Saturday, September 10th 2011

The event, which is sponsored by James Wellbeloved and Acle Feed and Seed, is a fun day for all dog lovers and a great opportunity for local residents to demonstrate their pride in their dogs.

There are 11 categories in the Dog Show including best puppy, waggiest tail, best young handler, scruffiest mutt, prettiest bitch and most handsome male. It costs £1 to enter each category and all proceeds will go to FAITH Animal Rescue, The Dogs Trust and Canine Partners. There is no need to enter in advance, just bring your dog along on the day and join in the fun.

Other activities are terrier racing, doggy line dancing and face painting. The Dogs Trust, F.A.I.T.H Animal Rescue Centre and Canine Partners will all be at the show, along with doggy stalls.

Admission is £2 adults, £1 children (under 5 free) and dogs free. The Dog Show is being staged next to the main car park. There will be plenty of free parking.

10.45am best puppy

11.05am best senior dog

11.25am prettiest bitch (puppy to 5 years)

11.45am prettiest bitch (6+ years)

12.05pm handsome male (puppy to 5 years)

12.25pm handsome male (6+ years)

1.15pm best rescue

1.35pm best young handler

1.55pm waggiest tail

2.15pm scruffiest mutt

2.45pm best in show

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction, also signposted from Acle, tel. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.

The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), also open Wednesday and Thursday until 9pm to the end of August; free parking and free admission to tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. Admission: adult £5.50, concessions £5, child £3 (under 5 free).

There is wheelchair access to most of the garden, including the events area. Visitors requiring special facilities are advised to telephone in advance, mobility scooters available. Dogs are welcome on leads; small charge to cover poop scoop.

Winner, Sustainable Tourism Award, EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards 2009, Gold Award Green Tourism Business Scheme 2009, Highly Commended in the CPRE Norfolk Awards 2008 and winner of the Business Waste, best practice category in The Norfolk Waste Partnership Awards 2008.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is organic, only garden leaf soil, farmyard manure and the product of the annual dyke clearance are used as fertilisers. There are 30 species of tree, and more than 95 species of bird, 11 species of butterfly and six species of dragonfly have been recorded. The garden was created by the Second Lord Fairhaven from 1947 until his death in 1973. A charitable trust was then set up to care for the garden, and open it to visitors.