An unusual Victorian pleasure garden will open to the public for only the third time on Bank Holiday Monday – offering a rare glimpse into a lost world of waterways, trees and flowers.
Dilham Islands, a picturesque 25-acre network of six islands at the village, near Stalham, was created from 1840 onwards and developed at the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851, with the addition of a summer house and foot bridges.
It enjoyed its heyday as a rural playground for wealthy Victorian families around the turn of the last century, but later became overgrown and neglected. It was clear-felled in the 1960s at the request of the Forestry Commission and planted with poplars for mining props and match-sticks.
But following a restoration, the islands were re-opened for a day in 2009, then again for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 – and now visitors have a third chance to look around, following a three-year re-planting programme overseen by George Debbage who was head gardener at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden in South Walsham for more than 40 years.
Owner James Paterson said: 'George Debbage is the key to all this. He had one look and came back with all sorts of ideas and suggestions. He has had three winters of planting – it is still pretty immature, but we wanted to show off what it looks like.
'Perhaps in the future it might be open every year, but it is not there yet. While it is only opened once every two or three years, I am just keen to ensure the people who have been involved get their rewards by people being able to see it.
'It gives those who have never been here the opportunity to come and have a look, and those that have come before to see what we've been doing.'
Mr Paterson said, since the first opening in 2009, 2km of canals have been dredged and two hump-back bridges have been built to allow boating round the islands.
Dilham Islands will open from 10am to 5pm on Monday May 30, with an entry fee of £5. Proceeds will be split between Dilham village funds and the farming mental health charity YANA (You Are Not Alone). George Debbage will take guided tours at 11am and 2pm.
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