The Mannington Book Bash, a boutique literary festival in the heart of North Norfolk, will take place from 25–27 September, curated by the multi-award-winning independent bookshop, The Book Hive. 

A rollicking weekend of unforgettable events with world-class writers, it has quickly become one of the UK’s most cherished literary gatherings, famous for its relaxed, intimate, inspiring atmosphere.

Set in the breathtaking gardens and historic grounds of Mannington Hall, complete with sweeping lawns, ancient trees and even a moat, this festival is an unbeatable autumn celebration of stories, ideas and imagination. 

Immerse yourself in a stellar line-up of writers, poets, historians, performers and thinkers against the backdrop of one of East Anglia’s most enchanting venues.

Open Friday 4–7.30 pm, Saturday 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.

For enquiries, tel: 01263 493275 or email: info@mannington.co.uk

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Victoria Osborne (pictured), co-founder and managing director of Reepham-based L V Bespoke, has been appointed as a Norfolk Ambassador by the Norfolk Business Board.

The Norfolk Ambassadors programme brings together influential business leaders from across the county who are passionate about championing Norfolk as a place to live, work, invest and do business.

Ambassadors play an active role in promoting opportunities across the region, supporting collaboration and helping showcase the innovation and talent that exists within Norfolk’s thriving business community.

Ms Osborne joins the network at an exciting time for both L V Bespoke and the county, with the business continuing to experience significant growth within the horticultural and lifestyle sectors.

The company specialises in premium decorative metalwork, licensed garden products and bespoke retail display solutions, supplying leading organisations including the National Trust, Hillier Garden Centres, Blue Diamond Garden Centres and British Garden Centres.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Osborne said: “I am incredibly proud to have been invited to become a Norfolk Ambassador. Norfolk has always been at the heart of everything we do at L V Bespoke and I am passionate about championing the county as a fantastic place to live, work and grow a business.

“We are fortunate to have an incredible network of innovative businesses, talented individuals and supportive organisations across Norfolk. I look forward to working alongside fellow ambassadors to help promote opportunities, encourage collaboration and showcase the exceptional businesses that call Norfolk home.”

Ms Osborne’s appointment further strengthens her growing influence within both the regional and national business communities. Earlier this year, she was appointed to the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) council, helping shape the future direction of the UK garden industry.

The company was recently recognised as a GIMA Sustainability Champion and continues to expand its national presence through new product development, strategic partnerships and the introduction of a UK-wide sales network.

Through her role as a Norfolk Ambassador, Ms Osborne hopes to inspire collaboration between businesses, support future talent and continue promoting Norfolk manufacturing and entrepreneurship on both a regional and national stage.

See our earlier stories:
Local business leader joins national garden industry council
L V Bespoke named Broadland Small Business of the Year
Metalwork business celebrates awards triumph

Photos: L V Bespoke

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Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in partnership with Norfolk County Council are working with the local community to develop the Reepham Quietway.

A public drop-in engagement session will be held at the Bircham Centre, Market Place, Reepham, on Thursday 9 July from 2–6.30 pm.

This Co-Design Workshop follows a Discover workshop held in March, where people shared their issues and experiences.

Reepham residents are now invited to help shape proposals for the route.

What to expect:

• Interactive materials to help design solutions
• Design ideas based on experiences and issues of the route gathered through engagement so far
• Maps and plans of the area
• Inspiration and examples of quietways and quiet lanes from other areas.

For further information, email: eastquietways@walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk or visit: https://communitymap.uk/project/261

Pictured above: Local information about the proposed route and wider area was captured at the Discover drop-in event in March. Photo: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

The post Have your say about Whitwell Road and School Road appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

I have read in today’s Eastern Daily Press that the application to expand the Whitwell Station campsite by adding a small number of static caravans has been turned down again, with one of the excuses being the track to the campsite being too narrow and Whitwell Road also being too narrow to cope with the additional traffic generated which with five caravans if fully occupied would probably be no more than 10 vehicle movements a day.

There will be far more traffic using Whitwell Road generated by the new housing development off Broomhill Lane but the planners didn’t object to that.

Two hundred yards of unmade road is nothing compared with the two miles of rough track leading to one campsite I visit in Yorkshire.

Every few days there are reports in the EDP about small housing developments or small business expansions being turned down by local planning departments for the most dubious of reasons, whereas they seem quite happy to permit larger developments or massive solar farms.

Bryan Gostling, Bircham Road, Reepham

Cartoon by The Norfolk Needler

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The post Local traffic restrictions and roadworks from 22 June appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

By Victoria Plum

Barely a spare seat in the town hall and many “oohs and aahs” from the appreciative Reepham & District Gardening Club audience for Andrew Sankey’s talk on making a cottage garden, with plenty of before-and-after photos.

Five years ago he moved to a new (oldish) garden in Norwich and on clearing all the overgrown shrubs and carefully evaluating possibilities had a clean slate to work on.

Two silver birches had conservation orders on them. There were problems (things don’t always go to plan where nature is involved), but it all seemed to come together effectively. He gave us a good plant list, too.

He made a new horizontal slat fence on one side, allowing you to see through it to a “borrowed view”, and also allowing climbers to climb up and through without having to put up wires. He favours a neutral fence colour (silver birch in this case) to show off foliage and flower colour to best advantage.

And if you have cause to get rid of nits, try drying the seeds from spindle, a useful, small garden tree, and put the powder in your hair; Mr Sankey assured us that it does work.

My new favourite book is No Nettles Required by plant ecologist Ken Thompson. The book is brimful of sensible, intelligent and researched information about nature in your garden.

He suggests that trees in our gardens are vital for attracting more insects, and you need as many elements of the food chain as you can to enrich variety and scope of wildlife.

Most interestingly (although I’m still less than halfway through the book), he mentions that although some insects require a specific plant, in the main all those tiny things that we need to encourage haven’t read the same plant lists, or books, as us, and are not that fussy about where they live or feed. The important thing is to have a variety of plant life, and they are likely to find somewhere to make themselves at home.

These plants don’t have to be “natives” but a variety of flower types, and the longest season you can organise, from Mahonia in the spring to ivy in the winter. And regarding “natives” it seems that not many are.

Hollyhock, that quintessentially English cottage garden flower, was apparently brought back from the Crusades for its medicinal qualities. I strove to grow it in my garden but have now got to the stage where I must be brutal and remove a number; it has made itself too much at home.

This year my opium poppies have been spectacular and with no effort from me. Apparently, our climate is not conducive to a useful crop, so I just use the little black savoury seeds to put on my bread. I make sure I throw the seed pods around when I clear up, an investment for next year. The colour mix and range of singles, doubles and in-between flower types varies each year.

All welcome at the next gardening club meeting so please bring your gardening friends to Reepham Town Hall, Church Street, on Tuesday 21 July at 7.30 pm to hear the wonderful Ian Bedford tell us about companion planting.

Stop press

In the news today, publicity about the dangers of spot-on flea and tick treatment for dogs and cats, which I mentioned in this column some years ago. It has been known since 2017 that fipronil and imidacloprid are both hugely dangerous for waterways, bees and insects and now an acknowledgement that they are oversold by vets as a preventative when they should only be used when necessary.

Above: Opium poppy. Photo: Tina Sutton

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Royal Mail has replaced a stolen post box in Guestwick, restoring a service that went missing for a year after two boxes were taken in the space of two years, the most recent theft occurring in early 2025.

The village, home to around 200 residents, now has a functioning collection point once more, easing access for locals and nearby businesses.

Read the EDP story HERE.

Pictured above:
Left: The stolen Victorian post box on Reepham Road, Guestwick, in October 2024. Photo: J Thomas/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Right: The new post box installed by Royal Mail. Photo: Councillor Dave Thomas

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The post Local traffic restrictions and roadworks from 15 June appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Two members of Reepham WI have completed the East Anglian Air Ambulance’s Trek 24 fundraising challenge.

Joy Pickering and Rosie Humphrey took part in the event on Saturday 6 June, walking the route along the Norfolk coast despite periods of poor weather.

The annual challenge raises money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which relies heavily on public donations to support its operations across the region.

An online donation page for Joy and Rosie remains open for anyone wishing to support their fundraising effort.

Photo: East Anglian Air Ambulance

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Holt Road, Haveringland
15 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)
Responsibility for works: Openreach
Works reference: BC008OGEAA4173486TWSB

The Heath, Haveringland
15 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Openreach
Works reference: BC008OGEAA4173486RCSB

Crow Hill, Wood Dalling
15 June – 17 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Road closure
Responsibility for works: Norfolk County Council
Works reference: HU8012398KISC

Fakenham Road, Great Witchingham
16 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water Business (National)
Works reference: AD03068124234

Heydon Road, Heydon
16 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Traffic control (Stop/Go boards)
Responsibility for works: Openreach
Works reference: BC411NL001WGNR401P

Norwich Road, Weston Longville
16 June
Roadworks, Delays likely
Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water Business (National)
Works reference: AD01468079146

Bartle Court, Reepham
16 June – 18 June
Roadworks, Delays unlikely
Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion
Responsibility for works: Openreach
Works reference: BC337-WH2PC79M-HDL

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