Catton Parkrun

I've heard that the Catton Parkrun is a little more sedate that the Norwich (Eaton Park) one  I could be wrong though!!

Catton parkrun - Weekly Free 5km Timed Run

What is Catton parkrun?  It is a 5km run - it's you against the clock.
When is it? Every Saturday at 9:00am.
Where is it? It's run in Catton Park, Oak Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 7DB. See Course page for more details.

Please register before your first run. Only ever register with parkrun once. Don't forget to bring a printed copy of your barcode (request a reminder). If you forget it, you won't get a time.

How fast do I have to be?
We all run for our own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace!

Catton parkrun needs you! - It is entirely organised by volunteers - email cattonhelpers@parkrun.com to help.

We're friendly!
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in Hayman Lodge which is situated by the start/finish area, where the Catton Park Trust volunteers will offer light refreshments - please come and join us!

If you live closer then the Norwich Parkrun is in Eaton Park (here)

Free Bike Ride

Bicycle Links to the Parks 
Sunday 17th August at 10.00am 
Starting Point & Postcode: The Forum, between Theatre Street and Bethel Street, NR2 1BH 

This is a pleasant ride mixing cycle paths and roads on the Norwich Cycle Network to allow you to see some of Norwich's finest sites. The ride takes in quiet paths by the River Wensum, then visits three of Norwich's parks, via some of the cities most interesting sites and landmarks. Along the route we'll pass Norwich Cathedral, Cow Tower, St Andrews Hall and England's last remaining Swan Pit. The ride finishes with a visit to Bicycle Links - a social enterprise encouraging more cycling and reconditioning unused bikes. Come and join us for lovely two wheeled tour of the city.

If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, our Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills along the way, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. Rides are between 6 and 20 miles long, at a moderate pace of between 7 and 10 miles an hour.

Part of a schedule of free bike rides with Goskyrides
http://www.goskyride.com/




More info

Picnic in the Park at Whitlingham Country Park.

Picnic in the Park at Whitlingham Country Park.
Sunday 27th July 

Free entry but you may have to pay for parking (you can get around this if you park further away and walk)

More about Whitlingham
Get into Summer magazine

Catholic Cathedral Garden

CATHEDRAL GARDEN

As part of the Narthex project, the Cathedral Garden, a secret haven close to the centre of Norwich, has been transformed with the help of a dedicated band of volunteers under garden designer Zanna Foley-Davies. The garden was previously not accessible and had not been regularly maintained for some time. With the construction of the Narthex, it is clearly visible from and accessed by those using the Refectory. Now, as well as several heritage varieties of fruit trees, formal lawns, island beds – including the original rose memorial garden - and beautiful paved walkways, there is a small private area for the clergy and work has started on the construction of a Community Garden. In due course, this will be used by volunteers and community groups to grow produce for Cathedral House, the Narthex Refectory and for the community at large.



Events at the Catholic Cathedral

Pride 2014 Day

26 July 2014 : The 6th Norwich Pride!
The 2014 Norwich Pride will take place on Saturday, 26 July 2014.

10am onwards Stalls at The Forum, Millennium Plain

The Pride Village will have over 40 stalls inside the Forum and outside on Millennium Plain. Look out for the Norwich Pride Help Desk where you can find up-to-date information on the day. We’ll also have a Norwich Pride Shop, where you can get your rainbow goodies. Plus, look out for more stalls at Chapelfield Gardens.

10am Breakfast with BLAH LGBT Youth in Fusion at The Forum.

Be the first to see their Proud Schools multimedia exhibition showcasing the work of Norfolk Schools, tackling homophobia and transphobia in the classroom and the playground. BLAH is part of the Norfolk LGBT Project. Proud schools will continue throughout the day.

10am onwards Proud Schools at Fusion in The Forum

A multimedia exhibition showcasing the work of Norfolk Schools tackling homophobia and transphobia in the classroom and the playground.

10:30am Pride Opening Ceremony at The Forum

Join us for the official start to the 6th Norwich Pride!

11.00 – 12.00 Storytime in the Millennium Children’s Library at The Forum.

Includes simple activity aimed at under 8s but any child can join in. Telephone 01603 774781 for more information.

12 noon Entertainment and picnic at Chapelfield Gardens

Bring your family, friends and a picnic and have a bite to eat while you enjoy entertainment from the bandstand by Dead Goats, Bean Juice Electrical Fire, Johnny Jump Band and Ballroom dancing!

2pm The Parade

Follow the fabulous sound of the Norwich Samba Band as we parade through Norwich! We start at Chapelfield Gardens and loop through the city centre, taking in Gentlemen’s Walk and passing City Hall before passing through Millennium Plain and arriving back at Chapelfield Gardens. Bring yourselves, bring your friends and family, gay or straight, dress to impress and help us turn Norwich into a rainbow. Look out for the Sing with Pride Choir, who will be singing their socks off to provide a musical rainbow!

For details see “Norwich Pride Parade 2014“.

3:30 – 5pm Pride show and speeches at Chapelfield Gardens

Join us for entertainment around the bandstand after the Parade with CN Lester, Kimberley Moore, Voter Kernel and Dan Herman!

For details see “The Pride Show & Picnic 2014“.

Theatre Collective production of Gammer Gurton's Needle

Norwich community theatre collective Crude Apache celebrate their twentieth anniversary this summer, with a show that combines everything that this dynamic group does best – open air theatre, broad comedy, a sense of history, and a “louche disregard for convention”, as one reviewer once put it.

Gammer Gurton’s Needle is one of the first English comedies, a hilarious knockabout tale of misunderstandings between larger-than-life clownish characters. “Expect physical comedy, music, song, dance, a fast pace and some memorable moments,” says director Jo Swan.

The show contains some moderate medieval oaths and frequent references to bottoms.
In true Crude Apache style, entry to all shows will be free of charge – although donations will be welcomed.

The tour kicks off at 7.30pm on the 1st of July in the Tudor garden at Stranger’s Hall, and later visits Grapes Hill Community Garden (3 July),The Whiffler at Castle Gardens (6,11, 12 July), the hidden gem which is the Gothic-Italian Plantation Garden (9 July) and a number of city parks.

Full list of tour dates and locations below.

1 July – Stranger’s Hall Garden 7.30pm (no wheelchair access);
2 July – Wensum Park 7.30pm;
3 July – Grapes Hill Community Garden 7.30pm;
4 July – Heigham Park 7.30pm;
6 July – The Whiffler, Castle Gardens (matinee)3pm;
8 July – Waterloo Park 7.30pm;
9 July – Plantation Garden 7.30pm;
10 July – Cow Tower 7.30pm;
11 July – The Whiffler, Castle Gardens 7.30pm;
12 July – The Whiffler, Castle Gardens 7.30pm.

Facebook event page

The big co-operative picnic

 The BIG Picnic – Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July 2014
at The Common Room, St Lawrence Church, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich NR2 4PE

The Picnic

12 – 2 pm on both days

It is FREE but please bring a picnic for yourself…. and something to share if you want to. We will be providing some basic provisions.

As well as food there will be:

• Games and artistic creations for all ages (optional!)
• Stands and information on local co-operatives and other things of interest (interested in a stand then contact us)
• A co-operative film
• AND a chance to meet with others with a co-operative interest

More info

The Big Lunch

On Sunday Grapes Hill Community Garden are hosting a bring-and-share meal as part of The Big Lunch, a national event that brings neighbours together.

Bring your own food or something to share (and a table and chairs or rug if you have them and can carry them – if not some will be provided).


Facebook event
More about Grapes Hill Community Garden

MayDay 2014 in Chapelfield Gardens

Sunday, 4 May 2014 in Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich, from 11.00am to around 5.00pm

Come and celebrate May Day 2014, a fantastic free event, with music, activities for adults and for children, stalls, speakers, food, and much more. 
Organised by Norwich & District Trades Union Council

• Live poetry with Russell JTurner and John William Brown
• Acoustic marquee with music, performance, poetry, tea and cake
• Swing dance class (1pm)
• Circus Skills
• Hula Hoop Workshop
• Speakers - WeAreNorwich, Equal Lives, Defend mental health services, UEA etc

Facebook events page

Eaton Park

Today I spent the morning walking around Eaton Park which is a great place for doing free stuff.  Eaton Park is the largest of Norwich's historic parks, lying west of the City centre. 

Facilities:

• Rose Garden
• Boating Lake
• Pavilions
• Tennis Courts
• Table Tennis
• Miniature Railway
• Lots of green space
• Lily Pond
• Kids Play area
• Pitches
• Woodland
• Skate / BMX Park

Walking together in Eaton Park - A friendly group on Friday mornings at 10 am for a gentle and sociable 45-minute walk around the park. (If the weather is really bad walks might not take place.) All welcome, so just turn up! Meet by the children’s play area on North Park Avenue. These walks are organised by Friends of Eaton Park and led by one of the Friends. For queries call 01603 504126.

ParkRun - Free weekly time 5K runs on Saturday mornings in Eaton Park (you need to register to take part) - More about "Parkrun"

More info on Friends of Eaton Park website

Free Family Fun Day at Pigney's Wood

Family Fun Day - Admission Free! 

Sunday 13th October, 10am – 3pm 

Birds of Prey - Storyteller – Bird Box Making - Pond Dipping 
Music - Tree trail – Fungi spotting - and much more! 
Refreshments (and toilets!) available 

Pigneys Wood, NR28 0SB, near Knapton (follow signs) 

FREE Minibus transport to + from North Walsham Library car park and 
Mundesley Road car park 10am – 12.15pm & 1pm – 3.30pm, every 15 mins.

All enquiries to Mark: 07843 069 567 / m.webster@tcv.org.uk

http://www.pigneyswood.co.uk/_woodland/documents/family-fun-day---poster-.pdf
http://www.pigneyswood.co.uk/

Allotment Growing

Want to learn how to grow your own veg?  Thinking about getting an allotment?   Come down to Norwich Community Green Gym's allotment at Sycamore Crescent on a Sunday afternoon and find out and get involved in maintaining and planting.

If you're lucky enough to be doing one of the tasks where they dig up the veg, then you get loads of free veg too!



http://norwichcommunitygreengym.blogspot.co.uk/

Norwich to Trowse bridges walk

Norwich to Trowse bridges walk

The walk covers four miles (6.5 km) and takes around three hours to complete or longer if you stop at the points of interest you find along the route. A convenient place to start the walk is from Sainsburys off Queens Road.

The route takes walkers from the centre of Norwich out into the countryside, demonstreating just how closely linked Norwich is to its rural surroundings.

Norwich Fringe Project also maintain some local green spaces around Norwich - for more info visit the website.

http://www.norwichfringeproject.co.uk/pdf/bridges.pdf

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

At the Sainsbury Centre see modern art including works by Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas, and world art spanning 5,000 years of human creativity. Admission is free to the permanent exhibition and children are welcome plus the building is surrounded by a lake and beautiful parkland again, all free to visitors. In the grounds you will find works by Henry Moore. 

The Sainsbury Centre itself is a world-class Norman Foster building and extremely fascinating to walk around. There is a year round programme of exhibitions and special exhibitions most of which are free of charge. The Modern at the Sainsbury Centre opened this year offering more space, a sculpture garden, bar and restaurant.

Text from http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/freenorwich.aspx

http://www.scva.org.uk/

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm.
Closed on Mondays, including bank holidays.

Norwich PRIDE - Pride Day Sat 27th July

PRIDE DAY - 27th July 2013



Pride Village (10-5pm) - Over 40 different stalls inside and outside the Forum including local LGBT support and social groups, charities, health trusts, unions, local craftspeople and the Pride Shop. Whether you are new to Norwich, just coming out or interested in what’s on offer, there’s a friendly chat and info waiting for you.

Pride House (10-5pm) - An installation of art and photography and comfy sofas celebrating the history of Norwich Pride in the Forum Atrium, straight through the main door.

Digital Pride (10-5pm) - “Norwich Pride: the Movie” and lots of interactive activities including LGBT Quiz Machine in Fusion, the Forum’s Digital Gallery, featuring a 24 metre screen. You can find the Fusion to the left of the Forum when you enter through the main door.

Pride without Prejudice - Pride Art exhibition at St Margarets Church of the Art, St Benedicts. Click here for more details.

St Peter Mancroft Church (10-3.30pm) - Canon Peter Nokes from St Peter Mancroft Church (opposite the Forum) writes “We wish you a truly joyful occasion – please feel free to visit the church any time during the day” (open from 10am to 3.30pm).

Pride Events! Talks, story telling, music, picnic and the parade.

10am-12pm: Pride Opening Ceremony - Welcome speeches and two hours of show tunes from Taverham Brass Band on Millennium Plain.

10.30-12pm: Pride Story Time - Storytelling and finger-puppet-making about all kinds of families in the Children’s Library. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.

11-1pm Street-dance with Pride - A free dance workshop for 12-19 years at the Garage (opposite Chapelfield Gardens). Places must be booked in advance via www.thegarage.org.uk.

12pm-1pm Pride Question Time - LGBT issues have been hugely topical so far in 2013 with debate raging over equal marriage. Question Time is an opportunity to pose political questions to our expert panel which includes: Elly Barnes, the LGBT Schools Advisor for Birmingham City Council, a freelance diversity trainer and schools rep for LGBT History Month and Schools OUT uk; Mike Stonard, Chair of Norwich Pride 2013; and Guardian writer and feminist Jane Fae who writes on a wide range of topics from Trans issues to climate change. Chaired by Nick O’Brien.

12-2pm Future Radio Live Outside Broadcast - Future Radio is the official radio station for Norwich Pride. Breakfast Show presenter and Pride Live! producer Di Cunningham anchors a live Outside Broadcast from Millennium Plain at the Forum. With music, guests and interactive fun with the crowds.www.futureradio.co.uk/listenlive

12-2pm Pride Picnic - Bring a picnic and relax in Chapelfield Gardens as we entertain you with music from the bandstand, a range of family-friendly activities around the park. 

2pm-3pm Pride Parade - The Pride Parade is THE emotional highpoint of the day and not to be missed. This year it is guaranteed to be the biggest and the brightest yet as we have got Exeter Pride’s 50metre long Rainbow Flag. It will be amazing! 

3pm-5pm Pride Show - This year we are delighted to bring you the Pride Show on the Wigwam Stage! It will look and sound fantastic on Millennium Plain outside the Forum and will provide the perfect showcase for some brilliant acts. 

5pm-6pm Pride Live Lounge - Sweet and Sexy Sauce from Comic Tunesmiths Fanny Jam and Lip Smacking Queer Calypso from The Mighty Phantom.

The Big Lunch

Sunday 2 June 2013
Wensum Park, Drayton Road from 12 noon.
The Big Lunch campaign encourages communities to come together and share a few hours of food, friendship and fun.

For various other venues around the city see EEN's big lunch article.

Photo by Tony Sutton

May Day Sunday 2013 in Chapelfield Gardens

Click here for the 2014 May Day in Chapelfield Gardens

On Sunday May 5 2013 Norwich and District Trades Council presents a day of music, events, talks and fun for all in Chapelfield Gardens from 12 to 4pm.

(... plus Bank Holiday Monday Mayfest at Cow Tower in the following post ...)

More info from http://norwichmayday2013.tumblr.com/

Celebrate Mayday 2013 – Bank Holiday Monday

It seems that it's almost Mayday again, and that can only mean one thing - it's almost time to unfurl the bunting, polish off the hippies and get yourself to the COW TOWER for this years Mayfest!! Things start at midday and will roll until sundown with a selection of LIVE BANDS, COMEDY, THE NOW OR NEVER MAGAZINE LITERATURE STALL, ANARCHO TEA and CAKE (all proper tea is theft) by THE GREEN AND BLACK HOUSEKEEPER, and traditional MAYPOLE for FERTILITY RITUALS and DANCING. Featuring the Amazing Talents of: KOI PARAGA JASPER TAYLOR of DR. CLYDE STEWART HARRINGTON DANDELION AND THE ROCKETS PAUL GILL TOM READ performing extracts from KETT THE MUSICAL THE FUTURE OF MUSIC Poetry from JOHN WILLIAM BROWN and STAN SKANK A Micro-Radio Broadcast Live by MUTANT SOUND PILGRIM With Special Sunset Fire Performance by MIRACLE CYANIED PRODUCTIONS This is one of the favourite annual events on the Norwich alternative circuit, so please come down and bring the family for a day of fun, games, music and anarcho tea!! NORWICH MAYDAY 2013 is brought to you by RIGHTEOUS PROMOTIONS in association with NOW OR NEVER MAGAZINE, THE GREEN AND BLACK HOUSEKEEPER and THE DYSFUNCTION ROOM. FREE ENTRY https://www.facebook.com/events/289411201189541/?fref=ts

Take a circular walk on the Wherryman's Way

The Wherryman's Way is a 35-mile footpath from Norwich to Great Yarmouth, with ten circular village walks en-route.  The 2 mile circular walk from Surlingham (park by the church) goes through a Marsh nature reserve, Church ruin, and past a nice pub.  

http://www.wherrymansway.net/

http://www.wherrymansway.net/wherrymans_files/Walk%203%20-%20Surlingham.pdf

The Secret Garden

Set in 3 acres in the heart of Norwich on Earlham Road, next to the Catholic Cathedral, there is a secret garden

Open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.    
Entrance fee is £2 (honesty box)

Gothic style fountain.  Medieval style walls and superb creative planting - A beautiful place for quiet meditation or a fun picnic

Volunteers and members help out in various chores ranging from very light activities to the more strenuous. Helpers arrive from 9 a.m. every Tuesday  and continue as long as they like. Good company and a healthy work-out. No experience necessary.  Contact Marj on 01603 446178 for a place on the waiting list.

http://www.plantationgarden.co.uk/

Thanks to Peter for reminding me of this wonderful place!