Friends of Kett s Heights Newsletter - June 2016

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1 Friends of Kett s Heights Newsletter - June 2016 Historic wooded site with panoramic views The Friends of Kett s Heights have now been going for six months. So what s been achieved? We now have over 70 members with active groups undertaking practical works on site, planning events and publicity, fundraising and developing a long-term vision for Kett s Heights. The Friends of Kett s Heights want to restore the site to its former glory so that it is: A welcoming space for the local community and visitors to Norwich An attractive space with a wide diversity of plants and wildlife An event space with activities to suit a wide audience An educational space where its long and diverse history can be investigated and interpreted Highlights of the past 6 months The first major project took place on January 21st and involved the Friends who, working in partnership with Norwich City Council, spent the day vastly improving the vista from the main viewpoint. Four sacks of cans and bottles and a sack of other rubbish were also collected and removed from the slope. We were also delighted to be awarded a 500 Community Grant by Norwich City Council. The funding will be used for public consultation on our proposed vision and for practical and publicity work.

2 BBC Get Creative Day, 2 nd April Our first event was very well attended as 63 people were encouraged to explore their creativity in dazzling Spring sunshine. Sketching and creating sculpture from found materials were popular. Visitors were mainly from the Norwich area, although one came from North Norfolk. Check out our Gallery to see what people got up to. Our first public tour was held the next day on 3 rd April 32 people came along on another gloriously sunny afternoon and showed real interest in the history of Kett s Heights and the work of the Friends. We are holding regular tours on the first Sunday of each month. Subsequent tours attracted 53 and 30 people respectively with great feedback. It was great, thank you! Looking forward to a return visit. Glad you posted this - definitely somewhere I'll check out that I've never been to before. Fascinating tour of this little known but historically rich corner of the city. Learned so much and the views are stunning. The Friends are doing a great job; keep up the good work!

3 Future events A lively programme of events is planned for the summer in addition to our popular monthly tours on the first Sunday of the month. Medieval History tour with eminent historian and archaeologist, Brian Ayers, 25 th June Brian will lead a guided tour taking in the creation of the Cathedral Close and its relationship to Thorpe, looking at the development of the topography of the Close before moving, via Bishopsgate and Bishop s Bridge to Gas Hill and the monastic quarries. The tour will conclude on Kett s Heights where we can view the medieval St Michael s Chapel and survey the route we ve just taken from the best viewing point in Norwich. Bishop Bridge looking up Gas Hill to Kett s Heights The Common Lot presents Kett s Rebellion on Kett s Heights, Saturday July 9 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm Norwich-based theatre company, The Common Lot, is presenting 1549: The Story of Kett s Rebellion this summer. Opening at Heigham Park on June 24, the free outdoor spectacle will tour city venues and form part of the Lord Mayor s Celebration. The show will be performed on Kett s Heights, the site of Robert Kett s headquarters on 9 th July. The Common Lot have recently found national fame with their acclaimed performance of a Midsummer Night s Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company so we should be in for a treat. If weather conditions permit the beacon will be lit after the evening performance! 8 th - 11 th September The Friends will be leading tours of Kett s Heights during Heritage Open Days, starting from St Matthews Church, Telegraph Lane West. Additional activities will be available at the church including: Local history walks to complement the HODS events by the Thorpe Hamlet History Group Visit to the Water Tower Displays, hand-outs and publications by the Thorpe Hamlet History Group and the Friends of the Rosary Cemetery Slide shows on local history themes Reminiscence opportunities (tbc)

4 Practical work on site A key element of our activities is practical work to improve the site and make it more welcoming. This includes: sweeping paths clearing litter on a daily basis repairing walls cutting down dead trees in the orchard, removing crossing branches from trees that have begun to sprout new growth and collecting wood for the proposed lighting of the beacon on 9 th July after the Common Lot performance of Kett s Rebellion February saw the Friends and personnel from the Community Payback scheme clearing all the site's pathways stripping ivy from trees pruning and generally tidying up Other work to improve the appearance and function of Kett s Heights includes: painting the railings at the viewpoint removing graffiti from the benches planting suitable native species to create a more attractive screen around the piggeries clearing the pond and surrounding area clearing ground stumps/suckers to encourage grass cover and allow mowing on the upper green, removing ivy from a number of fruit and other trees to encourage growth and create views from the paths One path had completely collapsed and this has now been excavated and levelled, errant trees have been removed, and holly and hawthorn seedlings have been planted to create a hedge on the lower side. A complete list of achievements is available on our Recent Activity page.

5 Work in the pipeline Kett s Heights is packed with history from the medieval period to the 20 th century. The Friends are able to convey some of this through our tours and the website, but for the casual visitor there is little information available. We are in the process of restoring and updating the interpretation panels by creating a new panorama panel at the viewpoint. As funds allow we will update the introductory panel at the top of the entrance steps and install a Friends noticeboard at the entrance gate so that information about our activities is freely available. It was great, thank you! Looking forward to a return visit. The Friends are in discussion with nearby schools to see how Kett s Heights can help deliver the curriculum and engage pupils in activities that will benefit the local community. Creating a vision While all this activity is having a beneficial effect on Kett s Heights and visitor numbers, it is important to develop a longterm vision for the site which delivers benefits for the community and fits in with Norwich City Council s goals and aspirations for its green spaces. The Friends of Kett s Heights works closely with the City s Natural Environment Officer and Community Enablement Officer, and was pleased to host a visit by Cllr Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council. L to R: John Trevelyan, Cllr Alan Waters, Eamonn Burgess Thanks to our volunteers None of this activity would be possible without the active and unstinting support of our volunteers ranging from the Practical Works Group grappling with plant clearance and railings maintenance, to our excellent web manager, the architect who is creating our new panorama for the viewpoint, and the gardener who organises plant sales to raise funds for our activities. Members of the Publicity and Events sub-committee volunteer their time to lead tours, liaise with schools, write articles and support fundraising events in freezing conditions. We do this because we want Kett s Heights to be well cared for and serving the community as it has in the past. The Committee Mike Button (Treasurer & web editor) Doug Cross Steve Davis Peter Jennings (Secretary) Helen King Stef Partington Cavan Stewart (Vice Chair) John Trevelyan (Chair) Getting the word out The Friends of Kett s Heights are keen to raise awareness of this interesting and attractive open space and would be happy to visit other groups to make a presentation on the history of Kett s Heights and what the Friends are doing. Contact us through the website if you would like to request a presentation.