I find the tone of the Guardian article very patronising, along the lines of "Aren't the local peasants and their funny rituals quaint?" Darkest Norfolk? That's where I live! I've also been several times to Whittlesea Straw Bear, and found it perfectly normal and extremely enjoyable, but not something to make silly remarks about, as if one had landed on Mars. This chap is displaying only too clearly his London roots I'm afraid.