It was a pleasure to welcome local South Norfolk councillor Jack Hornby to Parliament yesterday to discuss sustainable transport and the work we are overseeing with the Leader of South Norfolk Council, Cllr John Fuller, and Jack’s fellow South Norfolk councillors in Wymondham to improve Wymondham Station (particularly access to Platform 2), boost the town’s Friday Market and High Street, and promote bike, walking and bus routes.

Following the recent Housing Summit with CPRE Norfolk, I was pleased to attend the mini-conference at Attleborough Town Council with them and others, for the launch of the Norfolk Association of Local Council’s: ‘Upping Our Game’.

This is a well-being initiative for Town and Parish Councils to improve their cooperation in working together to achieve better outcomes in Norfolk: including environment, connectivity and rural renaissance initiatives.

I was pleased to attend the event, which brought together representatives of over 50 town and parish councils in Norfolk, and to talk about the work I am already doing on this through The Norfolk Way – the not-for-profit social enterprise I founded with local businesses to promote a vibrant rural economy and enterprise here in Mid Norfolk.

I look forward to following the progress of the initiative in the coming weeks and months ahead.

I was pleased to visit Ashleigh Primary School this past Friday, along with representatives of Wymondham in Bloom to present the Anglia in Bloom trophy for ‘Best Young People’s Project’ (under 12s) to the Head Boy and Head Girl.

The Ashleigh School’s ‘Farm’ was awarded the trophy from the Anglia in Bloom judges. The farm is a multi-faceted learning environment used by classes in all age groups and subjects. It is well supported by school staff, parents and community volunteers with judges remarking that the farm sets a prime example of how best to do a gardening project in an educational setting.

Not only do the pupils at Ashleigh Primary learn about plants in the farm, they also have the opportunity to interact with animals as well. They help look after chickens, orphaned lambs, rabbits and have even recently added tortoises. The combination of growing fruits and vegetables with caring for livestock helps the children to understand where food comes from and the life lessons associated with it.

This was one of three trophies awarded to Wymondham at the Anglia in Bloom 2019 awards. The others were for ‘Best Commercial Area’, awarded to the High Street/Market Street, and ‘Best New Entry’.

It was great to meet the brilliant pupils and staff of Ashleigh Primary School, and see the facilities available. Congratulation to them.

Congratulations, also, to the brilliant Wymondham in Bloom team for a successful first year in entering Anglia in Bloom. If you would like to be involved in the 2020 entry for Wymondham in bloom or help out, do contact them at: wymbloom@gmail.com