Big Dig Day – Mallard Community Orchard

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Kit Barlow

Thanks to all the locals who came along to Mallard Community Orchard on Saturday 16th March to take part in the first ever Big Dig, a national campaign to encourage community gardening and growing food together. Despite the cold and drizzle, lots of volunteers got stuck into the digging and 7 fruit trees were planted as well as fruit bushes, including blackcurrants and an unusual edible honeysuckle. After 4 months of hard digging the orchard is nearly complete.  Whilst working on the land the volunteers have found a selection of buried ‘treasure’ which was put on a display table, and is now known as The Acocks Green Hoard.

Thanks to The Spread Eagle  and The Swan Trio who supplied refreshments to the thirsty gardeners.  Also thanks to all the locals who came to say hello and express their interest and support. There is still lots more gardening and tidying work to do as part of the Village in Bloom and new volunteers are always welcome.  Here is a selection on photos from the day, if anyone else has some to share,  please get in touch.

Digging holes for the fruit trees

The famous Acocks Green Hoard

The famous Acocks Green Hoard

Enjoying the mud

Enjoying the mud

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Community Supporters

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Kit Barlow

A Big Thanks goes to West Midlands Police this week for their donation to Acocks Green’s Village in Bloom Campaign.  On Wednesday Sgt. Mark Fellows from Acocks Green Neighbourhood Police Team presented a cheque of £833 to the campaign.  The funding is from the Police Property Act Fund, this is money raised from property which comes into the possession of the police in connection with a crime and where the owner cannot be found and helps to fund many worthwhile community projects.

Volunteers - Phil, Fran and Ann being presented cheque from Sgt Fellows and PCSO Large

Sgt Mark Fellows presents a cheque to Fran Lee, co-ordinator of Village in Bloom. Also pictured PCSO Kevin Large and volunteers Phil Harten and Ann Clarke

Village in Bloom is a project to improve the look of our village with planting, tidying and instilling a pride in our local environment. In July official judges will come to see our improvements. Last year was the first time our village was entered and we received a Bronze Award. You can see more photos and information about the project here

At the forefront of the Village in Bloom project is the soon to be planted orchard in Mallard Close. This piece of land that has been derelict for nearly 50 years is being transformed into a community orchard with a variety of fruit trees and shrubs and a raised circular brick herb bed. Thanks to the dedication and hardwork of volunteers the back-breaking work to clear the site of couch grass, weeds, rubble and 50 years of litter is nearing completion.  Tree and shrub planting will be taking place during The Big Dig Event on Saturday 16th March between 10-12 noon. Local people are welcome to come along and help.

Thanks is also due to the local buidling company EH Smith. They kindly donated the bricks and gravel for the herb bed and path. Also thanks to Food Forest Brum an organisation that supports community gardening, as they have kindly donated a selection of fruit trees for us to plant.

Volunteers meet Wednesdays and Sundays at 10am in the Green to work on improving the look of the village by gardening, tidying and painting.  New volunteers are always very welcome to join the team.

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Public Meeting this Evening – Tuesday 26th February 7.30pm

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Kit Barlow

Date: Tuesday 26th February

where:  Baptist Community Hall, Yardley Road. (close to Police Station)

when: 7.30pm

What:  Public Meeting, everyone in the local area is welcome.  Refreshments served.

Guest Speaker from the Magistrates Service.

Local Neighbourhood Police and Manager from Waste Management will also be present to answer queries.

Snow Steps Westley Vale, Acocks Green

Snow Steps Westley Vale, Acocks Green

Come along and find out more about what’s going on in your area.

 

 

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Progress on Mallard Community Orchard

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Kit Barlow

Progress is going well on the Mallard Close Orchard. Sunday morning saw 10 enthusiastic volunteers helping prepare the land for the tree-planting which takes place on Saturday 16th March. This will be as part of  The Big Dig national event, encouraging people to get involved in community gardening schemes. Read more about it on their website and come along to the orchard on the day.

With all the digging over the last few months on the site, we were really hoping to find a Saxon Hoard or at least some valuable jewellery or maybe old British King or two. Mostly we have found historic sweet wrappers; there have been few interesting finds though. On the day of the Big Dig, we will have a table displaying all the ‘treasures’ that have been dug up.

Diggers United - fresh air, exercise and community spirit!

Diggers United – fresh air, exercise and community spirit!

Thanks to the support from local people who have taken an interest in the project and said nice words of encouragement, its great to hear that our work is appreciated.  The orchard is part of the Village in Bloom Project, which Acocks Green is taking part in this year for the second time. If you are interested in getting involved send us a message or come along on Sunday or Wednesday morning, from 10am. More photos and information can be seen on the Village in Bloom page.

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Table Top Sale this Saturday – St Mary’s Church

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Kit Barlow

table top sale

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Energy Saving Initiative in Acocks Green

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Kit Barlow

The Neighbourhood Forum has been contacted by the Energy Wise Co Op Organisation who are working with the Government and Birmingham City Council to reduce energy costs for households by making our homes more efficient to keep warm.  All the details you require are included below:

Birmingham Energy Savers : Saving energy. Saving money. Saving carbon: Community Engagement Programme

Birmingham Energy Savers has been set up by Birmingham City Council to implement the Green Deal, which is the Government’s programme to make our homes warmer and more comfortable, as well as reducing our carbon emissions.

energy owl

Birmingham Energy Savers is working with Carillion to raise awareness of the scheme and to find households who would like their properties to benefit from energy saving improvements. These improvements will include:

  • New Boiler
  • Improved Heating controls
  • Insulation for hard-to-treat cavity walls
  • Loft insulation, including top up of existing insulation.
  • Solid wall insulation

Anyone who thinks their home might benefit from any of these improvements is invited to apply.

Whatever your tenure, rental or owner-occupier, and whatever your income, you are eligible to apply for these improvements.

For those on means-tested benefits, there will be a 100% grant, and for others there will probably be 90% funding.

If you would like to receive more information about this programme phone  email: info@energywise.coop or  phone: 0800 917 5772

Please pass this information on to your friends, neighbours and work colleagues.

Alison Crane & Sarah Napier

Energywise Co-op

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Acocks White

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Kit Barlow
Snow Steps Westley Vale, Acocks Green

Snow Steps Westley Vale, Acocks Green

IMG_5981 (1)

Whoooo! In Westley Vale

An icy Grand Union Canal

An icy Grand Union Canal

Vineries Bridge 1793

Vineries Bridge 1793

Sledging fun in Westley Vale

Sledging fun in Westley Vale

Snowy Path. Thanks to Ann Clarke for this beautiful picture

Snowy Path. Thanks to Ann Clarke for this beautiful picture

Path from Vineries Bridge

Path from Vineries Bridge

Thanks to David Treadwell and Ann Clarke for some good photos capturing ‘The Big Freeze’ of January 2013. Get in touch if you would like some of your snowy photos of Acocks Green to be added.

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Street Dance for Girls **** Every Wednesday*****Cottesbrooke Junior

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Kit Barlow

A great New Year opportunity for girls in Acocks Green – Sport4Life charity are launching a Street Dance after school class at Cottesbrooke Junior School. It’s free and fun and a way for girls to make new friends and get more active.  All the details you should need are below, click on picture to enlarge:

Stockfield Youth Programme - Grils Only Dance (1)-page-001

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Craft Fair and Farmers Market this Saturday 15th December

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Kit Barlow

The weather forecast looks mild and dry for the last Acocks Green market day of 2012. There will be over 25 stalls to mooch around so come on down to the village to pick up some bargains. There will also be a community stall and there is an exclusive, first time ever – Acocks Green Calendar on sale, pubished by Acocks Green Focus Group .

photo courtesy of Acocks Green BID

photo courtesy of Acocks Green BID

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Orchard Update – Preparing the Ground – come along and help – 10am Sunday 20th January

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Thanks to the many volunteers who turned out over the last three Sundays mornings (and Wednesdays) in midwinter, to help prepare the ground for the exciting new Village in Bloom project – Mallard Close Orchard, with this great team work it won’t take long for the site to be ready for planting the fruit trees, giving them time to establish before the spring.

Many hands make light work! Volunteers on Sunday morning

Many hands make light work! Volunteers on Sunday morning

We will be meeting every  Sunday, from 10am onwards. We are hopeful that more people will come along with enthusiasm to help with the digging and clearing the land.  As they say – ‘many hands make light work!’  It is rewarding to see the progress, and once this lovely orchard is established and nicely maintained,  people who have helped, in anyway, can feel proud to have been part of such a positive project for our village.

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