Find Greta Thunberg and a Womble on a bicycle ride taking in modern eco-angels and medieval carved angels, devised ahead of the Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride on Saturday September 14.
This 25-mile ride is a chance to see six of the hand-made models on this summer’s Eco-Angels trail. There are also suggested extensions routes to take in all nine of the trail churches (and many more churches.)
Each eco-angel, or environmental champion, was chosen and created from recycled materials by children at local schools, to pay tribute to real people and fictional characters who have helped to make the world a better place.
This cycle route begins and ends in Aylsham
Take the cycle path beside the Bure Valley Railway. Cross the main road, go under a bridge and at the next junction turn right to leave the railway. To extend your ride and see the living willow model of Ted Ellis at Horstead church continue down the line towards Wroxham.
Otherwise follow the lane as it turns left, cross a bigger road and when you reach the A140 turn left on to the cycle path and follow it to Marsham. Take the lane up to All Saints Church to see Greta Thunberg.
The route to the next eco-angel in Cawston Church sounds surprisingly cosmopolitan for such quiet lanes, passing Little London, Botany Bay Farm and Quebec Farm.
Just beyond Eastgate turn right into Cawston to find the womble Great Uncle Bulgaria in the huge church of St Agnes with its magnificent angel roof and rood screen glowing with saints.
From Cawston pedal north to Southgate and then through Oulton Street turning left at the memorial and then right, to cross the B1354 to Itteringham.
Welcoming St Mary’s church and its eco-angel, the inspirational Norfolk fungi expert Dr Tony Leech, are on the lane towards Mannington.
Ride back down to the pub and turn left up past the community shop, zig-zagging alongside the Wolterton estate and through Wickmere to reach Aldborough church. Unfortunately, its eco-angel model of Chris Packham could not be installed here but the church has some great eco-credentials, with lots of information about the wildflowers and wildlife which thrive in the pretty churchyard. Inside, peep under protective rugs to find a fine 15th century brass of Anne Herward in a butterfly headdress.
It is one of three churches in a row within a couple of miles, so your route back to the three eco-angels in Aylsham church could take in round-towered beauty All Saints, Thwaite, which is being restored at the moment and is obviously loved and used despite its isolation. One of its members became the first Bishop of Quebec in the early 19th century. Just along the road is Alby church.
Returning, pass All Saints, Thwaite, turn left to Erpingham (and another fine church.) To avoid potential flooding on the marked route to Aylsham, take the lane via Calthorpe (and its church) and Ingworth (with its lovely thatched church.)
To complete the eco-angel trail in a single epic ride, add a loop south of Cawston down to Weston Longville (to see King Charles), Easton (for Lisa Simpson), Hockering (robot film character WALL-E) and Lyng (teaching assistant Julie Warnes.) There are many more glorious churches en-route to add to your total.
Bishop of Thetford the Rt Revd Ian Bishop hopes to visit 19 churches as he takes part in his first Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride from Wymondham Abbey to Attleborough St Mary’s. The annual sponsored event raises money for churches across Norfolk.
The Eco-Angels trail was created by churches in the Ingworth and Sparham Deanery, in partnership with Scrapbox, the Reepham-based re-use charity. Copies of the trail are in the churches, or download from www.econangels.uk
It includes:
Cartoon character Lisa Simpson at St Peter’s church Easton, made from plastic bottles, cardboard and old clothes by the children of St Peter’s Primary Easton.
Robot film character WALL-E, who cleans up the rubbish on a future deserted and uninhabitable Earth, made from cardboard boxes by children from Hockering Primary Academy, and on display at St Michael’s, Hockering.
King Charles III in All Saints, Weston Longville. His Majesty was made by the children of Great Witchingham Primary Academy, who chose him in honour of his work for the environment.
A model made of crisp packets, of Lyng Primary Academy teaching assistant Julie Warnes, honoured at St Margaret’s, Lyng, by her pupils for her work ranging from recycling crisp packets to running a gardening club.
A Womble made of newspaper, wool and old carpet tiles by the children of Cawston Primary Academy, in St Agnes, Cawston.
Fungi expert Dr Tony Leech in St Mary’s, Itteringham. He has been very involved in the work of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society and Norfolk Wildlife Trust and was modelled in recycled plastic, paper and wood by people at the Mannington estate.
Greta Thunberg made of recycled material from Norfolk’s craft recycling specialists Scrapbox, at All Saints, Marsham, by Crispin Clark and the Buxton Church Family.
Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis at All Saints Church, Horstead, made in willow by Horstead Centre staff and visitors.
At Aylsham church see models of author and conservationist Gerald Durrell, Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti who encourages young people to love the natural world and founded a charity in Kenya which has planted more than 30,000 trees, and ocean environmentalist Sylvia Earle. They were created by children from St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery and John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery School, in Aylsham.
