Events this year (2026)...
We're currently in the planning stages for some very exciting events this year. More information, including dates, to be shared soon!
Events from previous years...
2025
Bishop's House Garden
On June 16th, we celebrated six years of charitable work at Bishop's House Garden and were incredibly grateful to Bishop Graham (Bishop of Norwich) and his wife for the amazing opportunity to hold this annual event in their stunning walled garden!
Royal Norfolk Show
This was our fourth visit attending the Royal Norfolk Show back in June. We made many new friends and, more importantly, it was a brilliant example to showcase our charitable work with young people to a very large audience! We were very grateful to the RNAA for the opportunity to return once again!
'Volunteers picnic'
For the first time we organised a 'volunteers picnic' for all our amazing volunteers who make our charitable work possible. We held the first picnic at Reepham High School & College's 'Allotment Project' which celebrated 10 years of inspiring young people since it was created back in 2015.
The Aylsham Show
We returned for a third year to The Aylsham Show and, like every year, made lots of new friends and drew in lots of interest, especially what we had to sell from our 'Pap Up Shop' Huge thank you to the organisers who made us feel really welcome!
Norfolk Small Charities Showcase
In October, we joined fellow small charities at The Forum in Norwich to showcase our charitable work with young people in secondary schools.
Norfolk Healthy Environment Day
We took part in 'Norfolk Healthy Environment Day' in early June as part of the 'Great Big Green Week' #GreatBigGreenWeek organised by Friends of the Earth Norwich at The Forum. We had our 'Pap Up Shop' on show too!
2024
Raveningham
On June 19th, we celebrated five years of charitable work in Norfolk at Raveningham. We were extremely grateful to Sir Nicholas and Lady Bacon for giving us this incredible opportunity to host this very special event at their home. We are equally as grateful to all those who attended to celebrate our milestone and to thank everyone who help to make The Papillon Project possible every year. We were also exceptionally grateful to BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Adam Frost, who came to give a speech about why gardening with young people is so very important.
Duke of Edinburgh Award's Gold Award Celebration at Buckingham Palace
The Duke Edinburgh Award's, of whom we are privileged to work alongside in many Norfolk secondary schools and colleges, invited Papillon Project's founder and Schools' Project Lead, Matt Willer, to their annual 'Gold Award Celebration' at Buckingham Palace in May. It was an incredible opportunity to celebrate young people. Matt was deeply honoured to attend.
Other events from 2024
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Science Festival at East Norfolk Sixth Form - Wednesday 21 February
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The Great Big Earth Week, Quakers Meeting House, Norwich - Saturday 8th June
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The Royal Norfolk Show - Wednesday 28th to Thursday 29th June
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Norwich Greencare Festival at The Walled Garden in Little Plumstead - Sunday 28th July
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The Aylsham Show - Monday 26th August
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Celebrating Nature: St Edmund Church, Acle - Sunday 8th September
2023
Pap Leeky Expedition from Norwich to Great Yarmouth
August 17th-20th, 2023
From 17th-20th August, a team of volunteers, including some Norfolk teachers too, paddled 27 miles (43.5 km) along the Norfolk Broads from Norwich to Great Yarmouth, in a raft hand-built from repurposed (upcycled) materials in order to raise finds support and awareness of the arrival of our charitable work in Great Yarmouth schools come September 2023. We also took to the waterways in Norfolk, where rising sea-levels due to climate change and global warming mean our low-lying land is at great risk of regular flooding and coastal erosion. Producing food more locally to where we live, work and learn, and hence reducing food miles, can certainly contribute to lessening our carbon footprint. We have currently raised over £5500 for The Papillon Project.
Please click here to learn more about this extraordinary event and to donate to support via JustGiving.
Houghton Hall
On July 19th, with the invitation of Lord and Lady Cholmondeley, we celebrated four years of charitable work at Houghton Hall's beautiful walled gardens. It was a brilliant event and an incredibly way to end the 2022-23 academic year! Many West Norfolk schools attended this very special event along with friends, supporters, volunteers, staff and trustees of The Papillon Project.
The Aylsham Show, Blicking Park, Monday 28th August 2023
For the first time this, we were invited to take part Aylsham Show this year and we were so delighted to attend!
Royal Norfolk Show
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th June 2023
We really enjoyed attending the Royal Norfolk Show again this year (28th & 29th June 2023). We are extremely grateful to the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association for inviting us for a second time and for all their continued support.
Above: Some of the charity's volunteers who were celebrated and recognised as 'community champions' at the Royal Norfolk Show. This special ceremony was organised by the Norfolk Lieutenancy and the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association.
'Norfolk's Healthy Environment Day'
We attended a community event that Norwich Friends of the Earth have invited The Papillon Project along to at the Forum in Norwich on Saturday 10th June as part of The Climate Coalition’s Great Big Green Week (www.greatbiggreenweek.com).
No Straight Lines public viewing
Saturday 15th April
We screened our charity's film, No Straight Lines (please click here to view online), at The Forum in Norwich . Charity Trustees, staff and volunteers welcome people were also present to share information about our charitable work across the county.
What is the film No Straight Lines about?
No Straight Lines has been a film that has spent many years in the making. Directed and produced by Louis Johnson, No Straight Lines is a documentary film that captures the experiences of many teachers and young people (all from different schools) at their school allotment and serves very much as a celebration of all that has been achieved by secondary schools in Norfolk to date.
