We're a small village, but there's lots going on around the area!  Here are some suggestions;  they're listed in categories -- click on a category to go straight to it, or just scroll down:

  1. Wildlife
  2. Gardens & Gardening
  3. Flying
  4. Walking
  5. Church
  6. Pubs & Restaurants
  7. Reading
  8. Cooking
  9. Special Events

 

 Wildlife

Visit a nature reserve
Suffolk Wildlife Trust began in 1961 with a group of naturalists concerned about the future of Redgrave & Lopham Fen. Since then the Trust has gone from strength to strength and today is proud to be the county’s leading conservation organisation. The  nature reserves are open for you to enjoy and explore whenever you wish. There is no charge - instead we ask you to help us maintain them by becoming a member of Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

See Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s website and consider visiting nearby sites, such as:

  • Mickfield Meadow is a stunning flower-rich hay meadow that has never been sprayed or fertilised. As a result it contains a host of wildflowers, many of which are now scarce in Suffolk. To maintain this rich flora, the meadow is managed by a summer hay cut and then grazing the late summer growth.  See:  Mickfield Meadow
  • Martin's Meadows  These three meadows are among the few flower-rich hay meadows still left in Suffolk. As they have never been fertilised, sprayed or drained, the site supports a wide range of wildflowers.  In spring and early summer, visitors can enjoy superb displays of wildflowers, including early-purple, green-winged and pyramidal orchids. In autumn the meadows bloom once more, this time with meadow saffron.  See:  Martin's Meadows

Visit the Owl Sanctuary  suffolk owl

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary at Stonham Aspal looks after owls and promotes owl conservation. The Sanctuary is open to the public all year round and is a place to visit to watch, study or simply enjoy the company of Owls and other birds of prey. There are over 80 raptors at the Centre, all housed in spacious aviaries and flying free in narrated flying displays or demonstrations.  See the  Suffolk Owl Sanctuary  website

Visit a bird reserve  

The RSPB  has over a million members, including over 195,000 youth members, and is run by a staff of over 1,300 people and almost 18,000 volunteers.  The RSPB maintains 200 nature reserves covering almost 130,000 hectares, home to 80% of our rarest or most threatened bird species. There is a local network of 175 local groups and more than 110 youth groups.

Of special interest is the Minsmere Reserve:  there's so much to see and hear at Minsmere: splendid woodland, wetland and coastal scenery, rare birds breeding and calling in on their migrations, shy wildlife like otters, the booming call of bitterns in spring, beautiful bugs and colourful wild flowers in summer. Whenever you visit, you'll find plenty to enjoy. Choose an idyllic walk or head to the coastal lagoons to see and impressive variety of birds. Be sure to keep an eye on the reedbeds too. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of a shy otter?  Read more at Minsmere


Visit the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm is located in the Gipping Valley near Needham Market, and is a small livestock farm breeding farm animals that were once common but are now very rare.

Baylham House is a working livestock farm which caters for both educational and leisure visits.   It is not commercialised as a children's entertainment facility.   Countryside and animal lovers of all ages can have a wonderful day out.  

Visitors with disabilities are made welcome and are catered for with disabled toilets and the majority of paths being wheelchair friendly. Toilets, hand washing and baby changing facilities are provided. Staff can escort groups and give talks.

 Outdoor picnic area.  Covered area available if it is wet.  Shop selling gifts, souvenirs and refreshments.

Read more at  Baylham House  

 

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 Gardens & Gardening

Visit Helmingham Gardens for inspiration!  The Tollemache family enjoy sharing their passion for the beautiful gardens and open them throughout the summer.  Gardens will be open from 1st May - 17th September 2017.

12.00-5.00pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday (also open Bank Holiday Mondays)

See:  Helmingham Gardens website

Visit an 'Open Garden'  
Several villages operate Open Gardens, from time to time -- Debenham and Coddenham are two examples:

-  Debenham Open Gardens  This event has been held for a number of years. There were 24 gardens open to visitors. For just £4 each, you were provided with a map, and a list of all the Open Gardens. Each garden listed had a tantalising summary of what lay hidden.  It's over for this year, but watch out for the next one.  See details of the  2017 open gardens    

-  Coddenham Open Gardens   The Coddenham event featured gardens and a scarecrow competition!  Again, this event is over for 2016, but watch out for the next one, and others in neighbouring villages. Coddenham Open Gardens. 

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 Flying

Pettaugh is very close to Crowfield Airfield!  See  Crowfield Airfield website    

Fly into Crowfield!  Crowfield Airfield is situated near Crowfield, 9 miles north west of Ipswich. It has a Grass Runway 13/31 768 metres long by 40 metres wide (768x40m), and is open  08:00 to 20:00 in summer or sunrise to sunset in winter. Note:  Crowfield Airfield has been placed under the following restrictions which must be obeyed:

  • Single engine aircraft only with 148 kW and 1200 kg limit    
  • No gliders
  • No microlights
  • No helicopters
  • No parachuting
  • No aerobatics

Learn to fly!  Lessons are available at Crowfield.  Full PPL (Private Pilots Licence) training is available. Instructors are also available for biennial flight reviews, revalidation, IMC, etc.

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 Walking

This section is under development -- in the meantime, go to Footpaths and walks

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 Church

Attend a service -- see Pettaugh Parish Church  services    

Visit a church.  St Catherine's is the only church in Pettaugh, but there are lots of other churches that you can visit a short distance from Pettaugh  

Go to Suffolk Churches  --  an independent guide to the Anglican, Catholic and non-conformist churches of Suffolk -- 688 of them, at the last count!!!

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 Reading

Use the Mobile Library  when it visits Pettaugh

Visit a local library, such as Debenham

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 Pubs & Restaurants

The Bull Inn was the Pettaugh village pub

The Bull -- Pettaugh's pub until 1978

from before 1753 to 1978. Since 1978 this has been a private dwelling, and Pettaugh has had no pub. The nearest pub to Pettaugh was the Crowfield Rose, but this has now closed.  Where to go now?  Go to Pubs & Restaurants for some suggestions

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   Cooking  

Attend a cookery course. New for 2012 -- Suffolk chef Emma Crowhurst  has been be running eight special Cookery Days at Helmingham House. See cookery courses

Cookery courses are also occasionally run at Neaves of Debenham -- see in-shop for details

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 Special Events

There are often special events held locally, such as Summer Fetes.  Watch out for notices published around the district, and check the websites for other villages

And don't forget to check what's on at:

-  Helmingham Hall

-  Stonham Barns

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