Westley Vale Warm Up

We are lucky to have the 5.5 acre Westley Vale Millennium Green in our area, offering a chance to get close to the natural world and a relaxing place to enjoy a walk or jog.  This time of year you can spot a variety of birds and ducks as well as lots of squirrels. There is also a good range of trees and the autumnal colours are most  impressive.  If anyone would like to share some photos of the Millennium Green then please get in touch. Here is one created and taken by the editor last weekend. The yellow leaves from the willow contrast well with the dark brown of the brown beech leaves.

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Land Art Installation Westley Vale – November 2015

Also on Saturday mornings there is a chance to really work up a sweat with the local Fitness company.  If you fancy trying it out, the first session is FREE.

PARKFIT FINAL.pdf

The main entrance to Westley Vale Millennium Green is on The Avenue.

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Towpath Upgrade and Temporary Closure

December Update – The resurfacing continues at a good pace. It is continuing to the boundary of Solihull, which is Lincoln Road Bridge.

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As part of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution Funding, which aims is to encourage more people to cycle, the upgrade of the towpath into Birmingham City Centre continues. It is soon to reach Acocks Green. Therefore the towpath from Yardley Road bridge to the corner of Oak Meadow will be closed to cyclists (and possibly pedestrians) from 16th November to 24th December, whilst the work takes place.

Cottesbrooke Walking Group next to Oak Meadow and the Grand Union. November 15

Cottesbrooke Walking Group next to Oak Meadow and the Grand Union. November 15

Fortunately, at the junction with Oak Meadow there is the alternative path that runs alongside the allotments and the Yardley Cemetery, and so hopefully the work won’t be too much of an inconvenience for those cyclists and walkers that use the towpath. Any more information that anyone has on the towpath work would be appreciated.

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Happy Twenty First to Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum

A Twenty First Celebration – A message from the Chair

1994 to 2015  Congratulations on reaching this  milestone

May I also offer a very special thanks to all the executive members and officers, who over these years, have voluntarily given their time and efforts to ensure there’s a place for the principles and work of the Forum, for the benefit of all.

We have had many projects and challenges that have resulted in successful outcomes. Hforumowever, one of our main aims is the opportunity to bring residents together, to share experiences and discuss topics. Many of these at our 69 public meetings, to date, where over 2000 residents have joined in with these discussions.  We have had many successes and influences  over the years, readily seen and reported and, of course, we have seen areas where we may not have been so successful. But one of our main aims is to promote community engagement and that our social neighbourhood should be a delight and a refuge, for the benefit of all who are involved with it.

Vineries Bridge, Acocks Green, received Grade II Listing thanks to AG Neighbourhood Forum

Vineries Bridge, Acocks Green, received Grade II Listing thanks to AG Neighbourhood Forum

Always, to continue to promote the interests of our local area and all its community, where we can  work together for the benefit of all.  Where belonging to a place and to support each other, is considered important, where there is  a feeling of engagement and connection to that place where we live and a sense  of being part and respect for who we are and our heritage, where we can hopefully, in some way, be able to influence what happens.

We are currently, experiencing many challenges and the times ahead may be difficult and we could foresee a reconfiguration of our experiences and circumstances.  Therefore, it may be even more important to maintain our collective engagements and values that make us who we are, a civic heritage that many of us still consider worthwhile and which has served us well, over many years.

Finally, it has been a great privilege to have served you over many of these years and to have had the opportunity to work with many great people  in Acocks Green.  To share their thoughts and ideas, to ask the many questions in search for the answers and to stay and remain safe and  hopeful for the future of our common interests, in Acocks Green.  A place that some of us still call the ‘Village.’

Therefore, let us continue and build on the strengths of ‘Team AG’, where anything is always possible.

Kind regards to you all

David Treadwell, Chair, Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum

Neighbourhood Forum Kitemark_RGBLogo (all)

 

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Panto Season is Just Round the Corner….

Fancy something interesting to do on the cold winter evenings?

stage

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Clean Up and Tidy Morning on the Grand Union Canal – This Sunday

We are lucky here in Acocks Green to have a stretch of the Grand Union Canal enhancing our local environment. The canal adds to the local heritage and offers humans and wildlife an oasis of calm. With the added greenery of Westley Vale Millennium Green beside the canal, you can easily forget you are in Birmingham at all!

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This Sunday we are having our fourth working morning with the Canals and Rivers Trust as part of the ‘Adopt a Stretch of Canal’ event and all locals are welcome to come along and help. Jobs include litter picking, cutting back branches and painting railings.

All locals are most welcome to come along and help improve our waterway for ourselves and the wildlife. All equipment is provided, just wear sensible shoes.

Meet at the old Vineries Bridge on Woodcock Lane at 10am – See you there!

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New Community Choir in Acocks Green

This looks like a pleasant distraction from the longer nights, cold weather and Sunday evening blues!  Everyone knows that singing lifts your spirits. All the information below, £2.50 per session or termly rate.

Kimichi Chamber Choir Poster jpeg

I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity…to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.
Paul McCartney (born 1942); Singer/songwriter

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Heritage Week come to Acocks Green

On Wednesday, as part of National Heritage Week, Acocks Green was graced by a visit from the Ikon Gallery Canal Boat and activities for local people to enjoy on Westley Vale Millennium Green. There were guided walks around Westley Vale, blackberry-picking, clay modelling, singing round the campfire and charcoal-sketching. Click on the pictures below to see them as a slideshow.

On board the boat there were other creative workshops. Local volunteers were treated to a boat trip along the Grand Union and, fortunately, the forecasted heavy rain never materialised. Lots of locals came along and took advantage of the opportunity to be creative on their doorstep.

Thanks to all those involved who helped to make this special creative event happen.

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********Acocks Gold********

What fantastic news for Acocks Green! Thanks to all those who have played a part in helping achieve this award. Here is what Fran the co-coordinator had to say:

Did I hear right?  I went up on stage to receive our award and could not believe it when the chairman said Acocks Green has been awarded ‘Gold’ in the Britain in Bloom campaign.’  What a great team effort from our volunteers, the council with the added bonus of all the wonderful planters and the BID.  It really does focus people’s efforts on putting things right.  Did anyone notice all the improvements made apart from the Smart Route which helped us to secure this coveted award?

Fran Lee receiving the Gold Award on behalf of Acocks Green Village in Bloom Project

Fran Lee receiving the Gold Award on behalf of Acocks Green Village in Bloom Project

You can find out lots more about the Village in Bloom project by clicking on the page:
Acocks Green Village in Bloom

Or to find out more about helping or donating then contact us on this website or
Fran Lee – Co-ordinator – Acocks Green Village in Bloom.
fran.lee47@yahoo.co.uk

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Allotments Get a New Environmentally-Friendly Loo

Thanks to a grant form the Big Lottery Fund, Wharfland Allotments in Acocks Green have installed the first toilet on the site in it’s 110 year existence.

The odourless eco-friendly toilet uses no water or electricity,  is solar powered and produces useful compost from waste.

Allotment Holders are proud of their new loo.

Allotment Holders are proud of their new loo.

Stephen Cox, the Treasurer of South Yardley Allotments Society who manage the site, said

“ It’s been a long wait but now the many ladies and families who rent plots have the convenience of a toilet on site. It has disabled access too, opening the site to the whole community for Open Days in the future, allowing us to offer plots to local schools and care homes.”

South Yardley Allotments Society manages two sites – Clay Lane and Wharfland and can be contacted via their website www.southyardleyallotments.btck.co.uk.If you are interested in renting one of the available plots find out more by visiting their website.

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Stone Hall Enrolment Week – Mon 7th to Sat 12th September 2015

Its that time of year again to think about taking advantage of the Adult Education opportunities available in our area. English, Maths and beginner Computer courses are free and depending on your personal circumstances other courses may be free too.

Here is the website that has all the information you need for courses across the city, or pick up the directory at the  library:  http://www.learnbaes.ac.uk/ Enrolment starts next week when Stone Hall will reopen. You can also phone the information line for more information – 0121 303 4318

As well as the basic courses there are a variety of courses for pleasure or to learn a new skill –  for example: clothes-making, acoustic guitar playing, learning Spanish or learning to sing. There are a good choice of courses at Stone Hall in Acocks Green and a huge variety across the many Adult Education Centres throughout the city.

Stone Hall Adult Education Centre, Warwick Rd.

Stone Hall Adult Education Centre, Warwick Rd.

The Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum website is often found by people searching for courses locally and by typing ‘Stone Hall’ into the search engine, so it seems only right that we spread the word and help promote the worthy message of education and self-improvement.

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