Norfolk Green Care Festival 2022

A county-wide celebration of nature and people!

Saturday 23rd July to Sunday 7th August

Festival Programme – please note we will be firming up timings and booking details etc. in the weeks leading up to the start of the Festival, so please return to see more events and more info! And do get in touch if you’d like to add an event!

Saturday 23rd July

Bugs and Beasts: family activities and presentations (11am-4pm).
Waterloo Park, Norwich

Grow at home: Get hands on with compost, investigate our recycled growing pots (or make your own!) and plant a seed to grow at home. Available every day, 23 July – 14 August between 11am – 12 noon and 2 – 3pm. Free with admission.
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

BFER Thetford Riverside Walk with Jon Tyler: Explore the plants and wildlife found along the scenic waterways of Thetford, with guide Jon Tyler. Discover local wildlife, enjoy peaceful mindfulness, and embrace the great outdoors (11am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm).
Thetford Riverside

Guided tour of St Benet’s Abbey: Join the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for a free guided tour of St Benet’s Abbey – nestled deep in the Broads, close to the meeting place of the rivers Bure and Ant (2-3pm; available 23,27,30,31 July and 3,6,7 August).
St. Benet’s Abbey, Ludham

Sunday 24th July

Bugs and Beasts: family activities and presentations (11am-4pm).
Waterloo Park, Norwich

Beach Labyrinth: a creative and reflective experience from Under Open Sky (11am-1pm).
Gorleston-on-sea beach

Guided tour of Caistor Roman Town: Join the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for a free guided tour of Caistor Roman Town – once the largest Roman town in East Anglia (2.30-3.30pm; available 24,27,31 July and 3 and 7 August).
Caistor Roman Town (Venta Icenorum), Caistor Saint Edmund

Guided Tour of Burgh Castle Fort: Join the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for a free guided tour of Burgh Castle Fort – one of the best preserved Roman monuments in East Anglia, and one of the most impressive Roman buildings to survive anywhere in Britain (2-3pm; available 24 and 31 July and 7 August).
Burgh Castle Roman Fort, Burgh Castle

Monday 25th July

Miraculous minibeasts: Come and forage among the foliage and search between the sedge for any minibeast which may be waiting (10.30am-12pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Hickling Broad, Hickling Broad and Marshes

Butterfly Walk: join us to discover the butterflies of Train Wood and Marriott’s Way, on a walk led by expert and wildlife tour guide Carl Chapman (1-4pm).
Barker Street (path onto Marriott’s Way), Norwich

Dyke Dipping at Hickling Broad: Join us and learn about the wonderful wildlife that can be found in the dykes (1.30-3pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Hickling Broad, Hickling Broad and Marshes

Tuesday 26th July

Fantastic Minibeasts and Where to Find Them: Join us at our custom-built platform and learn about the wonderful wildlife that can be found in ponds and dykes (10.30am-12.30pm; book via NWT website).
Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Walk with the Warden: Join Cley and Salthouse warden George Baldock on a wander around the reserve, taking in the spectacular wildlife along the way (10:30am – 1:30pm; book via NWT website).
Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Strange Shepherdess: Meet our strange shepherdess – learn a little Norfolk folklore and how to go ‘noticing’ in nature, and find out your own ‘farmer’s fortune’ (11am – 12 noon and 1 – 2pm; free with admission.
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

BFER guided bird walk by the British Trust for Ornithology: Join bird experts Jenny and Nick for an evening walk around BTO’s Nunnery Lakes nature reserve on the south side of Thetford (7-9pm; booking essential).
Nunnery Lakes,Thetford

Wednesday 27th July

Marvellous Moths at Cley: Join us as we open our moth traps and be amazed at the beauty, variety and extraordinary markings of the amazing moths that live around Cley Marshes (10.30-11.30am; book via NWT website).
Cley Marshes

Rockpool Rummaging: Come along with sturdy shoes and keen eyes and help us carefully investigate the secrets of the seashore (11.30am-1pm; book via NWT website).
West Runton Beach, outside the beach café

Fascinating Fossils: Come along and see the remains of some of the amazing beasts that were found here millions of years ago (2-3.30pm; book via NWT website).
West Runton Beach, outside the beach café

Thursday 28th July

Herbal Tea Party: A talk on herbs; medicinal, practical, and edible, followed by a tour of our 10m herb border and a tea tasting (3-4.30pm)
Marlpit Community Garden, Norwich

100 years of Thetford Forest Open Day: Join us for FREE as we celebrate 100 years of Thetford Forest. The main green will be full of stands and activities from Harvesting to Running groups, Heritage to Classic Forestry Vehicles (10am-4pm).
High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon

Fascinating Fossils: Come along and see the remains of some of the amazing beasts that were found here millions of years ago (10 – 11:30am; book via NWT website).
West Runton Beach, outside the beach café

Rockpool Rummaging: Come along with sturdy shoes and keen eyes and help us carefully investigate the secrets of the seashore (12:30 – 2pm; book via NWT website).
West Runton Beach, outside the beach café

Friday 29th July

Searching for sharks: Meet us at NWT Holme Dunes as we search for sharks’ egg cases, more commonly known as mermaid purses. Come along and help us identify what sharks can be found off the coast of Norfolk (10:30am-12pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Holme Dunes, meet outside the visitor centre

Sea Dipping: Today we will be plunging for prawns and dunking for dabs, as we go sea dipping at NWT Holme Dunes (1-2:30pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Holme Dunes, meet outside the visitor centre

Saturday 30th July

All about Bees: how to make candles, see inside a bee hive and learn about bees and depending on how the swarm are we have bee suits for families and kids to visit the hives (10am-1pm)
Marlpit Community Garden, Norwich

Grow at home: Get hands on with compost, investigate our recycled growing pots (or make your own!) and plant a seed to grow at home. Available every day, 23 July – 14 August between 11am-12pm and 2-3pm. Free with admission.
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Blues on the Farm: Join us for our famous ‘Blues On The Farm’ event at Clinks Care Farm. The live music event takes place in our grain barn, and features a BBQ and bar using Lacons alcohol and Clinks produce (6-10pm; £15 – food and drink not included in price; book via website).
Clinks Care Farm, Toft Monks

Nick Hart: Nick Hart is a folk singer deeply rooted in the English tradition (6:30pm bar, 7:30pm performance, 9:30pm finish; book via NWT website).
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Sunday 31st July

Gardening Alongside Nature with the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society: Join us to explore the various ways in which we can create our own nature reserves in our back gardens, patios and balconies. Talks, discussion, and refreshments (11am-4pm).
Jubilee Hall, East Tuddenham

Dyke Dipping at NWT Thorpe Marshes: Learn about the wonderful wildlife that can be found in the dykes. Part of the Water, Mills & Marshes programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (10:30-11:30am; free but booking essential).
NWT Thorpe Marshes, Thorpe Marshes

Monday 1st August

Tuesday 2nd August

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Norfolk by Dr Pam Taylor: Introduction to the dragonflies and damselflies of Norfolk, looking in particular at species likely to be found in north Norfolk (10.30am-3.30pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Bones and Body Bits: Look at our natural history items and learn how to tell the difference between a fox and badger skull, which rodents have eaten which nuts and learn how to identify what an owl has eaten (10:30am – 12 noon; book via NWT website).
NWT Pigneys Wood

Miraculous minibeasts: We’ll forage among the foliage and search between the sedge for any minibeast which may be waiting (1.30-3pm; book via NWT website).
NWT Pigneys Wood

Wednesday 3rd August

Medieval Monastic Growing: Join horticultural expert, Nik Thomson, and local historian, Colin Howey, as we explore the nature of the medieval monastic gardens at Norwich Cathedral. Please assemble on Bishop Bridge for a 10am departure. Our walk should last no more than an hour (10-11am).
Bishop Bridge/Norwich Cathedral

Summer Holiday Bug Fun: Come and join us for a fun mini beast safari and take home your very own handmade bug hotel. There will be directional signage from the main carpark on Haveringland Road, and toilets and refreshments are available. For further information please get in touch. (10am-2pm).
Broadland Country Park

Wellbeing Walks – Lowestoft: Meeting at Lowestoft South Pier, by the Triton statue. Join us on Lowestoft’s South Beach Promenade for a gentle walk to the beautiful Kensington Gardens then on for a cuppa (1pm-2.30pm)
Meeting at The South Pier (Triton Statue), Lowestoft

Community Roots – Patterns in Nature: Join us in Grapes Hill Community Garden for our first Community Roots session! The Community Roots project offers weekly garden get togethers, reconnecting people with nature and each other. Come along and explore shapes, colours and textures in nature through drawing, a patterns activity and a chance to simply be together! Snacks will be provided and spaces are free but limited. Booking is necessary (click here). For a full programme of our weekly sessions please visit our social media or get in touch. (5pm – 6:30pm)
Grapes Hill Community Garden

Thursday 4th August

Bishop’s Garden open in aid of Norfolk Green Care Network: find out about the Network and visit many stalls from the projects who are part of it (12 noon-4pm). Plant sales. Refreshments. Music… help us to raise funds to keep the Network going!
Bishop’s Garden, Norwich

Wellbeing Walks – Waterloo Park: Join us for a stroll around this beautiful park (10:00-11:30 am)
Meet at The Feed Café, Waterloo Park Pavilion, Angel Road, Norwich

Heavenly Gardens Open Day: people can come and see what we do and ask any questions (10.30-4pm).
St Martin at Palace Plain churchyard, Norwich

Dyke Dipping: Join us and learn about the wonderful wildlife that can be found in the dykes (10:30am-12pm; book via NWT website).
Hickling Broad and Marshes

Crafty Creations: Create woodland works of art (1:30-3pm; book via NWT website).
Hickling Broad and Marshes

Friday 5th August

Walking on the Edge of Norfolk: Local author and naturalist David North will lead you on a circular walk (approx. 4 miles with 1.5 miles of walking on shingle) to discover coastal wildlife whilst discussing the impact the periodic storm surges and flooding events have on the wildlife and landscape of Cley (10:30am-1.30pm; book via NWT website).
Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Redwings: Wellbeing Walk- come along to meet up with old and new friends in the peaceful surroundings of the Sanctuary and visit the animals in a safe environment (10:30am-12:30 pm).
Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Aylsham

Heavenly Gardens Guided Walk: Visit some of the churchyards we have renovated (2-4pm).
Start at St Martin at Palace Plain churchyard, Norwich

Saturday 6th August

Beach Clean: Salthouse, Cley and Salthouse Marshes. Help us to clean up our shore to benefit coastal wildlife. All equipment provided (10:30am-12pm).
Meet at Salthouse beach road

Nature Quest: explore the award winning Conservation Churchyard to find plants, insects and other critters (free-2pm-4pm). The Church is also open (10am- 4pm) with displays of local heritage, and refreshments will be available.
St.Peter’s Church, Haveringland

Sunday 7th August

Free Family Fun Day at Cley Marshes for National Marine Week, Cley and Salthouse Marshes. Drop-in family activities in the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre (10:30am-3:30pm).
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Open Garden – Kerdiston Manor: Mixed variety of planting, bog plants and native flower meadow walk. Homemade teas. Part of the 2022 National Garden Scheme (11am – 5pm; £6.00 adults, children free).
Kerdiston Manor, Kerdiston

View the map

Get in touch to add your Green Care event to the programme so others can find you, and be sure to check out what else is happening across the two weeks of the festival.