Holly or holy? Candles or cute? How will you be saying Happy Christmas this year? Rowan Mantell opens some cards which are celebrating the season – and celebrating Norfolk good causes too

A CHILD’S painting, familiar landscapes cloaked in snow and a bright yellow helicopter are just some of the pictures carrying Christmas greetings from Norfolk this year.

Lots of the county’s charities and good causes raise funds by selling Christmas cards, and they don’t have to look too far for inspiration.

Iconic mills silhouetted against sunsets, our winter wildlife, and Norwich Cathedral at sunset, in the snow, or with shepherds driving their flock through the prior’s door are all images which have been transformed into festive, and fundraising, greetings.

Children and teenagers with disabilities have designed cards to raise money for NANSA, the Norfolk-based charity for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. More cards have been hand-made by artists from the charity’s Artshoproject which helps people towards employment.

Norfolk’s vast, wintry and bird-blessed skies are the inspiration behind a set of cards for The Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the cathedral is the obvious star for the Friends of Norwich Cathedral.

A mill in an icy Broads’ landscape is helping the Nancy Oldfield Trust, based at Neatishead, near Wroxham, raise money to help disabled and disadvantaged people enjoy boating activities on the Broads; the Matthew Project charity held a competition to design cards to support its work with young people across Norfolk and Suffolk – and a beautiful picture of Norwich Castle in a snow globe, by city artist Joe McLean, is just one of the cards being sold for charities by Cards for Good Causes in Norwich Forum until Friday, December 18.