North Norfolk Farming Friends is a collaborative initiative showcasing the group's diversification projects, ranging from a maize maze and a beer shop to pick-your-own plums and flowers.

By working together, they have created a trail to help visitors explore a combined range of "seasonal experiences and amazing local produce" which is much broader than they could offer individually.

But it also helps the group share marketing costs, drive greater footfall and support each other’s efforts to generate alternative revenues by welcoming the public onto their farms - diversifications which are particularly important at a time when traditional agricultural incomes are under threat from extreme weather, rising costs and subsidy withdrawals.

The idea first took root at the Pumpkin House at Thursford, where summer visitors are invited to enjoy a six-acre maize maze, mini golf and family games.

Edward Cushing, 11, and his sister Matilda, 9, in their family's maize maze at Thursford (Image: Denise Bradley)

And the partnership also encompasses pick-your-own plums at Leith House Orchards in Burnham Overy, the Norfolk Bottle Shop, home of the Malt Coast Brewery at Branthill Farm near Wells, and opportunities to gather sunflowers at Westgate Farm in Walsingham, peonies at Erpingham House Farm, and dahlias at the Wild Dahlia Co at Breck Farm in........

© Eastern Daily Press