Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th June – Community Festival at St Marys Church

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Kit Barlow

St Mary's community festival poster

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Commemorating World War I in the Village

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Kit Barlow

This year commemorates 100 years since the beginning of World War I. It is a time therefore, to remember those who were lost in the effort to protect our country during the war years 1914 to 1918, including some former residents of Acocks Green. We are lucky to have an attractive war memorial outside our library which is a constant reminder of those locally who gave up their lives. The Village in Bloom team always make an effort to keep the planting around the area attractive and appropriate.

Poppies are the flowers of remembrance as they flourished on the battlefields of France after the war.  On a lovely sunny day at the end of April the Bloom volunteers were fortunate to have the help of some of the children from Acocks Green Primary School who sowed hundreds of poppy seeds. Fran Lee, the Bloom co-ordinator, explained to the young gardeners the significance of sowing the poppies to remember the fallen soldiers. The children then mixed the seeds with sand so they could see where they had been sprinkled, they then watered them in.  So look out for an array of red poppies around the memorial site soon.

 

 

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Acocks Green Village in Bloom Launch

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Kit Barlow

launchApril

 

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This Sunday, 6th April, at Westley Vale Millennium Green

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Come down and enjoy some springtime weather, fresh air and exercise and join other volunteers to tidy up our lovely Millennium Green from 10am to 1pm. Meet at The Avenue gates. Tools are provided. Bring gardening gloves, energy and enthusiasm! Refreshments for all volunteers.

Westley Vale Gates. The Avenue

Westley Vale Gates. The Avenue

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Rural Scenes in Acocks Green

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Fox Hollies Environmental Centre is run by Fox Hollies Community Association (registered Charity 701230) and is on Greenwood Avenue, Acocks Green, B27 7RA.

The centre provides local children and parents with the opportunity to experience farm animals, gardening and wildlife first hand. It has become an important educational resource for local primary schools to use as a study centre and it also offers work experience placements and volunteer work for local colleges, secondary schools and the public.  After-school clubs and youth groups have also used the centre for a series of project based work.

Established 25 years ago the centre had a very successful re-opening in September 2013 by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, after a major refurbishment.

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Entrance is free however they do ask for a donation to help towards the feeding of the animals. Volunteers are always welcome. Group and school visits by arrangement.  They also have a pet shop.  Fox Hollies Pet Shop offers a large range of pet food and pet toys it opens with Centre’s opening hours.

Usual Opening Times: –
Winter months Monday to Friday 1pm to 4pm
Summer months 2pm- 5pm
every Saturday 10.30-4pm  including school holidays for children and adults to visit.

You can contact the centre on 0121 706 0652.

At the moment it houses pigmy goats, sheep, chickens and ducks, together with a number of small animals and reptiles. It also have a garden area with raised beds for disabled use. They are developing ‘growing and eating’ projects as part of the refurbishment. The Princes Trust renovated our wildlife area and they are now able to offer a ‘ Forest School’ experience. With Spring in the air they are looking forward to lots of visitors and new activities for all ages from growing and cooking to animal husbandry.
For further details contact Louise Crampton 706 0652  or email: foxholliescommassoc@gmail.com
Also now introducing: Monday Gardening Group – ‘Grow Your Own Vegetables’ 1.30pm to 3pm – Come along and meet resident gardener Elaine Scott. She will show you how to grow your own vegetables, flowers, hanging baskets and patio plants. £2.50 per week which includes seeds, seedlings, use of tools and advice. You can also have a garden plot to grow your vegetables on site. Further details from Elaine on address/number above.
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Standing Up to Litter

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Kit Barlow

At the Acocks Green Ward Committee Meeting last week the Environmental Health Officer for our area – Kate Careford suggested a litter pick on the Yardley Road, following the on-going concerns about the untidiness of the area.  It was arranged for Monday 3rd March, and even though it was raining, a hardy bunch of locals and Kate made a great effort to clean up our neighbourhood.

The hardy bunch of volunteers - Thanks for your help guys.

The hardy bunch of volunteers – thanks for your help guys.

Thanks to those helpers and to Kate for her initiative. With the council’s financial problems, perhaps organised litter-picks are one way of fighting the tide of rubbish.  Also we can encourage the disposal of rubbish responsibly in the first place and try to pick up litter outside our own homes. We can all play a part, and have a positive impact on our area.

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A Conservation Area for Acocks Green? ***Last Public Consultation Event – Tues 11th 6pm-8pm***

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Kit Barlow

At the Neighbourhood Forum’s last Public Meeting, we had an interesting presentation by Architect Joe Holyoak about a proposed Conservation Area for Acocks Green.

A Conservation Area is an area of architectural interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve, keep or enhance.

– Planning Act, 1990 (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas)

Proposed Conservation Area, Acocks Green

Proposed Conservation Area, Acocks Green

The proposed area has Acocks Green Railway station in the centre and the architecture reflects the development of the area from a Worcestershire village to a thriving suburban area, largely because of the improved transport links.  There is a Public Consultation taking place on 3rd, 8th and 11th March for residents to learn more about the plan and to express their views. A full list of the roads included and the details of the consultation are here: Page 1, & Page 2. Also look out for leaflets being delivered around the proposed area.

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Now We Can Recycle More

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Kit Barlow

The plastics that are now accepted within Birmingham’s recycling boxes  are:

• Plastic bottles of all types
• Yoghurt pots
• Margarine tubs
• Ice cream tubs
• Plastic trays (e.g.from chocolate and biscuit boxes) that are NOT black in colour
• Trays from meat and fish
• Fruit and vegetable punnets
• All bottle tops, lids and triggers
• Cream and custard pots
• Soup pots
• Instant Noodle pots
• Tubs for dishwasher and laundry tablets

ALSO now accepted: Aluminium foil

Continue reading →

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Free Debt Advice Drop-In Sessions

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Money Advice Poster GH-500px

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Public Meeting – Tuesday 28th January – 7.30pm

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Our next Public Meeting takes place on Tuesday. Our guest speaker is Joe Holyoak, architect and Urban designer, who has made a study of Acocks Green Village and it’s historical development through the different architectural styles that exist in our area. He will give a slide presentation offering insight into some familiar buildings in our neighbourhood.  There is a proposal to make part of Acocks Green a Conservation Area, which is an official recognition of the historical value of some buildings. We already have several Grade II Buildings, including the Police Station and the Baptist Church.

Acocks Green Police Station - Grade II Listed

Acocks Green Police Station – Grade II Listed

We also welcome to the meeting Jenny Millward – The Acocks Green Ward Champion, and are expecting a respresentative from Fleet and Waste Management and an update from The local Police.

There will be refreshments and an opportunity to raise any concerns or comments.

Everyone welcome, so come along and find out more.

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