Page 6 - Hunstanton Town & Around - September 2013
P. 6
6 Hunstanton Town & Around September 2013 Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net
Roadside Nature Reserves Tim Hall
Grant Rundle MCGI FInstLM
Community & External Funding Officer Having been painting for fifteen years professionally, Tim's passion
Norfolk’s roadside verges stretch moved around the countryside. for his beloved Norfolk grows stronger every year. This passion has
for thousands of miles and are such Hand-scything continued in some spilled over the border into Suffolk and Essex, as these beautiful
an integral part of the landscape that places until the end of the 1950’s, counties hold many potential vistas yet to be painted, although Tim
it is easy to take them for granted. with the cuttings raked up and used has produced some Suffolk watercolours and oil paintings from his
Yet many verges contain plant for hay. This form of management visits to Snape and Aldeburgh.
species that, although once produced the species-rich grassland Having just completed his thirteenth annual solo exhibition at
common, are now nationally rare or that still exists on some verges Brancaster Staithe, Tim is still amazed at the diverse beaches that East
scarce. To help to protect them, today. As a result, roadside verges Anglia has to offer, with their stunning expanse and light. He tries to
these special sites are designated are among the few remaining places capture that in his work, for painting is not about what you see but
Roadside Nature Reserves (RNR’s) where plants that were once rather how you feel about the subject you view. Such is the diversity
under the Roadside Nature Reserve common can still be seen growing of our beaches here in Norfolk, from the stripes in the cliffs at
Scheme, and are individually in the wild. Hunstanton to the pebbles at Sheringham, the white and red striped
managed to benefit the plants and The scheme was launched in the iconic lighthouse at Happisburgh to the dunes of Waxham onto the
animals that live there. mid-1990’s, and is run jointly by golden sands of Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and beyond - how lucky
Many roadside verges are very Norfolk County Council and May we are to have this.
old, lining routes that have changed Gurney. There are currently 111 Tim's approach to painting is to just go out and let the ideas to paint
little since they were laid down RNR’s in Norfolk, with a combined come to him. Music plays an integral part in his inspiration, that is
centuries ago. These verges length of over 15kms, and new listening to, not playing, as the only note Tim can handle is a ten pound
represent tiny fragments of the verges are designated each year. one!
unimproved, semi-natural grassland If you know of a special roadside With further exhibitions to come, Tim doesn't yet know what he will
that was once widespread verge with high biodiversity worthy produce - that is the wonder of just letting the stunning beauty of East
throughout the country, but which of being designated as a Roadside Anglia unfold before you.
has declined by 98% since 1945, as Nature Reserve, contact Norfolk www.tim-hall.co.uk
a result of changes of land use, County Council’s Biodiversity and
intensive cultivation and drainage. Countryside team on 0344 800
In the past, road verges were 8020 or go to www.norfolk.gov.uk
cropped for hay, or grazed by to find out more.
domestic livestock as they were
Thursday 26th Sept – 7.30pm
The West Norfolk members’ group invites you to
an illustrated talk by Sivi Sivanesan
of Froglife on Amphibians
Find out how to identify British amphibians and manage your pond.
Venue: Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall, Austin Street
Cost: £2.00 members / £2.50 visitors
Hunstanton Methodist Church
(at the top of Austin Street)
Each Sunday morning we
meet at 10.30am for
family-friendly worship
Come and join us
5th/6th October –
Good Heavens!
Exhibition, talk, supper
and Harvest Praise
www.hunstantonmethodistchurch.org.uk If you go down to the woods today by Tim Hall