Birmingham’s botched consultation over Library Services has sparked outrage, proposing massive cuts in services and a vague move to voluntary sector/ volunteer led services. However, reading top lines of Birmingham Council Literature you’d be forgiven for thinking the ‘revamp’ or ‘reset’ was a well considered, much needed move from decrepit libraries to a modern service […]
On 11th May we walked with Birmingham Loves Libraries and local library lovers a distance of some 5 miles between Druids Heath and Selly Oak Libraries and talked to people about why Libraries were important to them. Many of Birmigham’s Public Libraries were built as part of a campaign to provide public libraries within walking […]
New laws like the Police and Crime Bill 2022, Public Order Act 2023 and Criminal Justice Bill 2023 have drastically changed police powers in the UK. Despite “deeply disturbing” handling of crowds at events like a vigil for Sarah Everard in 2021, we are starting to see the effects in cases like Phoebe Plummer’s. There […]
Heritage Compass Symposium 2023 explored ideas and solutions to ‘What does business resilience in the small to medium sized heritage sector look like in 2023?’ About 150 people from across the UK in the Heritage, Culture and Arts sectors, people I had seen on zooms over the past year as part of a Business Support […]
We had a lot of fun planting apple trees this spring. Woodcraft Folk, Swan Corner Community and Billesley Lane Allotments are working together to look after five new trees this year, kindly donated by Thatchers Cider. Now it’s time to care for and enjoy them. It may be a while before we will be able […]
Trees really do bring people together – from 2020 early pandemic I’ve been distributing trees to groups and individuals and witnessed groups and networks forming around trees. It’s not just the planting or caring for them. Like the fabulous grove planted by Tree Sisters, Highbury Orchard, and Fruit and Nut Village, it’s making ‘places for […]
A new group is starting running outdoor activities for children 6 and under in Kings Heath/ Moseley/ Balsall Heath area. We are running free taster meetings on a monthly basis to try out some of the many great venues before the group plan to meet on a weekly basis starting in the New Year. The […]
Young people from Woodcraft Folk slept out last night at Martineau Gardens to raise funds and awareness about youth homelessness. Youth homelessness is still increasing at an alarming rate often caused by violence, abuse, family breakdown and problems with mental health: young people often become homeless because it’s safer to leave home than to stay. […]
Want to plant trees but don’t know where to start? There are processes in place to plant trees in public spaces, places you can get free trees and advice on tree planting locally and nationally. Permission to plant trees Council departments and local groups will be helpful but sometimes it can get complicated working out […]
Sometimes just listening can make a difference – become a community listener! We need to gather people’s thoughts and experiences on Low Traffic streets to find out what might work best in the future. We want better streets designed for people’s priorities and looking to improve everyone’s air quality and environment. Get in touch with […]