the venue where he last performed to a sell-out crowd in 2007. James?s raw bluesy and soulful voice again shines through on his latest album, 'Songs For You Truths For Me', that?s been riding high in the charts since its release last year and includes the singles ?You Make It Real? and 'Broken Strings' featuring Nelly Furtado. His new single 'Please Don't Stop The Rain' is due out on 6th April. Tickets ?28.50 (subject to booking fee) are available from 9.00am on Friday 20th March from the Forestry Commission Box Office tel 01842 814612, online at www.forestry.gov.uk Paine and His Age Tuesday 26th May - Saturday 13th June 2009 Open Monday to Saturday 10am-1pm Part of Tom Paine 200 Celebrations Thetford Arts Centre presents their Summer Exhibition: Paine and His Age Local artisits explore the life and times of Thetford's famous son through a variety of media and approaches. Upstairs in the Guildhall, Market Place, Thetford Call:01842 751975 Workshop: Basket Weaver Sunday 31st May 2009 A beginners' introduction to basket weaving techniques and a chance to make a basket like those the Anglo-Saxons may have used. 10.30am-3pm Adults and over 16's ?10 per person Booking Essential More Information Plant the Plot Wednesday 27th May 2009 Hands-on family workshop and talk to learn all about growing produce in a traditional garden. Garden Events sponsored by Yorkshire Bank Booking Essential 01366 328258, Under 5's free Limited numbers. Adult ?10 Child ?5 Family ?25 10am - 1pm Meet in the tea-room Fun Day at World Horse Welfare Monday 25th May 2009 Fun Day for all the family including the Pony Express Tractor and Trailer rides, demonstrations and farm tours. Hall Farm, Snetterton. Call:01953 499100 for more information Medieval Fayre Saturday 23rd May - Monday 25th May 2009 'Sir John Savile's Household' presents life in a 15th century household, including a wedding, dance and music, games and children's weapon drill and archery sessions. Learn how Sir Henry Bedingfeld would have prepared Oxburgh Hall for the visit of Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York in 1487. 11am - 4pm Normal Admission Charges Apply Booking Not Needed For information on other events at Oxburgh Hall click here to visit their website. May Art Exhibition (mixed media) Saturday 23rd May 2009 to Saturday 30th May 2009 Art Exhibition Mixed Media Showcasing the talent of local East Anglian Artists. Free Admission. Browse in the Dragonfly shopping area, a wide range of locally produced gifts for sale. Opening times: Weekdays 10.00 - 4.00pm Saturdays 10.00 - 1.00pm. Workshop - Anglo-Saxon Pottery Sunday 17th May 2009 Explore the styles of Anglo- Saxon pottery discovered by archaeologists at West Stow and make your own Anglo-Saxon style pot to take home. 11am-1pm Adults and accompanied children over 12. ?10 per person Booking Essential, tel: 01284 728718 Wayland Spring Craft Fair Saturday 2nd May between 10.00am ? 3.00pm at The Queens Hall, Norwich Rd, Watton. Admission is free. The aim is to promote the handmade work of talented individuals and provide them with a venue where they can exhibit and sell their work directly to the public. They also want to provide the public with an opportunity to purchase quality handmade crafts and allow them to speak with the people who make them. Exhibitors are carefully selected to ensure that the standards of crafts are kept high and that there is a varied range of crafts showcased at each event. If you are looking for something different and if quality and affordability are important to you, you will find what you are looking for at a Wayland Partnership craft fair. High Lodge Concerts Human League and James Morrison have been the final two acts to announce dates at High Lodge Visitor Centre. James Morrison will appear on June 4th, while Human League play on July 9th, completing the total line up of Thetford Forest Concert weekends in June and July. With tickets still available for all concerts except Paul Wellar, you are still able to join in with these fantastic summer events. For tickets and more information Tel: 01842 815434 or visit High Lodge Concerts The Hawk and Owl Trust Special Art Exhibition From Sunday 17th May to Saturday 23rd May 2009 the Pinkfoot Gallery in Cley-next-the-Sea will be hosting a special collection of artwork. Over twenty artists (many from the Society of Wildlife Artists and pinkfoot Gallery) have very generously donated artwork to help the Hawk and Owl Trust raise funds for Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve. All proceeds form the artwork will be donated to the trust There will be a special opening evening on Saturday 16th May from 6.30pm, with a Special Art Auction from 8pm. For more information please contact the Pinkfoot Gallery on 01263 740947 or use the link below to visit the website: Pinkfoot Gallery Close Harmony Swaffham Assembly Rooms at 3pm on Sunday 26th April 2009 Swaffham Arts presents songs from the Swing Era sung by Close Harmony, with Jill Hobss - keyboard, and Dave Holgate - double bass For enquiries please call 01366 328648 For tickets contact; Ceres Bookshop 01760 722504 Green Parrot 01760 724704 Members ?7.00 Non-members ?9.00 Icenima showing 'Australia' Cert PG 13 Friday 1st May - Starting at 7:30pm Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin,Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand. Stars: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman David Wenham Pricelist Adults ?4.00 - Children ?3.00 - Concession ?3.00 For directions and more information click here West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Back in Anglo Saxon times (AD420-650 to be prcise), housing was a much simpler affair and this attraction seeks to show you how. Rebuilt on the site where the original village of West Stow was excavated, this recreation gives an insight into what village life was like for ancestors in the wooden houses of the day, brought to life by costumed actors. Opening times: 10am - 5pm daily (Please note - last entry at 4pm in Summer and 3.30pm in Winter) For more information please visit the website using the following link: West Stow Village The Plantation Garden, Norwich The Plantation Garden complete with Medieval walls, a gothic fountain and a tranquil atmosphere, was built in the late 19th Century. It was forgotten in the years following the second world war and was left a derelict, unkempt no-mans land until it was rediscovered in 1980. It was saved only due to the efforts of a dedicated team of volunteers. The Garden is open dialy from 9am until 6pm and entry is ?2.00 For more information please visit the website using the following link: Plantation Garden Icenima - showing 'Big Fish' Cert PG Friday 3rd April - Starting at 7.30pm Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney head up an all star cast in this critically acclaimed adventure, from the imagination of director Tim Burton. Throughout his life Edward Bloom (McGregor) has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years he (Finney) remains a huge mystery to his son William (Billy Crudup). Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins to piece together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures in this marvel of a movie. Tickets available in advance or at the door from the Ecotech Centre or purchase from Ceres Bookshop (Swaffham) Booking Recommended Ecotech Centre, Turbine Way, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7HT Call:01760 726100 Westacre Theatre May Days A celebration of life and love in words and music, especially devised to launch the Westacre Summer Season. Friday 1 May 7.30pm ?12 Saturday 2 May 7.30pm GALA performance in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support ?25 includes wine and light refreshments Beginners Please Half term drama workshops Ages 6-8 years Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 & Thursday 28 May 10am ? 2pm ?30 for the three days A chance for young children to develop imagination, communication and social skills while gaining in confidence and self-esteem. Just Between Ourselves A comedy by Alan Ayckbourn Directed by Andy Naylor Ayckbourn at the top of his game in this comedy about love and not listening. Thursday 21, Friday 22, Saturday 23, Thursday 28, Friday 29 & Saturday 30 May Thursday 4, Friday 5 & Saturday 6 June 7.30pm weekdays ?12 Saturdays ?15 To book your tickets please call the box office on 01760 755800 or visit westacretheatre.com BeWILDerwood Re-Opening March 28th BeWILDerwood is a huge forest of wild and imaginative adventure park with magical treehouses and characters, bringing a curious difference to the Norfolk Broads. Not only will you be able to find the regular wildlife of sqirrels, rabbits and hedgehogs but also creatures such as Boogles, Twiggles, the Thornyclod Spider and vegetarian Crocklebogs! An accompanying book, A Boogle at BeWILDerwood, gives children the change to follwo inthe footsteps of the lead character Swampy, a 2ft Marsh Boogle with a taste for adventure. BeWILDerwood features fantasy treehouses and aerial walkways through pine, fir, oak, sweet chestnut trees above unspoilt Norfolk Marshland. High in the trees there are also miniature Twiggle villages. Attractions include the Broken Bridge where you have to walk over invisible glass 7 metres above the ground, the Wobbly Wires, a daring zip wire slide, and the Slippery Slopes, not for the faint hearted. Entry to the park is by boat through the marshes, adding to the sense of fantasy and adventure. For more information on this award winng theme park click here Ecotech Centre Visit Ecotech for a guided ascent of the Ecotricity E66, Swaffham's 1st wind turbine. The UK's only turbine with a viewing platform. The finest views in the Brecks await you but have you the energy? You'll be climbing over 300 steps! Take a look round the centre and stroll in the organic heritage demonstration gardens. Why not have a drink and a cake in their cafe before going home? For more information re opening times and admission prices please visit - Ecotech Centre Booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment and prolonged waiting. Sunday 22nd March 2009 Mother's Day Craft Fair: Sculthorpe Village Hall, Moor Lane, Sculthorpe, nr Fakenham, NR21 9PX. Tel: 01328 864357 Mother's day craft fair with a large variety of craft stalls selling quality craft items. Yummy homemade cakes and other refreshments and a Tombola. FREE ENTRY!. Open from 10am - 4pm Saturday 21st March to Monday 13th April Rite of Spring: Hillside Lodge, Swaffham Road, Toftrees, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 7DZ. Tel: 01328 856700 An exciting exhibition of artwork and photography by artist husband and wife team Keith & Debbie Osborn. Open from 10.30am - 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Free entry. Thursday 19th March to Saturday 21st March 2009 Annie Get Your Gun: Hockwold Village Hall, Main Street, Hockwold, IP26 4LW. Tel: 01842 828468 Hockwold Amateur Theatrical Society Proudly Presents Irving Berlin's Musical - Annie Get Your Gun Book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields, Presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of R&H theatricals of New York. There are many songs in this show including There's No Business Like Show Business and Anything You Can Do, to name just two. Evening shows start at 7.30pm and Saturday afternoon show starts at 2.00pm. Doors open half an hour before show starts. Tickets are ?6.00 - Adults, ?3.00 - Children. For Details and to reserve tickets phone 01842 828468 Open Studios Castle Acre - 16th to 31st May 2009 Castle Acre, Westacre and Swaffham has 10 artists opening their studio doors to you from Saturday 16th to Sunday 31st May. Run as part of Norfolk Open Studios, it's a chance to see different arts ranging from Painting, Drawing, Knitting, Mosaic, Carving and Ceramics - all on your doorstep. Enjoy visiting artists in the places where they actually create their work. In total there will be over 200 artists open all over the county. This years artists in Castle Acre are Carolyn Ash 755333, Arturo Limbo 755019, Les Williams 079 687 69 109, Joyce Davison 755405, Woodward & Davey 755507, Linda Roast 755386 and Helen Breach 755425. Nearby in Westacre are Louise Tiplady 755045 plus Charlotte Howarth 755 045 and in Swaffham, Maureen Baker 722738. Most artists are open from 10am to 5pm at weekends and the bank holiday, but please check with artists individually. Look out for brochures, posters and information in local shops, library's and the press! Go Ape - Re-opening Soon!!! Three hours of adrenalin fuelled fun, laughter and adventure in an aerial assault course of extreme rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides through the forest canopy. Set in the heart of Britain?s largest lowland pine forest, Go Ape is centred around 30 miles of bike and walking trails from which to explore 50,000 acres of forest. Opens Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November (closed Tues. during Term Time). For more information visit - Go Ape Thetford Forest Concerts Once again High Lodge is playing host to two packed weekends of concerts during the summer with three of the dates already announced and well on the way to selling out. Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra featuring Gilson Lavis, Dave Edmunds, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall will be appearing at High Lodge on Saturday 6th June. On Friday 5th June, Paul Weller will be returning to the Forest, with tickets sold out already. Finally the Sugababes have also just announced a date in the forest July 11th and David Grey the most recent confirmed act will perform on July 10th. This completes more than half of the Concert dates, with only two more acts to be announced. For tickets contact the Box Office on 01842 814612 or online at: Forestry Box Office Charles Burrell Museum Easter Rally The Charles Burrell Museum is once again holding their annual Miniature Steam Engine Rally on Easter Sunday(April 12th), with around 40 miniature Engines expected and the Museums own full sized Showmans engine being steamed on the day it will really give you the chance to see a part of the Brecks History in action. The event and museum entrance are free and takes place between 10am-4pm, with a road run through Thetford town centre between 12am-2pm. For more information Tel: 01842 765840 New Farm Shop Opening Christmas Hill Farm, near Lakenheath will be opening a new Farm Shop in time for Easter. The Farm run by Michael and Jo Taylor specialises in rare bread sheep and cattle. Although the farm has been offering the sale of produce for some time the Farm shop will see the site expanding further. They also offer visitors a chance to look round the site with nature trails and when the shop is open they will also be opening a cafe to complete the day out with a few refreshments. For more information contact 01842 861144 or visit their website Christmas Hill Farm Shop Dad's Army Public Walking Tour 8th March 2009 Let the guides retrace the film locations of the famous Croft & Perry sit-com Dad's Army and then visit the Thetford Dad's Army Museum. Why not take a great nostalgic afternoon stroll finishing with Tea/ Coffee at the Bell Hotel where cast & crew stayed during filming. Bookings must be made in advance. ?7pp includes Tea/Coffee. Contact: Thetford Tourist Information Centre Call:01842 751975 Explorers Bike Ride Explore the forest with Bike Art staff on a route tailored to the capabilities of participants. Find the best areas to ride, stretch your ability and skills. You can use your own bike (suitable bike in good working order) or rent from Bike Art. Reasonable fitness required. 14th March 2009 10.30am-12.30pm Personal bike must be in good working order. Cycle helmets must be worn Booking required - Call:01842 810090 or visit www.bike-art.com for more information. Thursday 17th July 2008 Antiques Road Show! Antiques Road show will be hosted by Fiona Bruce at Oxborough Hall, Norfolk and will feature some of Britain?s leading fine arts specialists who will be on hand to offer free advice and evaluations to visitors of the National Trust Property. Thursday 17th July 2008 9.30am to 4.30pm Oxborough is 5 minutes from Swaffham by car, why not make a day of it and stay at Strattons: Doubles from ?230 dinner, bed & breakfast Call reception now to book on 01760 723845. Days out in the Brecks All year round at High Lodge? Go Ape: 3 hours of adrenalin fuelled fun, laughter and adventure in an aerial assault coarse of extreme rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides through the forest canopy. A degree of strength and fitness is required, wear something you don?t mind getting dirty or damaged. Open 10th - 25th February (half term period), 23rd March - 2nd November inclusive (Additional evening slots available May ? August). Plus weekends throughout November. December & January closed. Gorillas (18yrs +) ?25 each Baboons (10 ? 17yrs) ?20. Booking is essential, online at www.goape.co.uk or tel: 0845 643 9215 (a ?1 booking fee applies to telephone bookings). 2008 Opening times: Closed Jan. 9-11 Feb & 14-17 Feb (half term period), 15 March ? 31 October inclusive. (Additional evening slots available May ? August). Plus weekend throughout Nov. (Dec weekends TBC) Bike Art: Cycle hire?.Breathe in the natural beauty of the unique Brecks landscape in Thetford forest. Explore by bike on 30 miles of traffic free marked trails, providing safe cycling for families and access to more challenging terrain for experts. Open 7 days a week at holiday periods, Summer ? 9am ? 6pm and Winter ? 10am ? 4pm. Adult bike hire from ?5.95, Children?s bikes, trailers and trailer bikes from ?4.95. Helmets are free! There?s more to a day out in The Brecks than just getting into a car, often the journey is more enjoyable than the destination. You can travel by foot, cycle, horse, bus and train. You can get off the beaten track and feel healthier and fitter too! Whether it?s discovering the unique wildlife, strolling along a river path, striding across the heathland, cycling in the forest or shopping in one of our Market Towns you?ll find something for everyone. There?s so much to explore in The Brecks. So when you want to take a break in The Brecks, why not take a break from the car and enjoy the scenery, fresh air and a much more relaxed pace.