The Acocks Green Heritage Trail

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Who has noticed our new Heritage Trail, which has been installed recently? The eight information boards placed in strategic positions around Acocks Green inform locals and visitors alike about the history and development of our district. There is also a QR link that those with smart phones can scan for more information about the area.

Local Historian Mike Byrne will be offering a  free guided tour of the boards in the next couple of weeks. Available dates: Sunday 11th September, Wednesday 14th or Sunday 18th, meet at board 1, outside Aldi, Warwick Road. email: aghistsoc@hotmail.com to let Mike know which date you are interested in.

Board 3- Warwick Road
Board 6 – Yardley Road

The heritage trail initiative has been funded with a grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund with support from the Acocks Green BID and the Acocks Green Village Partnership. The organisation and hard work has been  driven by local historian Mike Byrne with the help of Jon Morris.Also Debby from Dennetts Furniture designed the accompanying leaflets which will be available next week and can been seen on the Acocks Green History website, which has lots more information and the history and development of our area. Also below is a link to the accompanying leaflet.

The Heritage Trail and Map

A condition of the Lottery funding is to engage with volunteers to promote the trail. This can be by helping to distribute leaflets to residents, local businesses, community meeting places, schools and local youth groups. There will also be opportunities for Trail Guides.
The guides will have a comprehensive information ringbinder that they can take around with them, so there will be no need to retain all the knowledge in your memory.

If you would like to register your interest in helping promote this exciting Acocks Green project, please inform the project team coordinator Jon Morris – jon.214morris@btinternet.com.

This should prove to be a great community and knowledge asset for Acocks Green. Thanks again to all those who made this important project happen.

 

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Harvest Time at the Orchard

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Kit Barlow

If you fancy some free fresh  fruit, then pop along to Mallard Community Orchard this week, there are lots of raspberries and currants ripening and ready to eat. The orchard was developed for local people to enjoy and look after. Acocks Green Village in Bloom maintain the orchard at the moment, if you would like to help here then do contact:

Village in Bloom Co-coordinator – Fran Lee  :  fran.lee47@yahoo.co.uk , tel. 0121 706 0076

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currants and raspberries

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*** Cancelled due to Unforeseen Circumstances**Swansong Concert at St Mary’s

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Kit Barlow

On Tuesday (12th July) Swansong presents The Burgundy Piano Trio at St Mary’s Church. The trio studied together at Birmingham Conservatoire and will be performing pieces by Schubert amongst other classical pieces. When they played last year in Solihull they were described by the audience as ‘stunning’. 7.30pm start. There will be an interval with refreshments served. Everyone is welcome. Donations at end.

DSCN1335burgundy

Tuesday is also the day that the Royal Horticultural Society judges visit Acocks Green to judge our entry into Village in Bloom 2016. Last year we received GOLD and are hoping we can achieve such success again. Lots of improvement work to the grounds of St Mary’s has been taking place over the year by the gardening volunteers, so do have a look.

 

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Stockfield Fun Day – Saturday 9th July

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Kit Barlow

All local residents are invited along to Stockfield Park. There is lots to enjoy and Acocks Green Village in Bloom will be there, getting people into the gardening vibe, offering gardening advice also children can sow seeds to take away and there will be a…

                            PLANT SWAP

If your have too much of a particular plant then bring it along to the fun day and swap it for a new plant! It is a great way of sharing and expanding the variety of plants you have in your garden. Hope to see you there.

stockfield funday

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This Saturday..

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Come along and enjoy this community get together and you can meet us here on our stall. We will be next to Acocks Green Village in Bloom and Clay Lane Allotments. There will be an opportunity to find out more about the wide variety of organisations that work together for the good of our village. Also the Forum, Village in Bloom and the allotments will be selling a wide variety of bargain plants and profits go back into the local community.

The Carnival procession will leave Archbishop Ilsleys at 12 noon and parade through the Green, so hope to see lots of you there.

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One Month to Go…

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Last year, many readers will know Acocks Green received a GOLD award from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Village in Bloom Awards. This was thanks to lots of hard work and dedication from many people and organisations working together for the greater good of Acocks Green.

The Village has entered the RHS Bloom event again this year and is hoping to continue their success. The team have been working hard all year in the village and with schools and organisations to enhance the area. The Judges will be arriving on Tuesday 12th July.

This is a request from the Village in Bloom team to anyone who might be interested in helping out at this crucial time. No gardening experience is required, but you are sure to learn something about gardening along the way. Help with watering is also required. The friendly Bloom team meet on Wednesday and Sunday morning, so introduce yourself or get in touch below.

To see some more of the wonderful work that they do look on their page AG Village in Bloom

If you care about Acocks Green and want to play a part in helping us achieve GOLD again then please get in touch. You can click CONTACT US or email the Bloom Co-ordinator directly: Fran Lee: 0121 706 0076 or email: fran.lee47@yahoo.co.uk

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A Good Morning’s Work

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Thanks so much to all those who spent the morning working on the Grand Union Canal on Sunday. It was perfect weather and we were pleased to see our colleague Steve from Canals and Rivers Trust return with all his equipment, as part of the Adopt a Stretch of Canal Scheme. We had some new volunteers who had seen our posters along the canal join up too. So we were able to achieve a lot.

The Graffiti Removal Guys
Repainting the Waymarker
Brian’s handywork
Enthusiastic newbies!
Hooray – the guys got the rubbish hanging from the tree!

Some of the wild flowers we sowed have come up, the trees we planted are doing well and we planted a few more native plants that C&RT brought along. We saw an array of boats and ducks on the water and it was a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable morning.

Our next meet up will be in September. If you would like to be on the mailing list to inform you of the next dates then just drop us a line via the ‘Contact Us‘ page.

 

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Canal Adoption Scheme – Sunday 5th June

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Our next meeting and tidy up session on the Grand Union is Sunday 5th June at 10am. Last time we met, Canals and Rivers Trust documented the scheme with a film and photos. Here are the photos they took.

We meet on the old Vineries Bridge at 10am. All equipment is provided by Canals and Rivers Trust. Come along and play a part in improving our historic waterway.

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What’s On in Acocks Green – This Week

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Kit Barlow

As well as the usual events and activities that go on in our vibrant suburban village, this week we have some events that are worth a special mention. For more information about what goes on in Acocks Green check out the What’s On in AG page and the Going’s On in AG and if you would like to update us then get in touch.

Satellite

Tuesday – Julian Harrison – from the world renowned British Library, who is curator of the current free Library of Birmingham’s Our Shakespeare Exhibition, will be in Acocks Green Library on Tuesday afternoon (2pm), to give what promises to be an interesting talk on Things You Didn’t Know about Shakespeare. You can’t fail to miss all the celebrations of the playwright’s life this year, but we are lucky to have a visit from this high profile academic who recently curated the Magna Carta Exhibition in the British Library, London. (Donations at end).

Wednesday – the long established Swansong Concert series returns with an evening of music from the Kelly Tye and the Delta Quartet.

delta quartet

The Delta Quartet

We are promised music for all tastes, arranged for clarinet and featuring Songs from the Shows. 7.30pm in the attractive surroundings of St Mary’s Church. (donations at end).

Saturday –Acocks Green Village, May Madness Circus Funday 11am to 4pm. Lots of free entertainment for all the family going on in the Village, learn Circus skills, enjoy live music from local cover band Revolver, Animals in Hands (fancy holding a 10 foot snake?!) and lots more!

So even more reason to invite your friends and family and spend time in Acocks Green!

welcome

New sign at Costa Coffee!

 

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Family Activities at Fox Hollies Park

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Kit Barlow

Here’s an opportunity to get out in the fresh air and get fitter in Acocks Green. The park is also having a litter pick this Saturday, meet at the Pavilion (Gospel Lane) at 11am – all equipment provided, come and enhance your local park and then enjoy it even more.

Fox Hollies Park FFF spring summer poster 2016

 

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