A new project in Aylsham will mean families no longer need to take a trip to a supermarket for fresh herbs.

A legacy of this year's Aylsham Festival, six planters across the town will be stocked with chives, rosemary and other cooking herbs – free for anyone to use.

They will be looked after by nearby families, with plants topped up by Aylsham High School.

Festival creator and director Sue Sharpe said the planters fitted in with the theme of this year's theme of Going, Going, Gone. The innovative idea originated in Belgium, where Mrs Sharpe said planters like those in Aylsham were a great success.

Mrs Sharpe, who has lived in Aylsham for eight years, said she wanted people to feel they could help themselves to the fresh herbs for cooking.

She said: 'We are doing it for the the community and it has worked in Belgium. Every time we mentioned it there was a positive response.'

One of the planters has been sponsored by Woodgate Nursery in Aylsham, and Mrs Sharpe said she would like to add more in the town, while calling for people to volunteer to look after the planters.

The festival has developed a history of legacy building, with last year focusing on a community textile project and the previous year establishing a two-mile Route 33 cycle route.

The first planter to be installed is at Aylsham Parish Church, where youngsters have been busy planting the first of the blacksmith-made containers with fresh produce.

Mrs Sharpe said she was open to suggestions for other location suggestions with businesses invited to sponsor a planter.The fourth annual Aylsham Festival runs from May 23 to 26 and last year attracted more than 800 people.

Highlights include a talk, question and answer session and quiz with Norfolk astrologer Mark Thompson on

Full progamme.

Friday May 23

Valuation Day by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers Roy Murphy and Paul Goodley. Aylsham Market Place and Auction Rooms. 10am to 4pm.

Hansells Conversation. Bishop of Lynn The Rt Rev Jonathan Meyrick and hostage survivor John McCarthy. Aylsham Parish Church. 7.30pm. Tickets £10 and under 18s £5.

Saturday May 24

WI cafe 9am to 2pm

Lady Aylsham's Awkward Auction Challenge

Aylsham Town Hall 10am to 1pm

Quickplay Chess Tournament

Aylsham and District Ex-Servicemen's Club

11am to 3.30pm. Tickets £10 01263 731327

Looking at Old and Not so Old Photographs. An illustrated talk by Dr Bob Ward ARPS

Aylsham Quaker Meeting House

3pm. Free - tickets required

Norfolk Students' Jazz Orchestra

Aylsham Town Hall. 5pm Tickets £5 under 18s free

The Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band

Aylsham Town Hall

7pm. Tickets £15 under 18s £10 to include a chilli supper.

Sunday May 25

Slow Food Cafe 11.30am to 5pm

Solemates Walk which includes a visit to Oxnead Hall gardens

Meet at Aylsham Town Hall at 10am. £5 to book phone 07879 640676

Dr Ken's 'It's All Done With Mirrors' Magic Show

Aylsham Town Hall

11.30am and 2.30pm. Free

EM Jazz

Aylsham Town Hall. 1pm and 4pm. Free

Aylsham Mardle with local residents and historical slides

The Heritage Centre Aylsham at 6pm. £5

!

Monday May 26

Festival Cafe 1pm to 5pm

The Lovewell Blake Activity Afternoon

Mark Thompson - the People's Astronomer

Aylsham Town Hall

Talk on Going, Going, Gone Astronomically at 2pm. £5

Question and answer session at 3.30pm. Free

Quiz at 4.30pm. Free.

Albert Einstein: Relativitively Speaking (Family entertainment for ages 12+)

Aylsham Town Hall. £10, under 18s £5

Wednesday May 28

A Group Photograph 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment - film showing the men's family

history.

Aylsham Library. £2

May 23 to 7th June

Topography Disarranged

The Queen of Hungary Project Space, Aylsham