Annual flower festival gets off to a blooming good start
An flower-filled umbrella at St Andrew's Church flower festival, which features arrangements on the theme of 'The Gift of Water'.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
A four-day flower festival with a history stretching back more than 50 years welcomed nearly 700 visitors on its opening day, with a total of around 3,000 expected to turn out to see spectacular arrangements put together by flower club members from all over Norfolk.
The event, at St Andrew's Methodist Church, Sheringham, was first held to raise funds for the building of the Cromer Road church, which, in 1968, replaced Methodist chapels in Beeston Road and Station Road.
It has since grown year on year, attracting visitors from as far afield as Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and raising upwards of £10,000 a year for church funds and local charities.
This year's theme, 'The Gift of Water' was the idea of church secretary Rosa West, who has been involved in the festival for nearly 40 years.
"I think so many people come because we have gained a reputation for stunning arrangements," she said. "The church always looks completely full of flowers and our arrangers depict the themes so well."
The festival runs from 10am-5pm (Sunday 12pm-5pm) at St Andrew's Methodist Church, Cromer Road, until Sunday.
A plant sale will run outside the church and refreshments, including light lunches, will be available in the church cafeteria until 4pm daily.
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Proceeds from the festival will go to church funds, with donations to the Stable Door Housing Trust and WaterAid UK.