ACTIVITIES
Regular activities organised by Friends of Eaton Park and partners. Using your phone to view this? Scroll down for event listings.
Gardening
Every first Thursday of the month from 10am to midday. Meet at the Friends Room in the rotunda (by the bandstand). Weeding, pruning, planting and general care of several flower beds in the Eaton Park. Equipment and gloves provided or bring your own. We usually finish with coffee in the cafe.
The group sometimes does occasional extra days bulb planting or doing simple woodland work. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, this group is a great place to learn. It’s also very sociable!
Gardeners get monthly reminders and updates. To find out more just come along on the day or email info@friendsofeatonpark.co.uk
Sessions may not take place in deep winter or if the weather is very bad.
Eaton Park Community Cycle Club
These free led cycle rides take place at weekends and, during the summer, on mid-week evenings. There’s always a pitstop for coffee and cake, or a pint! To go on the mailing list email cycling@friendsofeatonpark.co.uk.
Click here for full details of the rides and for details of cycle initiatives in Eaton Park.
Schools Group
We regularly work with local schools, using the park six times a year as an inspiration for art, as a resource for activities learning about the natural world and the changing season, caring for the environment, and culminating at the end of each year with a celebratory picnic together. In particular we have developed a strong link with Ash class from Bluebell Primary school.To find out more or to ask about getting involved please email info@friendsofeatonpark.co.uk
Band days and other events
We put on several free events a year. Check out the events list (also on this page) for details. Broadly they include music, heritage and nature events. We need help setting up, chatting with the public or showing them round displays in our room. You can come for just an hour or spend longer if you like.
Event days are a good way to meet other members, get to know more about the park and be part of running a lovely event! You might also find yourself signing up a new recruit as events are a great way for park users to find out what the Friends are about.
You don’t need a lot of experience but it’s helpful if you’re relatively mobile and relatively sociable! To find out more or ask about getting involved email info@friendsofeatonpark.co.uk
EVENTS – 2024
Free events for all, organised by Friends of Eaton Park. Please note events may be subject to changes. Check our Facebook page for updates.
Nature Walk, Birds
Thursday 2 May, 6pm to 7.30pm
A gentle saunter round the park bird watching and listening out for bird song. Led by naturalist Chris Durdin.
Meet at the rose garden
Eaton Park Miniature Railway
Bank Holiday Monday 27th May
Weather permitting, the railway will be running trains to raise funds for the Friends of Eaton Park. The Friends group will be there in the afternoon to hand out free postcards of the park (and stamps) to children. For more details about trains please see the Railway website or the group’s Facebook page.
City of Norwich Band
Sunday 9 June, 3pm to 5pm
Songs from the shows, film music and traditional favourites on the bandstand. There’s plenty of seating but bring a blanket or cushion and, if you want the shade or shelter of the colonades, bring a camping chair. For more about this great local band click here.
On the bandstand
St Martin’s Fest, organised by St Martins Housing
Saturday 22 June, 3pm to 7pm
Local bands, family fun, crafts, Bike Day (see below) and much much more!
On and around the bandstand
Bike Day
Saturday 22 June, 3pm to 5pm
Come and try out tandems and cargo bikes or have a go at cycle speedway on Eaton Park’s very own cycle speedway track. Plus bike security marking with Norfolk Police and bring your bike for a once over and simple fixes with Dr Bike.
Nature Walk: Wildflowers & Meadows
Thursday 11 July, 6pm to 7.30pm
A tour of the meadows, woodlands and verges of Eaton Park in search of the many wildflowers that make this city park their home. Led by naturalist Chris Durdin.
Meet at the bandstand
Taverham Band
Sunday 14 July, 3pm to 5pm
Songs from the shows, film music and traditional favourites on the bandstand. There’s plenty of seating but bring a blanket or cushion and, if you want the shade or shelter of the colonades, bring a camping chair. For more about this great local band click here.
On the bandstand
Butterfly Day
Sunday 4 August, 11am to 3pm
Volunteer experts from the Norfolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation invite you to help out with this year’s Big Butterfly Count and find out how you can make the world a friendlier place for these beautiful creatures.
Under the big trees between the rotunda and North Park Avenue
Meadow Scything Day
Sunday 1 September, 11am to 3pm
Watch and find out more about the ancient art of scything in Eaton Park’s first and largest meadow, North Park Meadow. The session will be led by expert Richard Brown who, with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, is leading a scything renaissance in Norfolk. Graduates of his courses are welcome to join us on the day to help scyth our community meadow.
On North Park Meadow
Cawston Band
Sunday 8 September, 3pm to 5pm
Songs from the shows, film music and traditional favourites on the bandstand. There’s plenty of seating but bring a blanket or cushion and, if you want the shade or shelter of the colonades, bring a camping chair. For more about this great local band click here.
On the bandstand
Heritage Open Day
Sunday 15 September, 2pm to 4pm
Tour and visit with our volunteer park historians. Look out for full details in the Heritage Open Days brochure and book your place online or call 01603 727950.
Places are limited. Tickets available from Monday 19 August at 10am.
Bat Walk
Thursday 26 September, 6.30pm to 8pm
Norfolk and Norwich Bat Group will lead this, our first ever bat walk, in Eaton Park. We’ll visit various bat ‘hotspots’ and listen in with bat detectors as we go.
Meet at the bandstand
Fungus Day
Sunday 27 October, 1pm to 4pm
Join mycologist Kay Yeoman from UEA to find out more about the fascinating world of fungi. Tap into Kay’s expert knowledge and try out high spec microscopes. A very sociable event, this is also a chance for people of all ages to share their interest in fungi.
In the Friends Room, near the bandstand
Christmas sing-along
Friday 20 December, 6pm to 7.30pm
Our popular festive community sing-along celebrates the end of term, mid-winter and Christmas. Download a Song Sheet for all the words. On the night we’ll have songsheets to give out but please help save paper and download a song sheet to print off or use on your phone. Eaton Park Café will be serving tasty festive fare and on the bandstand there’ll be the glorious Dereham Town Band.
On the bandstand