Touch of paradise comes to Harleston

Harleston has always been seen as a nice place to live but now it could be called a Norfolk paradise.

In the summer Waveney and Blyth Arts commissioned eight artists groups to create and decorate one of the letters of the word paradise.

These made up a treasure hunt where families were encouraged to visit all eight locations in the Waveney Valley, including DesignMakers@21 in Diss and The Old Kings Head in Brockdish.

Robin Twigge, owner of The Swan Hotel in Harleston, liked the letters so much that he decided to purchase them.

Mr Twigge, trustee of the River Waveney Trust, said: 'It was a great project and when I saw all the letters together I fell in love with them.

'They look really fantastic and I wanted other people to be able to enjoy them too, so I approached Waveney and Blyth Arts to make an offer.

'I am thrilled that they agreed. I love this area and truly feel that it is paradise – I think a lot of people agree with me.'

DragonMarkers@21, Harleston and Waveney Arts Trail and Eye Arts Guild were among the groups who created the letters which are hanging pride of place in the hotel.

Mr Twigge said: 'They have fitted perfectly into the space in the front lounge which will be known from now on as the Paradise Suite.'

A celebration evening was held to officially reveal the letters and artists, key supporters and paradise venue hosts attended the event.

'We will have a sign up to explain about the letters and how they came about,' added Mr Twigge. 'And we will also be selling colour postcards of the paradise letters in four different local landscape settings, reed beds, heathland, tidal river and the water meadows near Needham, so everyone can take a bit of paradise home with them.'

Simon Raven, from Waveney and Blyth Arts and who was behind the project, said the prospect of separating the letters was sad.

He added: 'So for Robin to offer to put them on permanent display in Harleston was a fantastic outcome.'