Norfolk Way Art Trail: An experience to stir the senses

The benefits of getting out and about in nature are well documented: health, well-being, release of endorphins, the list grows ever longer. Now, outdoor explorers in Norfolk can add cultural appreciation and enjoyment to that long list of benefits.

Combining multi-sensory, innovative and accessible public art works, the Norfolk Way Art Trail, which launches early this year, will be 250 miles of discovery and inspiration.

From the colourful and mesmerising sculptural work at Diss, which celebrates life on and around the Mere and River Waveney, to the clever use of glass and mirrors to provide atmospheric photo opportunities for all people passing by at Honing, the art works are a showcase and celebration of the environment within which they are set.

Lindsay Gardner is the Experience Project Officer for Norfolk County Council and here she explains just what adventurers can discover as they travel around this innovative alignment of art and the great outdoors.

The Norfolk Way Art Trail is an exciting new art trail for the public spanning 250 miles across Norfolk.

It features multi-sensory, accessible public artworks that will engage local communities, reveal hidden stories, and inspire visitors to explore the county.

Five to watch for Norfolk County Council’s Experience project has commissioned the trail, which sees five site-specific artworks installed in locations across Norfolk, with support from Norwich Business Improvement District for the two Norwich installations.

The Norfolk Way Art Trail’s five artworks are: Flock at Diss Mere; Iron Reef at Reedham Ferry Inn; Interval at Eastbourne Place in Norwich; Flint at Norwich Arts Centre; and Honing Passage, near Honing Station.

The Flock concept by toyStudio for Diss Mere is inspired by the flocking behaviour of birds in flight, schools of fish and the swarms of eels which are synonymous with the Mere and the nearby River Waveney. The sculpture’s form responds directly to the Mere, evoking its mysterious depth. Stories from the local community are imprinted on the sculpture and curated into a poem by local poet Belona Greenwood.

Among the reeds

At Reedham Ferry Inn, the design agency Maetherea modelled the Iron Reef as a landmark between the reeds, complementing the surrounding scenery. Iron Reef is inspired by the nautical heritage of Reedham Ferry and is designed to interact with the landscape. The tides and the river’s currents will modify the material over

All year activities: time, changing colour and tones with the passing seasons. The vertical elements gently undulate, echoing the reeds on the horizon, inviting visitors to contemplate the seasons changes on the River Yare. Winter tides mirror the artwork, vanishing the line between the land and the water.

Interval is a playful light sculpture that uses layers, repetition and rhythm to reflect on the passage of time in Norwich. Inspired by the large sycamore and beech trees found at Eastbourne Place, the sculpture is an abstraction of tree rings (or annual rings) that visualise the passage of time over the course of a tree’s life. QR codes embedded into many of the upright elements enable people to access carefully curated short form audio insights on culture, diversity and creativity of Norwich.

Flint is inspired by the rich history of Norwich’s beautiful buildings and medieval streets, referencing elements which speak to the local history and heritage of the wider area. Flint is formed of a collec- tion of mirrored totems placed around the grounds of the Norwich Arts Centre. Their shapes are inspired by the organic forms of the flint walls, which not only form the Church of St Swithin, but are an inescapable and indelible part of the history and landscape of Norfolk.

Going Dutch

Dutch designer Studio Sabine Marcelis created Honing Passage to be a unique place for the community to interact, reflect, and enjoy nature. It embraces the beauty of the local landscape along the Weaver’s Way at Honing Station. The installation is designed to be activated by the seasons, offering a new way to look at the natural site and its ever-changing state. Its vibrant colours are taken from photographs of the area by members of the community and offer a great contrast with the site, especially during the winter season.

The Norfolk Way Art Trail will be installed from March – June 2023. Further information can be found on BeNorfolk.co.uk.

Experience is led by Norfolk County Council and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Seasonal activities:

North Norfolk Safaris

Explore and observe the natural habitat of North Norfolk by classic Land Rover with renowned filmmaker and director Martin Hayward Smith. www.northnorfolksafaris.co.uk @north_norfolk_safaris v

Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Broads National Park

Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Norfolk Coast Path

Broads National Park

Norfolk Trail Route

Rebellion Way Cycle Route

Norfolk Coast Path

Norfolk Trail Route

Rebellion Way Cycle Route

Railway

Steam Railway

North Norfolk’s largest antiques & interiors centre.

Open

Gooderstone Water Gardens

What could be nicer than to stroll through an enchanting garden, explore the nature trail, perhaps spot a kingfisher and enjoy delicious homemade cakes?

NORFOLK COAST GUARDIAN 2024

To advertise call 01502 725865

Norfolk sea larder

Present

HERITAGE RAILWAYS

North Norfolk Railway (The Poppy Line) The Station, Sheringham.

T: 01263 820800 W: nnrailway.co.uk

A full size steam and diesel railway by the sea with stations at Sheringham, Weybourne & Holt. Wells & Walsingham Light Railway Stiffkey Rd, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1QB

T: 01328 711630

W: wwlr.co.uk

The longest 101/4” gauge railway in the world. Open April 6 - October 28.

Bure Valley Railway Norwich Rd, Aylsham & Coltishall Rd, Wroxham.

T: 01263 733858 W: bvrw.co.uk

East Anglia’s longest narrow gauge railway mainly operated by steam locomotives. Open weekends through March and every day from April - October.

Buses To The Coast

The Norfolk coast is easily accessed by public transport and we encourage this, rather than using cars. Why not get off the bus at a new spot to explore?

The coastal bus service is now a joint operation between Lynx buses, operating between King’s Lynn and Wells, and Sanders Coaches, operating between Wells and Cromer.

To plan journeys, check timetables and explore more information on the different routes available, find out more on at www.lynxbus.co.uk or www.sanderscoaches.com/timetables

Sanders’ Coasthopper serves a huge stretch of coastline, between North Walsham and Wells. Hop on and off the bus to explore different stretches. The buses run half hourly from May 1st until October 31st 2023.

For general public transport information, help with planning your journey and for the latest service information, visit the Traveline website at www.traveline.info

Please check individual timetables for bus times and stops before travelling.