A Haven of Peace and Quiet

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Yardley Cemetery is a huge, historic, public open space to explore and enjoy in Acocks Green.  It’s also a short cut for people living around Clay Lane who want to get to Yardley Rd for the number 11 bus and perhaps AG train station.  However most people wouldn’t think of wandering or cycling through the graveyard.  Why is this?  Is it the association of death, the great certainty and yet the great taboo?  Is it because it makes us face our own fragility and mortality?  Or are we scared of  the ghosts?!

Garden of Remembrance, Yardley Cemetery

Cottesbrooke Walking Group (that meets on Wednesdays) regularly takes advantage of this traffic-free haven.  We walk, chat, look at gravestones, enjoy the changing seasons and make the most of  the space for what it is – a green and tranquil place with hidden corners, history and calmness.  Of course there are aspects of sadness associated with any graveyard. They make us think of  those we have lost,  but also give us an opportunity to reflect and think about what we have and how we should make the most of our time on this earth.

Avenue of trees adjacent to Clay Lane

But this tranquil green space should not be a place just for reflection.  It is a place bursting with greenery and nature and can offer people a chance to enjoy the outdoors, feel connected to the natural world, give  some escapism from frantic city life and, best of all,  it’s on our doorstep.

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Mystery View – Number 2

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Any guesses as to the wherabouts of this striking avenue of poplars in our Neighbourhood Forum patch?

The first person to contact us with the right answer gets a mystery prize.

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Green Spaces Galore

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Kit Barlow

This time of year is great to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  Surprisingly Birmingham offers huge swathes of open space for us to enjoy – our area is no exception.  As well as the canal and the delightful Westley Vale Millennium Green there are other gems of greenery.  For example this wide open space in our patch.  Do you recognise it?

Thanks to Mark Hewson for the right answer – this pleasant piece of outdoors is beside the Grand Union Canal and next to Cambridge Way and is called Oak Meadow. We are looking for more mystery photos of the area.  Why not send them in to the site and we can try and guess where they might be.

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Music to Our Ears – Swansong at the Library

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Kit Barlow

This is a review of a recent musical event that took place at Acocks Green Library on 21st July – Swansong.  Thanks to David Treadwell for his review.  If you would like to attend the next musical evening (22nd September) contact the library directly.

Swansong Review

An enjoyable occasion  in the company of approximately 50 others as part of an Evening of International Classical Songs and Piano solos, with Stella Seaton-Sims (mezzo-soprano) and Phillip Ypres-Smith (piano)

The programme was a selection of romantic songs and music from around Europe and Russia, admirably performed by both artists.

We were also honoured to be present for the World Premiere of two of the pieces, one from a local composer Richard Green with his piano composition titled ‘Five Bells’ and the programme concluding with a piano composition from our guest pianist Phillip Ypres-Smith, titled ‘Five Preludes’

Stella Seaton-Sims has a broad repertoire of sacred and secular music but her keen interest is in Russian music, which has taken her several times to Moscow, where she researched and studied with Prof Galina Pisarenko of the Moscow Conservatoire, one of the trips having been sponsored by West Midland Arts.

Phillip Ypres-Smith studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and subsequently joined the staff as a répétiteur and vocal coach before working as a freelance musician.

We had another local connection in that Mr Harry Seabourne who was present, assisted with some of the Russian Translation.

The Next Swansong Concert to look forward to is on Wednesday 22nd September at 7.30pm, when we have a visit from The Queens Park Sinfonia, who will be performing music by Mendelssohn and Strauss.

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Unemployed in Acocks Green?

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Did you know there is a local Job Club for people who are unemployed and looking for work in our area?  Click on the link below for more information

http://bestforyardley.org.uk/

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Lots Happening at Acocks Green Library

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Every Wednesday during the school holidays there are activities for children from 6 to 11 yrs at Acocks Green Library. Each sessions lasts from 10 to 11.30am, (apart from Wed 28th July which has a 12 – 1). The sessions encourage creativity and fun with other children.  For more information and to book please phone the library on 464 1738.

Also, on most Wednesday afternoons Fox Hollies Children’s Centre are holding activity and booktime sessions for the under 5s at the library. (All under 5s must be accompanied by a parent or carer). Again call in or phone to book a place. There are lots more activities going on in the area – information available from the library.

(Click on our link to the South Yardley Children’s Centre too.  Under 5s activities going on in our area during the holidays).

Want to give up smoking?  Help is at hand at the library:

Drop in advice and support 11am to 1pm every Saturday, no appointment necessary.  For more info contact: 465 5417.  This website may be useful to those wanting to quit too:  http://www.losethesmoker.co.uk

Also don’t forget there is  free internet access and lots of books and music at your local library!

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Twentys Plenty Campaign

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Kit Barlow

In December Joe Peacock from Birmingham Friends of the Earth, came along to talk to our Public Meeting about their campaign to reduce speed limits on residential roads.  This prompted an interesting discussion on the subject.  Everyone agreed that a 20mph speed limit would be most appropriate around schools.

Twentys Plenty Poster Competition : Runner-Up Phoebe Way

To coincide with Walk to School Week in May Birmingham FOE launched a poster campaign to promote Twentys Plenty.   Children from Birmingham schools were encouraged to enter and the entry from Phoebe Way,  a Year 3 pupil from our local Cottesbrooke Junior School, was chosen as runner up.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth with support from a number of other organisations nationally and locally are asking the council to introduce a 20mph default speed limit on all residential roads throughout Birmingham.

According to FOE,  Birmingham City Council will only support 20mph speed limits in certain areas, mostly around schools. The main reasoFn given is that it would not be cost-effective to implement.

FOE believe that implementing 20mph on all residential roads does not require the introduction of expensive traffic calming methods.  They say that in other towns it has been shown to reduce traffic collision rates with children and other vulnerable road users considerably, which has significant cost implications.

Overall, the benefits of introducing a city-wide 20mph speed limit are that it would encourage a shift from driving to walking and cycling, creating a healthier environment in which communities could thrive. This would also help to deal with two of the major threats that our society faces today; climate change and obesity.

If you would like to help Birmingham FOE make this scheme a reality contact them on 0121 632 6909 or email campaigns@birminghamfoe.org.uk

Or you can share your views on the subjects with us.  Click on the comment link.

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Come and see us at Acocks Green Carnival

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Kit Barlow

If you want a really want to feel some community spirit then come along to Acocks Green Carnival on Saturday 3rd July.  The Neighbourhood Forum will have a stall selling bargain plants as well as the only contemporary postcard of Acocks Green in existence.

There will be over 50 charity stalls, lots of entertainment and refreshments.  The Carnival procession leaves Archbishop Ilsleys at 1pm, goes through the Green, and arrives at the Carnival site – the Recreation Ground Westley Road, at 1.30pm.

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Flowers and Heroes

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Local people may remember Mike Wheale, a local council parks officer who was very supportive to the needs of our community over many years service and retired towards the end of 2009. Mike only had a few months left to complete his 50 years public service with Birmingham City Council, which would allow him to have attained an appropriate RHS recognition of 50 years service with a medal and bar.

Fortunately, the Birmingham Parks Service had been invited by the RHS to return with a large floral display after a break of 10 years to the Chelsea Flower Show, which was to be followed by a showing at the BBC Gardeners World and the “Gardeners Weekend” show in Kings Heath Park .

This subsequently allowed Mike to act as a consultant and share his expertise with this discipline and achieve his well deserved RHS 50 Year medal. The display was supported by a substantial donation from B&Q and the theme of the display was in support of “Help for Heroes“, titled “The Road to Recovery Garden” which we understand achieved a silver medal award at Chelsea and a further award at “Gardeners World” The two floral displays depicted a Spitfire and a `Chinook Helicopter` above a sustainable garden built to show the journey that our injured troops face from battlefield to home, as a symbol of hope in the start of their journey

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South Yardley Childrens Centre – Activities on Yardley Rd.

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Kit Barlow

In March South Yardley Children’s Centre held a Funday at the Church Hall on Yardley Road to launch new support services in our area.  The centre is making use of the hall on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  On Tuesday there is a Healthy Living Group and on Thursday there is a Bumps to Babies Group.

For more information about the Children’s Centre activities phone 772 0110 or call in to see them at the hall on Tues/Thurs afternoon.  Nearby,  in South Yardley Library, the centre also runs a Young Parents Group – every other Tuesday 12 to 1.30pm

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