Playing field working party

by

At 9am on Tuesday morning just as the mists were clearing Ian, Noel, Keith, Martin and I gathered on the playing field to tackle the following tasks and necessary maintenance for the play equipment:

  • extend the balancing beam
  • replace the roof of the slide unit
  • patch a concrete path
  • clean the new bench.

The balancing beam has been extended with three additional wooden beams. You will remember that the beams came from the old swing set. Some rotten wood had to be cut away before we could begin shaping the beams to sit closely across one another, and then bolting them together to provide additional stability. Slots were cut in the beams for the support brackets. The brackets’ posts were securely concreted in the holes dug for the purpose. We have one more beam to attach and the job will be complete. We will then have a useful addition to the playing field equipment

The roof of the slide unit had become seriously rotten. So it was replaced with new wooden slats cut on-site and securely nailed into place. The ridge needs an additional piece to close a gap and protect the roof. This will be added soon.

The concrete approach path needed some localised repairs. So a bucket of concrete mix has been applied to provide a smoother surface for visitors to the playing field.

The rainbow bench needed a small amount of TLC. The birds had made their presence known and a scrubbing brush with a bucket of water soon restored the bench to its colourful glory.

Beams being fitted together and secured
Bolting the beams
New roof in place

We have not finished, our plans involve:

  • completing the puzzle that is identifying and applying for grants to help fund upgrading play equipment
  • once funding has been secured we will order the new swing set, a new picnic bench, and the replacement goal posts
  • on-going maintenance which includes cleaning, repairing and adjusting the existing play equipment.
  • battling with the rabbits – a never ending task to fill the holes they create.

There is plenty of work to be done and thanks to the current volunteers for their time and energy. If you wish to help ensure the playing field meets the play needs of our children and is a safe and restful place to be in, please contact Councillor Keith Morris.

Wellbeing Champions for Wreningham

by

The Mindful Towns and Villages project aims to increase the number of people within the community who have the knowledge and skills to be able to spot when someone may need support with their mental wellbeing, signposting them to supportive services as required. These people can be from community groups, small businesses, sport clubs or can be keen residents who care about the people around them. The more knowledge and confidence a community has to support mental health, the more resilient the community can become. The people trained are known as Wellbeing Champions.

Each town or village requires a minimum number of Wellbeing Champions to gain Mindful status. Wreningham requires 2 people to be trained to meet the status.

The next course is:

  • Title: Mental Health Awareness in the Community
  • Provider: South Norfolk and Broadland Council
  • Date: 18th November 2025
  • Time: 1-3pm (please arrive 10 minutes early)
  • Location: Bracon Ash and Hethel Village Hall. Hall Road, Norwich NR14

Mental Health Awareness in the Community Training

The training is 2 hours long with a break, and offers basic education about stress, different mental health conditions, why people may struggle and signs you may notice when someone is having a hard time. You will also learn how you might approach someone and start a conversation. Finally, you will learn about the Council’s Help Hub and other services that can offer support so you can effectively signpost. You will receive access to a private area on the Council’s website with further supporting website links and a supporting resource to use when having conversations.

If you are interested in booking a place, you can use the link: https://forms.office.com/e/tQasbwdFn9

They run this training monthly and move around locations between South Norfolk and Broadland. Next year’s dates will be on the booking form soon.

Any questions? Contact Emma Haughton, Mindful Towns And Villages Co-Ordinator
01603 430102 /  emma.haughton@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

NALF looking for volunteer members

by

The Norfolk Local Access Forum (NALF) is recruiting new members—and they’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in joining! They say it’s a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of countryside access in Norfolk and have asked us to share this opportunity with our community to help them reach as many potential applicants as possible from across the county.

The Forum is made up of up to 22 passionate volunteers representing a wide range of user groups – walking, cycling, horse riding, land management, conservation, tourism, health, education. Members may also have special interests, such as advocating for minority access, or supporting young families in getting outdoors. Members do not have to be specialists or employed in work relating to public access, but should be passionate and engaged.

NALF members provide independent advice to organisations like Norfolk County Council, working to improve access to Norfolk’s beautiful landscapes for everyone.

If you or someone you know is enthusiastic about the outdoors and eager to make a difference, they’d love to hear from you!

👉 Find out more and apply here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/nlaf and Get Involved!

Any questions? Feel free to email nlaf@norfolk.gov.uk 

🗓️ Deadline for applications: 14th July 2025

From Hannah Woodruff, Norfolk Local Access Forum Officer. Tel. 01603 224067

Volunteers for UEA Studies

by

The UEA Norwich Medical School wish to recruit older adults in the community for some studies. These studies are approved by the UEA and/or NHS ethics panels and focus on conditions like arthritis or stroke rehabilitation, as well as healthy volunteers. Please see the explanatory posters:

Over 60s

Over 70s

Any questions about these studies please feel free to contact:

Dr Donnie Cameron (Donnie.Cameron@uea.ac.uk)

Dr David Willis (yzh17dvu@uea.ac.uk)


Help still needed for Wreningham archaeology project this weekend

by

The Wreningham Community Archaeology Project got underway last night (August 7) with the digging of a test pit on the village playing field, led by local archaeologist Steve Hickling.

Old bricks fragments, pantiles, an iron nail and a fossil were among the items uncovered during the short dig.

A number of villagers took part in the digging and sifting training for the main event which is this coming Saturday, August 11, and it is still not too late for anyone to take part.

Villagers are invited to dig a 1m square pit in their garden, sift the soil layer by layer and pick out anything of interest for experts who will be on hand in the village hall to identify finds. You will then get a fascinating insight into the history of your house and land. Pits will be filled in afterwards.

The weekend will start at 10am when everyone will gather at the Village Hall for instructions and anyone who is interested in digging a pit or simply lending a hand (the more the merrier) to those who have already volunteered their gardens.

All the information gathered will be looked at by experts and form part of an official archaeological report. Becky Sillwood, a freelance finds (artefacts) expert will be on hand in the village hall on Saturday if anyone wants to show her anything they have found for identification.

There will be a barbecue for participants from 6pm onwards at the Village Hall social club, so please bring something to barbecue, and the bar will hopefully be open.

If you are interested you can simply turn up at 10am but if possible please contact steve.hickling@norfolk.gov.uk beforehand.

The Step-by-Step guide to digging an archaeological pit is here:
ACA field academy handbook 2011 final
and the test pit record booklet is here:
ACA test pit record b&w 2014

Pictured above are villagers during the test pit dig on Wreningham playing field last night.

Organising & Managing Volunteers

by

South Norfolk Council are running free information sessions to help residents make the most of skills  available within the community.  They call them “Pick ‘N’ Mix Bitesize Learning” and will be held on the last Thursday of every month, in different pubs across the district. There are 20 bookable places on each; contact volunteering@s-norfolk.gov.uk to book a place.

The first three sessions have been confirmed:

  1. How to get more volunteers, and keep them! – Thursday 28th September:  6:30pm – 9pm, The Old Feathers, Framingham Pigot
  2. How to set up a community group – Thursday 26th October:  6:30pm – 9pm, The Artichoke, Broome
  3. Funding options for community groups – Thursday 30th November:  6:30pm – 9pm, The Swan Hotel, Harleston

More information available from Jessica Ransome, Integrated Marketing Officer.
t 01508 533654 e jransome@s-norfolk.gov.uk  www.south-norfolk.gov.uk

Pick ‘n Mix_bitesize learning