WIVETON HALL - Normal for Norfolk’s Garden

Bunny chats to Desmond MacCarthy at his stunning Wiveton Hall with its flint faced, Dutch gabled Jacobean manor and associated gardens.
Desmond MacCarthy starred in the BBC hit TV series ‘Normal for Norfolk’ which followed the life of this aristocratic gentleman through the seasons. It was the precursor to ‘Clarkson’s Farm.
Desmond has lived all his life here and puts all his efforts into keeping this historic grade 2* listed house and buildings in good order despite only having 250 acres to support it. He has started other ventures such as letting holiday cottages, an extremely successful café and he also does garden and house tours.
See the Walled Garden which was damaged by a massive invasion of the sea bursting through the walls in the 1953 floods. Now some of the walls are lower as a result. The sea sadly also washed away the old greenhouses. There is a sunken garden created in the early 1900 plus some stunning garden buildings. The marshes and sea are highly visible around the farm. The north Norfolk coast has lots to see nearby at Blackeney and Cley next the Sea. Blickling Hall and Houghton Hall are close too.
For a longer story of Desmond’s life including his trials and tribulations during the filming of BBC’s Normal for Norfolk series, listen to Bunny’s podcast ‘Bunny in the garden with Desmond MacCarthy’.
#normalfornorfolk #bunnyguinnesspodcast

[@moniquemckenna6795]

Absolutely love these visits you bring to us. You are wonderful guide keeping the conversations flowing with humour that add to the appeal of listening to the proprietors of each of these estates and the pride they have in their homes and gardens. Thank you again Bunny for bringing them to us ❤

[@samiecain1244]

Lovely ! I enjoyed watching Normal for Norfolk, so nice to see the house and garden again

[@donaldthomson9411]

This is pure gold . What a great combination of garden , stunning architecture, history and sheer British eccentricity!

[@pinkpoodle7100]

I love all of Bunny’s videos. Thank you for taking us to so many majestic homes and gardens❤️❤️

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

Such a tonic to watch things like this, after viewing much of the mainstream media offerings. The first section was like herding cats, but you prevailed magnificently 🙂

[@daiseegray9110]

What a GREAT interview! I’m from Michigan US and I know who Bunny is! Fabulous garden! 🌼🐝

[@birds-and-blooms]

So fun. What a hoot! Would love to watch his Normal for Norfolk.

[@Antiquaria]

Another wonderful interview!

[@waynejones750]

Loved this ❤

[@pancrazioaquilina7029]

Greetings from malta ❤thanks for this lovely video

[@susankerr85]

Enjoyed your tour with a lovely man...Watched the series...Hope TV visit again...😊

[@dvssayer5621]

Such a great place to live.

[@timothywatkinson6871]

A man who has expected to be listened to all his life.

[@clarefoskett9959]

My mariner ancestor's are buried just up the road, at the church. A beautiful place.

[@clarefoskett9959]

Mitchell's, Blakeney. I live in Cromer.

[@SpanishEclectic]

Desmond reminds me so much of my English cousin's late father, eyebrows, fascinating stories, and all. I too love the Dutch shapes on the roof lines of the house, and the more relaxed feel of the gardens. Desmond's stories became more and more interesting as your chat went on. I believe Sissinghurst was also a prisoner of war camp for a time before it was purchased by Vita and Harold. The bit about the carnations doing better after an influx of sea water made me laugh. You never know what will happen with plants. This year my roses were wonderful with all of our extra rain here in CA, but my Mission olive trees have a very sparse crop. I for one, love to see Bunny rubbing elbows with people I would never otherwise be able to 'meet'.

[@ramadamming8498]

There is nothing 'normal' about this, ESPECIALLY in Norfolk, where 99.9% of people do not live like this at all. Aside from that, the yahoos, that are up around north Norfolk these days, are just coming to their holiday homes in their Chelsea tractors, where now there are artisanal bakeries and farmshops, overpricing local pensioners away, who used to buy but now cannot afford 6 pounds for a Walnut Loaf and have to now drive to Sheringham Aldi to shop. That is NORMAL

[@adamsoutdoors4250]

Bloody hell let him talk

[@YarrowPressburg]

It’s hard to watch your show sometimes because everyone is all to rich.

[@clarefoskett9959]

Munjacs eat our tomatos and pansies! Very hungry creatures😊

[@gwenwade6059]

Minihaha.😂

[@rosehart341]

Love Bunny but think he's a bit of a pompous old bore