Holiday at Happy Valley

After what feels like a year of emotional and psychological Winter, we tiptoe to the edge of a new, more hopeful season.  The Wildflower Meadow across from Toad Hall reminds us that though we have no control over the harsh elements of life, still we rise and still we must grow. With a boundless energy and free spirit, we roam into Nature but this time, not to seek solace but to embrace the trees as old friends and cautiously celebrate our impending freedom.

Our souls are as wild as the birds overhead, and our imagination soars with all the places we can go, the people we can visit, the friends we can hold. As we get ready to discard our chilly cloak of sadness and envelop the warmth from the Sun, let’s look forward to making plans and sticking to them. Let’s make time for those we haven’t seen for so long. Let’s have a hungry heart for adventure.

Happy Valley has cabins, bell tents, lodges, and treehouses to connect you to the outside this season. As we step, or skip, into Spring, we welcome you to join us and celebrate your newfound freedom. From the beach, the rolling hills to the stretches of woodland, the birds ring out the sound of the new season and we are ready to welcome you to all that is beautiful about Norfolk. Escape the everyday at home. At Happy Valley we are good to go and have social distancing sorted. Gather your loves ones and take them on a holiday at home as soon as restrictions allow.

For more information about our cabins, please contact glamping@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

With love,

The Little Team at Happy Valley

Forget “Orange is the New Black” … Wednesday Weddings are about to start trending in 2020.

During our work-from-home staycation, we’re keeping in touch with our sister venues and suppliers and the whole wedding industry knows we’re in for a busy few months ahead.

As we batten down the hatches and weather the storm, we wonder if we could turn this tragedy into a new trend and plant mid-week weddings on the map. David Beahm, Harper Bazaar’s Event Designer, says “Perhaps Wednesday weddings are going to be the new thing for a while, and there’s nothing wrong with that”.

As many weekend dates are already booked in 2020 & choosing a weekend in 2021 could leave a venue or supplier’s business unable to sustain events next year, what if we took that off the table and got #wednesdayweddings #WW20 #wednesdaysforthewin #WW21 trending?

Why should I become a mid-week trend setter?

• Availability - practically speaking, most venues are booked up 1-2 years in advance and suppliers now have the huge task of re-arranging their whole calendar. Realistically, there will be much more availability mid-week now than at any weekend.

• Ease of travel - trains will be quieter, flights will be cheaper, traffic will be lighter and extra, local accommodation will be on offer. This actually makes it a lot easier for your guests to get to your wedding. Yes, they’ll need to take a day off but bosses will be aware of the situation and everyone needs an excuse to party after this.

• Social act of kindness - tourism, hospitality and leisure industries are on a knife-edge. To prevent them from falling into the abyss, postponing to a mid-week wedding could save their business and protect job security for their staff. Remember the words “In a world where we can be anything, be kind”?

What would my mid-week wedding look like?

This is the fun part and where our Pinterest addiction is put to good use!

• Themes - why not be creative and come dressed for an après-ski wedding? Or, in true Autumn style, adorn the barns in pumpkins and lanterns? Lots of bohemian and festival weddings are held in the autumn and the photos are breath-taking, as is the backdrop at Happy Valley this time of year.

• Treats - we love the idea of having a hot drinks bar. If that doesn’t do the trick, a whiskey bar will always be welcome and children will queue up for a s’more session, roasting marshmallows over the fire pit. At Happy Valley, to allow you and your gets to save money, we will permit guests to bring their own drink of choice to the venue so they can stock up on the bubbly en route. Don’t forget, with our luxurious hot tubs, you can keep warm whilst gazing at the stars which is the best treat your guests can have.

• Accessories - what woman doesn’t love to accessorise and this is where we can have some fun with umbrellas, wellies, blankets, hand warmers or ear muffs. Consider using this as an excuse to indulge yourself with a hand-painted, custom leather jacket for the bride, a hand-crocheted shawl or a beautiful, faux-fur statement piece.

• Making a statement - imagine faux-fur draping over haystacks, vintage rugs taking centre stage in the barn, fairy lights wrapped around the trees, lanterns in every nook and cranny and fire pits and log burners providing that cosy, warm feeling. You could even add a touch of magic with some hand-held sparklers.

Look through our vision board to inspire you (thank you to our talented photographers for permission to use your work) and use this time at home to let your imagination run wild. We’re up for the mid-week mayhem if you are!

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600 719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Darina Stoda Photography

Paper Antler Photography

@matildasodphotography

Shanon Rosan Photography

@liveviewstudios

@brandwold

The Road to Happy Valley x

Happy Valley Norfolk

Autumn at Happy Valley is breath taking.

Hand-painted, leather jacket for the bride @wolfandrosie

The Wedding Wolves

There’s no better time to grab your attention than when we’re on an enforced, three week lock-down and in need of distraction so we felt it was high time to tell you a story:

A grandfather sat his grandson down and decided to impart some words of wisdom.

“A fight is going on inside of me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents darkness - he is regret, anger, sorrow, selfishness and self-pity and everything negative in the world.”

The grandfather looked at his captivated grandson, took a breath and continued, “The other wolf represents the light - he is peace, hope, understanding, compassion and faith and everything positive in the world. We all have the same two wolves fighting within us.”

The grandson, a fan of everything to do with war and battles turns to his grandfather and says, “which wolf will win?”.

The wise, old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”

What do wolves have to do with weddings?

During this time of uncertainty, there are understandably a lot of emotions running high and these are valid and necessary feelings for us all to be having.

Each of us is fighting an internal battle between wanting to help our neighbours, friends, family and local businesses and at the same time worrying about what it might mean for our own finances, health or future happiness. We all want to be kind and understanding but we also all have fear and frustration.

Is our advice to feed the positive wolf and let the negative wolf starve? No, it would be an impossibility. They’re both there and they both have to eat. What we can do, is acknowledge that whilst we are having to face great disappointments and insecurity, we can also show the capacity for compassion and forbearance. The beauty of humanity is often found in the grey areas where despite the doubt and fear, we surprise ourselves with our own strength and resilience.

So, if each wolf is being fed at a time where food is being rationed and supermarkets are in short supply, who gets what?

That part is down to us but how we respond and which wolf we feed the most will define how we are viewed when this chaos is over. Our time in the grey area is now and our actions will show which wolf ate all the metaphorical pies.

Even though you’re justifiably worried about your future wedding plans, there are still ways we can lift each other up. Here at Happy Valley, we invite you to look at the following acts of kindness to show your wedding suppliers some support:

• If you’re pleased with the service you’ve received during this difficult time, consider leaving a positive review on their website. If you’re not, perhaps take into account unprecedented stress?

• Like, comment and share posts. Why not shine a light on some suppliers in need of encouragement?

• Make future reservations. For most suppliers, it’s not just the next few months that are of concern but their whole calendar year - show them some light at the end of the tunnel.

At Happy Valley, we hope you feel our negative wolves have been put on a strict diet of kale and lentils (not least because stress represses the immune system and we need to stay healthy right now!) and our positive wolves have been given the full, fine-dining experience.

We would like to thank our 2020 couples for their thoughtfulness and appreciation and are excited to give you the happy ending you all so deserve.

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600 719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Memories of happier times. A woodland wedding photoshoot at Happy Valley.

Finding the Silver Lining in this Covid Cloud and changing our “What ifs?” to “Even ifs”…

At Happy Valley, we’ve always been firm believers in the health benefits of the great outdoors and have promoted the healing powers of nature when offering couples our woodland wedding packages. Unfortunately, the consequences of Government enforcements can’t be cured by fresh air alone and some of you may be facing tough decisions with regards to potentially postponing your big day.

It’s certainly unchartered territory for families and businesses alike and while we face this storm together, through understanding, patience and kindness, there will be moments we can all learn to dance in the rain. 

Before we cover the more practical points, we want to send you some positive thoughts to hold on to. Despite everything, there is the hope and optimism of a brighter future. Come rain or shine, Summer or Winter, we’re with you and if you’ll let us, we’ll stay with you all the way until “I do”. 

The Gorgeous Tom & Fiona at Happy Valley - Ben Chapman Photography

An outdoor ceremony on the willow Island

Changing my “What ifs? to “Even ifs” 

Instead of asking “What if I have to postpone my dream, summer wedding?” hold onto the thought that even if you decide to change your date, you still have each other and you will be able to celebrate, surrounded by your loved ones at some point in the future. No matter what happens, we will make your day beautiful. Here at Happy Valley, we promise you that regardless of any decisions made or plans altered, we will do everything in our power to create a magical, once-in-a-lifetime memory that you can treasure forever. We are currently offering all of our early 2020 couples the opportunity to keep their actual date in case Covid-19 has been defeated by then but we are also pencilling in a “back-up date” so we can manoeuvre from plan A to plan B without any problems. Please look out for our upcoming blog on Autumn and Winter alternatives. One way or another, love conquers all and trust us when we say we want nothing more than for you to marry the love of your life. 

We’ve heard your concerns and to alleviate the stress and worry of “what if my suppliers can’t make it to our new date?”, we’re working on a plan that even if one supplier can’t attend, we will be able to work some magic. Happy Valley has the good fortune to be surrounded by incredibly innovative, flexible and passionate suppliers who are doing their utmost behind the scenes to work around your schedules and accommodate last-minute changes. For our couples, we are in the process of contacting all of their suppliers and are collating a list of their availability. We are trying to coordinate a mutually convenient date for both you, your suppliers and the venue so you can sit back and relax (preferably with a glass of wine or G&T). If, for any reason, a supplier can no longer provide you with a service, we have a team of legendary people who are all bending over backwards to fulfil your dreams and we will help you find suitable alternatives. 

Even if you postpone – please don’t cancel. Pause but don’t give up. Reflect but don’t retreat. Delay but don’t be defeated – you get where we’re going with this! We’re here for you and if you’re here for us too, we’ll all meet on the other side and celebrate the love and awesomeness of humanity, hopefully with a glass of bubbly and a beaming smile. Sending you all of the virtual love in the world from our anti-bacterial sprayed screens. 

With love, Katy, Kirsty and The Happy Valley Team xx

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

Beat those Winter Blues at Happy Valley

What better way to beat the winter blues than getting snug in one of our very own hand crafted woodland cabins. Here at Happy Valley we are nestled away in the peaceful Norfolk Wildlife Trust site in the most beautiful part of the countryside. Make the most of the wilderness with a lovely stroll through the woodlands, relaxing afterwards under the trees canopy and the star lit skies in our wood fired hot tub for some woodland bathing. It has been believed for many years by the Japanese that spending mindful time in the woods is beneficial not only for the body but also the soul. 

Hot tub at Happy Valley

Happy Valley welcomes Glamping all year round and with the darker evenings you can really enjoy the atmosphere of flickering flames round one of our wood burners or get cosy cuddling up outside by the fire pit toasting marshmallows. If you are feeling more adventurous wrap up warm and explore our stunning coastline. There are many stunning beaches to choose from, a few of our favourites are; Holkham, Wells Next The Sea and Blakeney. There is nothing more rewarding than digging into a tasty meal or sipping a hot mug of tea after blowing away those cobs along the beach. You will really be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a local pub to warm those toes by a roaring fire. 

Whether it be a staycation with the family in one of our larger cabins or the sumptuous tree house, Toad Hall or a romantic mini break away in our charming Shepherds hut, we look forward to welcoming you at Happy Valley. 

Did you know you can hire the whole of Happy Valley for your event? Get in touch if you’d like to know more.

Happy New Year from the team at Happy valley Norfolk

hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk

The Gift of Togetherness this Christmas

We still have some Christmas availability to book your stay together at Happy Valley Norfolk… all dates now online. Set in 9 acres of undisturbed Winter Wonderland you’ll have an abundance of precious time to reconnect with yourselves, each other and nature!

The Woodpecker now comes with the luxury of an en-suite bathroom… perfect for a family of 4 looking to snuggle up together by the fire this Christmas with all of your home comforts taken care of. Woodpecker has a thoughtfully designed wooden kitchenette (fridge, hob, kettle, toaster, utensils, cafetiere… there are always marshmallows for winter warming hot chocolates and toasting by the fire!) dining table, wood burner, and king sized sleeping for adults with separate hand crafted child-friendly bunk beds. Outdoor BBQ and fire-pit, hammock, rope swing, woodland garden, outdoor bbq area. Feel free to give us a call if you'd like anymore info - 01485 600719 (9am - 6pm) or email us hello@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

https://www.happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk/woodpecker

Layer up this Christmas and take a stroll through the woodland to experience forest therapy as a family. The Japanese practice Forest Bathing as a healing and preventive health care. It's not hard to see why. Then you can literally bathe in the forest in the wood fired Hot Tub whilst enjoying a spot of star gazing!

Create your family Christmas at Happy Valley to experience uninterrupted woodland magic, comfort and joy!

“Well maintained, every detail carefully presented...a venue where the little things count...
Excellent facilities and nothing too much trouble.
A place you love spending time, rain or shine. Whatever the weather, Happy Valley is the cosiest, most welcoming home from home.” ~ Daisy Line

The Wilderness Wedding Fair Norfolk

Save the date! On Sunday 26th April 2020 Happy Valley will be throwing a Wedding Fair with a difference… less conventional, more edgy and eco-friendly.

We’re planning a day for Bride Tribes and Couples to enjoy all things Wedding.  We’re a natural Norfolk venue with 2 stripped back barn spaces and luxury glamping cabins that appeal to the wild at heart Bride & Groom.  

Eco blooms by @wildfolk who will be joining our Wedding Fair

We would like to invite local Norfolk vendors to join us for what looks set to be a collaboratively creative day!!

Photo credit to Aurora Grey who will be joining us on the day

There will be bands playing, photography Q&A’s, styling sessions, cake tasting, sumptuous spreads, champagne corks popping and a host of wilderness wedding workshops.

We’re inviting expressions of interest from spectacular Norfolk suppliers. If you’re a Wedding Vendor who has the edge we’d love to hear from you!

To register your interest please contact Weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

To Grab your FREE TICKET then enter details HERE

Photo credit to Aurora Grey who will be holding a photography Q & A

Check out this super resource on the positive environmental impact of sustainable weddings…

“The Guide to Sustainable, Zero-Waste, Ethical Weddings”
https://www.77diamonds.com/sustainable-weddings