Stunning wetlands paradise gets official opening

A stunning new wetlands paradise in the heart of Norfolk is about to get its official launch.

South Norfolk Council in partnership with local schools and others has won international praise and support for its work in transforming a piece of wasteland behind industrial units on the outskirts of Diss into a wetlands haven.

After two years' work, the Council and its supporters are gathering together for a big launch event on Saturday June 3.

Frenze Beck is about to become a magnificent resource for school children and for visitors as well as a wonder world for wildlife.

As an environment project, it has won special praise from leaders of a European Consortium called Trans Ecological Networks (TENS), who have helped part fund the work.

Council Countryside Ranger Steve Hammond has led the project. He said:

"Representatives from the consortium visited recently and were stunned at the transformation. They were very impressed with the partners we had involved too and I want to say a special thank you to everyone involved, including the owners of the businesses right next door. They have shown that business and the environment can live together in ecological harmony."

Among the many partners brought in by the Council were:

- Bungay High School pupils who helped build a bridge and plant trees

- The Upper Waveney Valley Project which planted hedging

- The Environment Agency which reprofiled the banks of the pond and ditches and much else besides

- Norfolk Wildlife Trust which gave invaluable advice and guidance

- Easton College which provided volunteer work experience students

- And Diss Infants and Nursery Community School - who responded magnificently to the Council's idea of an arts project (See separate News Release: Pupils Explore the Art of Frenze Beck).

Council Leader Vivienne Clifford-Jackson and new Diss Mayor Brian Clark-Taylor will help cut the launch ribbon with two children from Diss Infants and Nursery school, who have been involved with the arts project.

Councillor Clifford-Jackson said:

"Projects like Frenze Beck show what we can achieve when the Council gets together with local schools and others to create something really beautiful out of almost nothing. Thanks to this fantastic effort, we now have a little bit of paradise in Norfolk, which will be loved by children and visitors for years to come."

The new Mayor of Diss Councillor Brian Clark-Taylor said:

"This is a wonderful scheme and a great asset for the town, which fits in very well with our Cittaslow status. We are looking forward to having many more environmental projects supported in the future."

Launch day will also be a big day for families. Children will be entertained by the Nutmeg Puppet Theatre, helping children make wild puppets. Community artists Carole Reich and Charlotte Howarth, who inspired the children from Diss Infants and Nursery School, will be leading a print making workshop, and their work in the school will be on display.

Norwich Fringe Project will be working with the South Norfolk Countryside Team on bird and bat box making, mini-beast hunts, pond dipping and guided walks.

Steve Hammond said:

"It's been an extraordinary experience. We have turned a piece of unpromising waste ground, which was ignored and overrun with weeds, into something very special indeed."

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