Staff at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham have been given eight new bird boxes for the garden, made by a team of four patients at Rowan House, Buxton during woodwork sessions.

Their woodwork instructor, Mike Church, is a South Walsham resident and knew that the garden would be the perfect home for the bird boxes.

Photographed: Rowan House instructor John Neville, Fairhaven Head Gardener, Ian Guest, Rowan House instructor, Mike Church and Fairhaven Garden Manager, Louise Rout with some of the bird boxes


Mike Church said: “We bring patients to Fairhaven quite regularly. It is such a beautiful, peaceful place to visit. Our patients will get a great buzz when they come back and see their bird boxes in place – ownership of a project is so important to them.”

Ian Guest, Fairhaven Head Gardener said: “The bird boxes are a welcome addition to our facilities, as we are very keen to continue improving the garden for birds. To date more than 95 bird species have been recorded here. I would like to thanks Mike and his team for their support and hope to work with them on other projects in future.”

Rowan House is a secure hospital run by Care Principles for adults with learning or developmental disorders and challenging behaviour.

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is at South Walsham, nine miles east of Norwich, signposted off A47 at B1140 junction.

The garden is open daily all year, 10am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day), also open until 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday until the end of August. There is a tearoom, gift shop and plant sales. Boat trips round Fairhaven Private Broad and South Walsham Broad and to St Benet’s Abbey on the ‘Primrose’, additional charge.

Tel. 01603 270449/270683
www.fairhavengarden.co.uk