Fair Green is a registered village green in the small market town of Diss, Norfolk, East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. An important aspect of the history of Diss was its great Fair, an annual event for nearly 700 years. For 400 years, it was held here on Fair Green, where various fairs and public events are still held today.
Fair Green is currently owned by Andrew and Richard Rackham. Fair Green is managed on their behalf by the Fair Green Neighbourhood Association (FGNA), in partnership with Diss Town Council. Andrew Rackham has been an active member of FGNA for some years (including serving as Chair).
Previously, Fair Green was owned by Michael Goodier, owner/landlord of a number of properties around the Green, who purchased it from the Diss Parochial Charity, again on the understanding that the Green would be managed by the Fair Green Neighbourhood Association.
Fair Green in the news
2023
- Food review: The Angel Café, Fair Green, Diss, Norfolk, Great British Life, 27 March 2023
- Angel Café in Diss gets ‘desperately needed’ expansion, Eastern Daily Press, 14 March 2023
- Fair Green welcomes clubs to call in for a refreshment stop and line up, Flivver Online, 22 February 2023
2022
- Rugby club disciplines members after town’s ‘whirlwind’ night of antics, Diss Mercury, 21 September 2022
- Hundreds visit Fair Green to celebrate the legend of Madame Abdella, Diss Express, 26 July 2022
- Popular carnival to return to give town ‘party to remember’, Diss Mercury, 29 January 2022
- Celebrity beasts, The Past, 18 January 2022
- Fair Green Neighbourhood Association raises money for defibrillator in Diss, Diss Express, 6 January 2022
2021
- ‘A lose-lose scenario’ – Outdoor cinema screening cancelled due to Covid, Diss Mercury, 18 December 2021
- The Muppet Christmas Carol free screening coming to park with mulled wine, Diss Mercury, 9 December 2021
- Fair Green Fish Bar pledges to give away 200 portions to schoolchildren over summer holiday, Diss Express, 1 August 2021
- Staff isolation leaves elderly and sick patients stood in queues for prescriptions for more than an hour, Diss Express, 22 July 2021
- £46k project to tell story of Madame Abdella, elephant ‘buried in Diss’, Diss Mercury, 7 July 2021
- ‘Explosive’ circus show to bring international performers to Norfolk, Eastern Daily Press, 7 June 2021
2020
- How a seafood lover from Turkey found his plaice in Diss, Diss Express, 17 November 2020
- Move to Diss, Norfolk, The Times, Friday 13 November 2020
- Eat Out to Help Out divides opinion amongst Diss business owners, Diss Express, 12 September 2020
- Diss Eat Out to Help Out scheme: The restaurants and eateries which have signed up so far, Diss Express, 27 July 2020
- Diss takeaways reopen under strict guidelines, Diss Express, 1 May 2020
- Rainbow of hope at Diss chip shop, Diss Express, 4 April 2020
- Diss citizens awarded top awards for community work, Diss Express, 16 March 2020
2019
- Neighbours object to water firm longer operating hours, Diss Mercury, 10 December 2019
- Norfolk elephant burial legend may be true, survey finds, BBC Norfolk, 3 November 2019
- Inspector responds to anti-social behaviour concerns, Diss Express, 21 September 2019
- Arrest of teenage boy and assault on girl sparks concern, Diss Express, 19 September 2019
- Mass brawl breaks out at funfair as girl assaulted and teen arrested, Diss Mercury, 9 September 2019
- Plaque unveiled in memory of Ted Ling, Diss Express, 2 August 2019
- Hunt to solve mystery of where circus elephant is buried, Diss Mercury, 31 July 2019
- Legend of the elephant of Fair Green prompts study, Diss Express, 30 July 2019
- Plastic Free Diss group welcomes Aldi plastic ban, Diss Express, 8 July 2019
- Plastic-free Diss campaign gathers pace, Diss Express, 29 May 2019
- Bench installed in memory of dedicated member of Diss River Care Group June Lewis, Diss Express, 15 April 2019
- Free outdoor ping pong tables coming to Costessey, Diss and Long Stratton, Norwich Evening News, 1 April 2019
2018
- Norfolk chippy to give takings to military veterans’ charity, Diss Mercury, 15 November 2018
- Angel Cafe in Diss changes hands, Diss Express, 30 October 2018
- Hair today and gone tomorrow, Diss Express, 6 July 2018
- Diss Cyclathon to pedal through town this weekend, Diss Express, 18 June 2018
2017
- Diss Waveney rotarian’s tree-mendous effort to improve the environment for the better, Diss Express, 28 November 2017
- Bag a bargain when Diss Brocante returns, Diss Express, 1 August 2017
- Dad and son from Diss make life-size dalek, Eastern Daily Press, 23 July 2017
- Diss Jewson branch closure fuels re-development speculation at Fair Green, Diss Express, 2 February 2017
2016
- Diss Brocante set for August return, Diss Express, 21 July 2016
- First ever Diss cyclathon hailed as a ‘wheelie’ big success, Diss Express, 21 June 2016
- Buyer bonanza at first Fair Green Brocante, Diss Express, 4 May 2016
2015
- Plan to turn Fayre View Restaurant into house given green light by South Norfolk Council, Diss Express, 22 December 2015
- Plans submitted to convert restaurant into a family home, Diss Express, 21 August 2015
- Fair Green boot sale rebranded, Diss Express, 24 July 2015
- Curious caravan, Diss Express, 17 July 2015
- Diss gets in VE Day party mood, Diss Mercury, 9 May 2015
- Diss Fair Green group calls on residents to join VE Day celebrations, Diss Express, 30 April 2015
- Diss Fair Green to commemorate 70th anniversary of VE Day, Diss Express, 27 April 2015
- Easter Egg hunt at Diss Fair Green draws large crowd, Diss Express, 9 April 2015
- Diss environmentalist outlines eco-friendly Manifesto for Change, Diss Express, 31 March 2015
- Hats and cakes for brave Maisie, Diss Express, 30 March 2015
- Harleston business stalwart retires after 40 years of service, Diss Express, 14 March 2015
- Forty years of counter culture, Diss Express, 10 March 2015
2014
- Design of Interpretation Panel for Fair Green, Diss, Norfolk, Fiona Fyfe Associates, 2014
2013
- Norfolk Walk: Diss, Norwich Evening News, 8 February 2013
2012
- Bowls: Diss to open outdoor greens, Diss Mercury, 12 April 2012
- Dozens of children take part in Diss Easter egg trail, Diss Mercury, 7 April 2012
- Fair Green fun for Diss pancake races, Diss Mercury, 24 February 2012
2011
- Diss chip shop joins fish frying elite, Eastern Daily Press, 29 September 2011
- Four-year-old tightrope walker performs in Attleborough, Norwich Evening News, 14 September 2011
- Homes plans submitted off Diss green, Diss Mercury, 28 August 2011
- Cyclists follow Tour of Britain route for charity, Eastern Daily Press, 25 July 2011
- South Norfolk celebrates the Royal Wedding, Norwich Evening News, 30 April 2011
- Pancake fundraiser in Diss is a flipping success!, Diss Mercury, 7 March 2011
- Town council support for Diss green, Diss Mercury, 26 January 2011
- Diss green residents’ warning to drivers, Diss Mercury, 13 January 2011
2010
- Residents’ meeting after Fair Green sale, Diss Mercury, 5 August 2010
- Anonymous resident buys Fair Green, Diss Mercury, 23 July 2010
- Mystery over future of Diss green, Diss Mercury, 21 July 2010
- Food festival planned for Diss, Eastern Daily Press, 21 May 2010
- Fair Green owner accused of being greedy, Diss Mercury, 7 May 2010
- Diss Fair Green up for sale, Diss Mercury, 25 March 2010
2009
- Fears for upkeep of Diss beauty spot, Diss Mercury, 15 October 2009
Webster Aranha Spider
On 11 March 2019, Fair Green welcomed Webster Aranha Spider to the children’s playground area. Its names were chosen by public vote later that year, with a naming ceremony on 6 July 2019. ‘Aranha’ is the Portuguese word for spider.
This beautiful sculpture was commissioned by the Fair Green Neighbourhood Association from Andy Harland, a local artist working at the Treesculpture /Hearts of Oak artists cooperative at Coney Weston near Garboldisham. It was funded through S106 developer contributions from the Long Meadow development in Diss & Roydon.
It may also remind us of the rare fen raft spiders which were released into our local fens to help their survival, in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Selwyn Burr Memorial Mulberry Tree
The mulberry tree near the Cock Inn, overlooking the playground, was planted by Lorraine Burr in memory of her husband Selwyn, who died in 1998. Selwyn’s obituary appeared in The Independent.
The other trees along that short edge of the Green were planted in May 2016, in an initiative organised by Alison Bannister. Beginning at the car park, the trees are whitebeam, sessile oak (behind the seat), small leaved lime, sycamore, sweet chestnut and hornbeam (nearer the phone box). There are three wild cherry trees in a row on the Green side.
The Ping Pong Table
Our ping pong table, which was installed thanks to Ping! England, bears a plaque honouring Ted Ling, remembered for his contribution to table tennis in Diss, where he started as a player, before becoming a committee member and later president of Diss Table Tennis Club.
- Plaque unveiled in memory of Ted Ling – Diss Express, 2 August 2019
- Remembering Ted, wizard of the table tennis table – Enjoy Diss More
Fair Green Diss 