The Farthings Drop-in, 20th January 2025

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Thanks to Hughie, Mick, Sue, Liz, Mike, Karen and Jean at the village hall today. They set up (and took down) the Farthings’ documentation; served tea, coffee & bisuits; explained the presentations; and answered questions from those who dropped by.

The Drop In was an opportunity for villagers to examine all the documentation in one place and to see the definition of The Farthings at the point of transfer to community ownership. We have come a long way but the negotiations are not yet complete. The documents on view form part of the S106 agreement (being drawn up by solicitors) which will be ratified by South Norfolk Council, FWP Ltd and Wreningham Parish Council. These will be discussed, agreed and finalised over the next few weeks.

Available for inspection at the Drop In were:

  • Specification for Community Owned Land
  • A large plan view of the site
  • A Rossi Long produced surface water management scheme
  • List of community projects
  • Commuted sum calculations (this is designed to cover the annual running costs of The Farthings)
  • Logo art work.

We thank the visitors for their interest in the project; for closely examining the documentation; for re-stating their support for the project; and for their intent to help out when the time comes for hands-on activity. Two District Councillors attended and were complimentary about depth and breadth of the work of the Working Group; they expect this to be a successful project; it has their support and they look forward to it developing into a well-loved Wreningham site in the years to come.

The Farthings tab in the main menu, will be updated with additional information as it comes available. If you wish to be included in the email list please contact wren.farthings@gmail.com.

Big Litter Pick helps tidy up Wreningham

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More than a dozen or so enthusiastic volunteer litter pickers helped to tidy-up Wreningham, Top Row and Penny Green as part of the Big South Norfolk Litter Pick on Sunday April 21.

The volunteers spread out from the Village Hall to clean verges, paths, playing fields and other public locations across the Wreningham Parish Council area.

The effort was part of the annual Big South Norfolk Litter Pick, organised by South Norfolk Council, who lent equipment for the event.

Volunteers enjoyed cakes and a free drink courtesy of the Witch & Wren Social Club.

If you would like to litter pick in Wreningham, equipment can be loaned at any time from members of Wreningham Parish Council.

Please contact Cllr Keith Morris at keith.morris@networknorwich.co.uk for details or ring 01508 488318.

Pictured above are some of the volunteer litter pickers outside Wreningham Village Hall.

Please join the Big Litter Pick to tidy up Wreningham

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Please help us to tidy up litter in Wreningham, Top Row and Penny’s Green by joining the Big South Norfolk Litter Pick on Sunday April 21, at 2pm.

Volunteers are needed to help us keep our lovely village tidy by taking part in South Norfolk’s Big Litter Pick 2024.

We will provide litter pickers, bags and holders and high-vis jackets (you can bring your own). You just need to bring yourself and, ideally, some gardening gloves or similar.

We will start at 2pm in the Witch & Wren bar at the Village Hall and finish off with a free first drink from the bar and cake in the Social Club from 3.30pm onwards.

If you have any queries, or to confirm you are coming, please email Keith Morris at keith.morris@networknorwich.co.uk, or ring 01508 488318 – but you can just turn up. If you are happy to bring a cake please let Keith know.

Defibrillator now available

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Update 9 Jan 2023: The Defibrillator has re-appeared in its housing on the Hall wall – sans the torch. It is unaffected by its disappearance and is ready for duty.

5 Jan 2023: The Defibrillator (with its mechanical torch) are no longer in the housing attached to the Village Hall wall facing the larger car park. It is the only one in the village and is unavailable for any emergency.

We are assuming that it is has been deployed for use by someone in the village. Which is what it is there for. However it needs to be returned and made ready for service.

The Ambulance Service has not yet replied to a request to confirm its deployment. If you know where it is please contact me or the Parish Clerk so that we can arrange for its reinstatement with new supplies.

Warm Space & a film

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Join us at Wreningham cinema

We are planning to hold an afternoon film show, on the last Wednesday of the month during the winter (except December 28th), in Wreningham Village Hall as our contribution to the “warm space” scheme. A chance for you to turn down the heating at home and join us for a film and hot drink.

Our license will not allow us to advertise the title of the film but on Wed. 30th November at 2 pm we will be showing – “a true story about a crane operator who gained entry to the 1976 Golf open, despite never having played any golf”. Reviews: “An uproarious comedy” “Made me cry with laughter”. There is no charge to see the film, but an optional donation towards the refreshments would be appreciated.

Run by The Upper Tas Valley Benefice and open to anybody in our parishes, whether or not they attend our churches.

Book a Lunch

If you live alone or are struggling to make ends meet we will be offering a warm lunch at 1 pm before the film but this needs to be booked in advance. Contact Christine Minns for details if you are interested or if you know of somebody else who might be. Tel: 01508 488123

Transport

We will try to organise transport for the less able or non-car owners. Please let Christine know if you will require transport.

New! The Wreningham Heritage website

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The Wreningham Heritage Group is delighted to unveil its new website at www.wreninghamheritage.uk. The site builds on material seen in the 2021 Wreningham Heritage Group exhibition and adds a lot more – over 60 pages of heritage news, pictures, audio, stories, etc.

The website tells the story of our village together with the stories of those who helped shape it. There are audio clips from present-day villagers who will tell you how the village was in their early days!

The Heritage Group has many sources of heritage information, including most importantly the villagers. Your story, backed by documents and artefacts, can add immensely to that of Wreningham and your fellow villagers.

You are invited to attend their meetings in the Village Hall, usually every two months, to see and talk about your village’s heritage and to bring anything which adds to the story of Wreningham and its people. Meeting dates will be posted on this site, the village website and in the Mardle. 

The group is keen to have a site which is dynamic and grows into new areas over time. For example, they are currently experimenting with a “Look-up” service to enable villagers raise questions about their local ancestors etc. See the Contact page for more information.

Big Litter Pick helps tidy up Wreningham

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A dozen or so enthusiastic volunteer litter pickers helped to tidy-up Wreningham, Top Row and Penny Green as part of the Big South Norfolk Litter Pick on Sunday May 15.

The volunteers spread out from the Village Hall to clean verges, paths, playing fields and other public locations across the Wreningham Parish area.

Items including windscreen wipers, clothes, lots of tin cans, plastic and glass bottles and sweet wrappers.

The effort was part of the annual Big South Norfolk Litter Pick, organised by South Norfolk Council, who lent equipment for the event.

If you would like to litter pick in Wreningham, equipment can be loaned at any time from members of Wreningham Parish Council.

Please contact Cllr Keith Morris at keith.morris@networknorwich.co.uk for details or ring 01508 488318.

Pictured above are some of the volunteer litter pickers outside Wreningham Village Hall.

Wreningham food heritage exhibition draws crowds

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On Saturday May 7, Wreningham Heritage Group were pleased to welcome the Stowmarket-based Food Museum to the village hall with their touring exhibition. Jean Lambourne reports.

The exhibition focused on two subjects – firstly on the discovery of traditional recipes of the region – they had many on display and were asking for new contributions from visitors who may have been handed down a family favourite.

The second aspect of the tour is in co-operation with Leeds University, on a long-running project starting in the 1950s to identify the many dialect words in the English language. One of their original recordings, which we were able to hear, was of members of the Clark and Brown families in Ashwellthorpe. Where possible they are finding current family members to record their memories. There were some priceless examples to be read and listened to and, again, visitors were encouraged to contribute their own words.

The Wreningham Heritage Group contribution to the day was a reprise of our farming history as seen at WHG’s October exhibition, together with new details of the history of our village shop. We also provided much appreciated refreshments.

Eighty visitors, one from as far afield as Norwich and others from Tacolneston, Ashwellthorpe and Fundenhall, enjoyed a very sociable gathering whilst, hopefully, learning something about our shared past.

The Museum staff were delighted with their day and kindly extended an invitation to WHG to visit them as guests on a day to be arranged this summer.

All residents of Wreningham are welcome to attend our meetings, which are advertised in the Mardle and other media.