Local Events

Wretham looks forward to Easter.

Another step to normality comes over the Easter weekend, when the National Gardens Scheme gardens of Wretham Lodge are again open to visitors.

Two years ago, at the height of the pandemic, the gardens did not have their usual first opening of the year.

Last year they opened but at St Ethelbert’s Church teas and cakes had to be served from the church porch into seating in the churchyard.

This year, everything should return to normal.

The ten acre gardens around the former Georgian rectory, itself not open to visitors, contain masses of species tulips, hellebores, fratillaries, daffodils and narcissi, bluebell and small woodland walks. Topiary pyramids and yew hedging lead to double herbaceous borders and the shrub borders and rose beds house the Wretham rose. A walled garden has fruit, vegetables and perennials.

The gardens will open on Easter Sunday and Monday (April 17th and 18th) from 11am to 5pm, with admission £5 (children free).

At the church, refreshments and homemade cakes will be sold inside the church, with a sale of second hand books. Proceeds from the garden opening go to NGS charities, church proceeds go to its funds.

Extra Easter services at St. Ethelbert.

Wretham will have an extra church service over the Easter weekend.

For the first time for many years, services in Holy Week will see a Good Friday service of hymn and prayer (6pm) led by the priest in charge, the Rev Simon Richardson. On Easter Sunday former Rector, the Rev Canon Bob Baker, will lead a service of Holy Communion (9.30am).

Morning Prayer will be held on April 3rd (9.30am) led by Simon Richardson.

Bishop of Thetford for Wretham service.

The Bishop of Thetford (the Rt. Rev Alan Winton) is to visit St. Ethelbert, Wretham, for a special service at the end of May.

He will join the priest in charge (the Rev Simon Richardson) at a Book of Common Prayer service of Holy Communion at 11am on Sunday May 29th.

It comes about as Wretham is chosen to host a service for all the eight churches in the Harling based group on one of the few fifth Sundays of the month during 2022.

We are pleased to announce that our award-winning Our Day Out project is offering in person activities from October - March next year!

The Our Day Out project is a programme of free, high-quality creative engagement activities for all older people, including those living with:

Early to mid-stage dementia
Other long-term health conditions
Limited mobility
Mental health conditions
Loneliness or isolation

Our Day Out focuses on providing music and movement-based activities for older people to improve wellbeing, decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness, and create new social connections by bringing people together. The programme has won a Royal Society for Public Health Award, is academically evaluated and produces statistically significant results.

We will be running sessions in Dereham, Watton, Attleborough, Thetford, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, South Wootton and Great Massingham twice a month.

If you would like to know the upcoming dates of any of our ‘Our Day Out’ groups above, then do not hesitate to email me.

Each of these sessions will be facilitated by professional artists - this month and next we are offering Egyptian dance workshops with Kay Wheatley!

We will endeavour to make all sessions as Covid-safe as possible and are following our own strict risk assessment policy.

We are looking forward to welcoming both existing participants and new faces to the in-person sessions.

If you can spread the word amongst your networks and signpost any potential participants who might like to attend, that would be most appreciated. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact our arts and health support worker via lauren@creativeartseast.co.uk / 07359 099950 or 01953 713390.

Alone and need to talk?

Crises like the Covid 19 virus often bring out the best in people and in Wretham a local woman is happy to lend a listening ear to those who are alone and feel the need to have someone to talk to.

Sue Brown, of Church Road says “I am in my seventies and am being asked not to go out and contact other people. I cannot simply do nothing and would be perfectly happy to have people call me for a chat if they are elderly, at home alone and need someone to talk to”.

“All they need to do is give me their number and I will call them so it will not cost them. I would quite happily sit and listen to whatever anyone wanted to say if it would help them keep contact with the world outside their home”.

She wonders whether there are others in the village willing to join in her kindly scheme since the over 70s are likely to be marooned in their homes, if they take Government advice, for anything up to the next three months.

If you are alone and want to talk- or if you would like your number made available so you can join Sue in reaching out to the lonely - then call her and speak or, if necessary, leave your name and number. Her number is 07515 69 59 48.