Mallard Close – Community Orchard

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Acocks Green Village in Bloom team have big plans to transform an untidy piece of wasteland in the village to a beautiful Community Orchard for locals to enjoy.  Work has already started with tidying up the site and planning the best trees and plants to make this unloved plot into an appreciated and beneficial greenspace.

volunteers preparing the ground, Mallard Close

volunteers preparing the ground, Mallard Close

Spearheading the project is Acocks Green Village in Bloom volunteer and co-ordinator Fran Lee.  With the help of community grants and volunteers, the space  should be a real asset to the village. The team hope that school children and parents from adjacent Holy Souls School and other locals will take a real interest in the development and progress of the site. The plan is that the fruit trees will be in the ground before March, so that they can establish during the spring and summer. A local organisation called Food Forest Brum have also offered their support.

It’s an exciting project and will add greatly to the Village in Bloom entry for 2013.  Last year, thanks to Fran’s organisation, support from the Acocks Green BID and local businesses and volunteers, Acocks Green Village won a bronze medal in the Urban Category.  With transformations projects such as this our village may win a silver this year! The local Neighbourhood Police Team have also been supporting the project, working with the Youth Forum and offering suggestions for possible community funding.  The team are always looking for more people who can help do a bit of gardening (no experience necessary). Next Sunday at 10am the group will meet at the site and anyone who can spare an hour or two is encouraged to join in and play their part in making a real positive difference to the neighbourhood.  If you would likYe to be involved in this project in some way please contact Fran:  fran.lee47@yahoo.co.uk or turn up on Sunday 9th December at 10am to meet the team and get digging!

AG Village in Bloom2 small

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Cottesbrooke Walking Group – Wednesdays 9am – Everyone Welcome – Updated February 2026

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Every Wednesday at 9am, Cottesbrooke Walking Group meet on Yardley Road (opposite junction of Wynford Road, by no.11 bus stop) for an hour’s stroll through the quieter parts of Acocks Green. The walk is free, the people are friendly and it’s an opportunity to chat, get some fresh air and exercise in a relaxed and informal way. New walkers are always welcomed warmly.  Afterwards end up at the local church hall for a hot drink and toast/fruit and to find out about what other things are going on in the area. For latest news on the Walking Group and pictures, Like them on Facebook.

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Walkers at Oak Meadow.

 

 

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Cuppa with a Copper

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Fancy an informal chat with the local police? They are a friendly bunch and every Wednesday will be in Costa Coffee in the village for an opportunity to meet with local people. The Police Neighbourhood team take a genuine interest in what’s happening in the area, so why not pop in and say hello hello hello.

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Baroque Delights enjoyed by many at St Mary’s Church

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Kit Barlow

A delightful evening of music was enjoyed by many local people on Wednesday as part of the Swansong musical evenings arranged by former librarian Mike Byrne. This was the end of the 20th season of music evenings. It was good to see such a large audience for a cold November evening.  Usually the concerts take place in Acocks Green Library, but because of proposed building work the vicar of St Marys, Revd Andrew Bullock,  has kindly opened the beautiful church to the concert evenings recently.

CBSO Baroque Ensemble perform at St Marys Church, Acocks Green

The enthusiastic CBSO Baorque Ensemble – Julia Beisswanger – violin, Kelly McCusker -violin, Jackie Tyler – cello and Martin Perkins – harspichord presented a programme of music with a common theme: ‘Upon a Ground’ – referring to a Ground Bass which they explained is a short, recurring melodic pattern in the bass part of a composition that serves as the principal structural element.  The evening included pieces by Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi as well as lesser known baroque composers – Vitali and Marini. Each musician spoke about their specially-made baroque instruments and even took questions from the inquisitive and appreciative audience.

Thanks go again to the wonderful musicians, Mike Byrne for his dedicated organisation of the long-running Swansong musical series and Revd. Bullock for his church’s hospitality.  We look forward to future musical evenings next year. Check out our What’s On Page for forthcoming events, or if you know of any other public events that you would like to share, please get in contact.

Did you attend this event? Share your views and thoughts by commenting on this post.

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**** Stop Press******Baroque Music – Wednesday 21st November,7.30pm @ St Mary’s Church, Acocks Green

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Kit Barlow

******* The CBSO Baroque Players will grace Acocks Green with their enchanting music again – this Wednesday – 7.30pm , St Marys Church, Warwick Rd.  Free Entry, collection at end. Refreshments, everyone welcome *****************************

See below the write up of last year’s concert.

Another exceptional Swansong at Acocks Green Village Library, on the evening of Wednesday 30th June, when over 50 Folk enjoyed the music from the CBSO Baroque Players.

Rachel Latham- flute, Julia Beisswanger, Kelly McCusker- violins, Jackie Tyler-cello, Martin Perkins- harpsichord. They are part of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which brings live music out to the communities, called CBSO On The Road and which is supported by generous funding from Mitchells and Butlers Ltd.

The players were thought sensitive to the various pieces and the spirit of the time and composition.  Particularly evident from the violin exchanges in the “Sanguineus et Melancholicus” in C minor.

Fredrick II (1712-1786), the title of the concert (See Portrait) was the son of Frederick William I, who was born in Berlin and as an adult studied music and literature, and himself wrote and composed music.  He was an enlightened absolute monarch, who favoured the French Language, and studied art and music. He had built a French Rocco Palace, `San Souci` near Berlin.

“From the Court of Frederick the Great”
Johann Gottlieb Janitsch (1708-1763) : Sonata da Camera in B flat, Op 3 (c1760)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) : Harpsichord Sonata in B flat
Sonata: “Sanguineus et Melancholicus” in C minor (1749)
Johann Joachim Quantz (1697-1773) : Sonata per il Flauto Traverso solo in B flat (c1743)
Carl Heinrich Graun (1704-1759) : Adagio in D minor for harpsichord
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach : Trio Sonata in C Wq.147 (1747)

The next Swansong concert is arranged for Wednesday 21st July 1900hrs at Acocks Green Library, with Stella Sims (mezzo-soprano) singing Romantic songs from Russia and elsewhere.  Costs and expenses supported by audience donations.”

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Get Digging in Acocks Green!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Did you know that there are plots available at our local allotments?  Allotment gardening offers a great opportunity to get fitter, grow lots of healthy fruit and vegetables and meet other gardeners to share ideas, successes and failures! If you are interested in renting a plot you can drop in to the allotment site beside the canal, just off Yardley Road on Sunday mornings to find out more. This is a good time to start gardening, in order to start preparing the ground for spring planting. To enter the allotment site walk down the gated path opposite Wynford Road that runs beside the Grand Union Canal and Yardley Cemetery.

Rates start from as little as £30  (or £15 over 60s) per year for a small plot .

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Festive Extravaganza – Saturday 17th November

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Kit Barlow

The festive season is fast approaching, and not long now until Acocks Green Village is lit up by Christmas Lights.  On Saturday 17th November is the big Switch On but also there will be a Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts Fair of local handmade gifts. Click on flyer below for all the details.  There are also still a few opportunites for local crafts people to have a special rate market stall – just £15 for the day. If you are interested then contact the BID Manager : agvbidinfo@gmail.com or visit the website: www.acocksgreenbid.com

 

See you there!

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This Saturday – St Mary’s Autumn Fair

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Kit Barlow

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Public Meeting this Tuesday – 30th October, 7.30pm

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Kit Barlow

Everyone in the area is welcome to our next Public Meeting this Tuesday at 7.30pm. The venue is the usual – the Baptist Church Hall on Yardley Road, close to the Police Station.

Autumn colours, Woodcock Lane, Acocks Green

There will be guests speakers from the West Midlands Police Security Partnership Team and The Fire Service.  It is an opportunity to find out more about what is going on in your area and speak directly to local organisations. Les Williams from Waste Management will be on hand with any concerns as well as our local councillors. Come along for a cuppa, a chance to chat to other local people and share concerns and neighbourhood news.

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Stockfield Youth Programme

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Kit Barlow

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Young people from the Stockfield area are invited to come along to Stockfield Youth Programme which happens on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon/evenings and Saturday mornings. The SYP offers table tennis, pool, football and Wii games.

Tues 4.30pm – 6.00pm for 8 – 13 yrs

Tues 6.00pm til 7.30pm for 14 – 18 yrs.

Wednesdays SYP are at Arthur Moore church hall for GIRLS ONLY 4.30pm til 6.00pm  aged 8 – 13 yrs. and at the POD (In Stockfield Park), from 6.00pm – 7.30pm for 14 -18 yrs (both sexes)

Saturday is football 10.00am til 2.00 pm and the POD is also open.

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