Saturday, September 11th 2010

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham is staging its first Dog Show on Saturday, September 11th from 10.30am to 4pm.

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

There are 10 categories in the Dog Show including best puppy, waggiest tail, best trick, scruffiest mutt, prettiest bitch and most handsome male. It costs 50p to enter each category and all proceeds will go to local rescue centres. 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 dancing with Barbara and Snooker, agility displays, behaviour advice and children’s entertainment. The Dogs Trust, F.A.I.T.H Animal Rescue Centre and Pets as Therapy will all be at the show, along with doggy stalls and a pet photographer.

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

Full List of Dog Show Categories

11am best senior dog (over seven)

11.20am best puppy (under one)

11.40am waggiest tail

12noon best trick

1pm best rescue

1.20pm prettiest bitch

1.40pm handsome male

2pm scruffiest mutt

2.30pm best in show

3.15pm awards presentation

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, concessions £4.50, child £2.50 (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.

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.