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From 20 July - 3 Sept, enjoy plenty of farm-focused fun and activities all about 2024 temporary exhibition, 'Making the Rounds: stories of workhouse nurses told in textiles'. Kick off the holidays with Haymaking Week (22-28 July), celebrating haymaking, wildflowers and cereal crops, including a special scything day at the wildflower meadow on 24 July. Join us for Go Wild Wednesdays, when families with younger children can enjoy extra activities and play stations across the site (24 & 31 July, 7, 14, 21 & 28 August), including: Storytime & Gallery Exploration at 11-11:45am, recommended for under 5s Woodland Wednesdays at 1-3pm, recommended for children under 12 Older families might love Sunlit Sundays (4 & 18 August), with art- and nature-focused activities inspired by sister site Norwich Castle's temporary exhibition 'Sunlight: Roger Ackling'. Making the Rounds: Meet the Nurses tours, Relaxed Early Bird Openings and Visiteering sessions are also running (see separate page
![Image for Summer Fun!](/image/34938/Summer-Fun/original.jpg?m=1719481322680)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Come and enjoy Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse as part of Heritage Open Days, the country's largest community heritage festival. For Heritage Open Day 2024, visitors can see temporary exhibition 'Making the Rounds: Stories of Workhouse Nurses told in Textiles' as well as a pop up trail as part of writer Daisy Henwood's project, FOUND. The Conservation Lab will be open at select times to show conservation in action, and Union Farm will offer tractor trailer rides, rare breed animals and historic farming demonstrations, as well as a walk along the Wendling Beck, a rare UK chalk-fed waterway. Visitors can see the 1899 Panhard and 1922 Farmers Foundry engine in steam, explore Village Row, Cherry Tree Cottage and the museum galleries, wander in the woodlands or the beautiful gardens, and pop into the Mardler's Rest café or playground cabin (cash only), giftshop and Friends of Gressenhall's secondhand bookshop. The entire site is free to access (assistance dogs only) - no booking necessar
![Image for Heritage Open Day](/image/35489/Heritage-Open-Day/original.jpg?m=1723568703837)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Our much-loved Art Attack sessions are back for 2024! We love getting hands on with arts and crafts at Gressenhall, so get stuck in and let your creativity run wild. As a May Bank Holiday special, Art Attack will run on Monday 27 May as part of The Big Bank Holiday Boogie. All other Art Attack sessions typically run on select Sunday afternoons. Please check back throughout the year for any updates on upcoming sessions. 8 September (Heritage Open Day) 22 September (Horse Power! Heavy Horse Day) 13 October (Apple Day)
![Image for Art Attack!](/image/34936/Art-Attack/original.jpg?m=1719481318850)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
See 'horse power' in action, from heavy horses and steam through to the early petrol engine. Watch demonstrations of heavy horses work the land using heritage farming equipment and techniques, of our local farrier, and of traditional harness making in Front Barn, and meet our own magnificent Suffolk horses - often nicknamed Suffolk Punches! Catch demonstrations of the 1899 Panhard car, see the 1922 Farmers Foundry engine in steam, visit the 1930s Farmhouse and join in the fun by making a peg horse to take home with Art Attack (1-4pm). Hear from the Suffolk Horse Society and Rare Breeds Survival Trust, try your hand at braiding, have a hobby horse race - and even get a go at picking your own potatoes! (Weather permitting)
![Image for Horse Power! Heavy Horse Day](/image/35486/Horse-Power-Heavy-Horse-Day/original.jpg?m=1723558927227)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Head down to Union Farm to meet Mrs Beech and learn more about the 1930s Farmhouse. She might need some help with chores, or simply to have a natter whilst getting on with the jobs of the day - we know she'll be pleased to see you! Mrs Beech's to-do list changes from month to month with the seasons, so there will always be something new cooking on the stove, being stirred up, or needing to be made, moved or mended. Please check back throughout the year for any updates on upcoming sessions; dates are subject to volunteer availability: 9 June (Open Farm Sunday) 14 July 4 August 25 August (Girlguiding 1940s Camp) 22 September (Horse Power! Heavy Horse Day) 13 October (Apple Day)
![Image for 1930s Farmhouse](/image/34943/1930s-Farmhouse/original.jpg?m=1719481331767)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Join some fungi experts to explore the wonderful world of mushrooms on Gressenhall's own grounds! Learn how to identify some local mushrooms in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Come prepared to experience the many different shapes, colours, textures, scents and even tastes that fungi develop, and to understand their importance in maintaining the balance of the natural world. Visitors are then welcome to spend time exploring the site after the foray finishes. Please note: this event will take place largely outdoors and attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather. Only in the event of hazardous weather would the event be postponed or cancelled.
![Image for Fungi Foray](/image/35505/Fungi-Foray/original.jpg?m=1723655107703)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Join us for Gathered at Gressenhall, a special event to spotlight and celebrate textile art and craft with talks, tours, workshops and demonstrations. With support from the Costume & Textile Association, Gressenhall will bring together experts, practitioners, and folk who love fabric. A full programme will be shared in September, including: - talks from senior textiles curator Ruth Battersby & writer, clothes historian and mending educator Kate Sekules -Stitched Stories tours with curator Rachel Kidd - tactile textile zine making with Common Threads Press - book launch of fibreworkshop's Jenn Monahan - demonstrations of Gressenhall's own flax project and with the Mid Norfolk Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers. Come to explore the rich history and vibrant present of Norfolk's textile story.
![Image for Gathered at Gressenhall: textile takeover day](/image/35504/Gathered-at-Gressenhall-textile-takeover-day/original.jpg?m=1723655106363)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse is running a series of Relaxed Early Bird openings for visitors who would prefer a calmer start to their visit - with reduced audio and video in the galleries wherever possible, and full access to our 2024 exhibition and Book Nook on the first floor. Join us an hour before standard opening for a chance to explore the museum and temporary exhibition 'Making the Rounds' at a quieter, more relaxed pace. Our friendly front of house team will also be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit. Please note: Relaxed Early Bird openings provide access to the main museum only from 9am-10am (after which time, the entire site is accessible). At 11am, the audio and video in the museum will return to standard levels. Visitors joining us for Relaxed Early Bird openings are most welcome to stay and continue exploring; the rest of the site opens to the public at 10am - 5pm.
![Image for Relaxed Early Bird Opening](/image/34939/Relaxed-Early-Bird-Opening/original.jpg?m=1719481324797)
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Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Dereham
Hurray for Apple Day! Pop into the Apple Tent to identify fruit with the East of England Apples and Orchards Project and buy heritage fruit to take home. Enter our Apple Day Outfit competition with a costumed or themed clothing, and be in with a chance to win! (Prizes awarded at 12noon - all welcome to enter) Treat yourself to arts, crafts and wholesome food, meet our partners and get stuck in with plenty of fun activities, and enjoy performances from local folk musicians and Glass House Dance's Folk That! Norfolk Smallholders Training Group will be operating their juice press throughout the day, and their members can bring fruit for pressing. Visitors can head to the Farm to watch steam threshing and working horses or hop on a tractor trailer ride, and explore the museum and displays including the 1899 Panhard car and 1922 Farmers Foundry engine in steam. The Mardler's rest café, giftshop, secondhand bookshop and woodland adventure playground are also open, as always.
![Image for Apple Day](/image/35557/Apple-Day/original.jpg?m=1724087108880)
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