So trains were very much a part of my growing up.

Collecting engine numbers down at Woking station and spending time in the signal box there are happy memories.

Along with other rural areas, the age of the train was seriously decimated in Norfolk following the Beeching Report and Fakenham's two passenger lines were long gone by the time we came to live here.

Goods trains, however, continued to shunt up and down from Fakenham East station, the old railway yard remained and there were crossing gates beside Norwich Road, where the line up to Wells formerly ran.

When the track and sleepers were finally taken up in the early eighties, it really was the beginning of the end and before long, the station itself was demolished and a housing estate built on the site.

The route of the old line then provided a delightful walk down to the Three Brick Arches bridge over the Wensum where it linked up with riverside paths in both directions.

For many years now I've enjoyed the pleasure of this circular hike and the wildlife it rarely fails to reveal. This reminiscence is by way of a preamble to news that an auction of the former line will take place quite soon.

In my innocence – or should that be ignorance – I thought the land still belonged to British Rail. But apparently not. The stretch of more than 400 metres down to the bridge is in private hands and is coming on the market at a guide price of between £3,000 and £5,000.

Who would want to buy it, I wonder? It's on a raised bank above meadows, some of which are grazed and can be very wet through the winter. I guess the width is a bit less than twenty metres. My hope is that one of our ecology groups, such as the Wensum Valley Trust, comes on board so that the stretch may be properly maintained in its natural state.

It's hard not to notice the artwork now decorating the top entrance to our Tesco store adjacent to Oak Street. At the time of writing the cut-out representing an oak tree fashioned by local artist Colin Miller is surrounded by protective fencing, but still dominates the skyline.

Tesco commissioned the project following a public consultation and over recent months Mr Miller has been bringing his creation to life.

When the design was shown to the town council they were largely unimpressed, particularly on learning that the finished article would be cut from galvanised steel.

Deputy Mayor Mike Coates suggested that a living oak tree would have been a better proposition.

Market towns like ours generally don't go in for statuary or permanent public art, so it's hardly surprising that the initial reaction has been negative.

Personally, I'd like to see much more artistic presence around the place though I'm not holding my breath. With regard to the Tesco work, more time and exposure is perhaps needed to gauge how people really feel.