Details for Martineau Gardens Autumn Event.
Apple pressing, seasonal produce, children’s wildlife activities, gardening workshops and live music from local musicians are some of the treats in store for visitors to Martineau Gardens annual Autumn Event on Sunday 27th September from 11am–3pm. The organically maintained Community Garden, in Edgbaston, is holding a family-friendly ‘green’ fete to celebrate the Autumn harvest.
Apples and grapes from Martineau Gardens’ orchard will be pressed during the event with a traditional wooden press, to produce tasty fruit juices. The Garden’s seasonal harvest will be for sale including home-made jams, freshly-cut vegetables and salads and honey made by local bees. Gardeners will enjoy the opportunity to stock up on the Gardens’ plants and compost and there will be expert gardeners on hand to deal with gardening queries, plus a gardening workshop.
During the day, there will be live performances from Black Adder Morris Dancers, the Black Shrews, the Cotteridge Folk Band and Drum Voice. On sale will be delicious home-made cakes, salads and sandwiches and other refreshments, inspired by the garden harvest.
The Gardens are a place for children to get close to nature. Crafty Kika with Kids (http://www.craftykidswithkika.com/) will be running environmental arty-crafty sessions and Alex Laight (www.monstereyesevents.blogspot.co.uk) will show you how to do kumihimo. A Japanese form of braid-making, using cords and discs, great to keep busy fingers entertained. The Shipwreck play area is a popular spot for picnicking and play.
Local community groups will be running stalls including the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and Birmingham Friends of the Earth. It’s Save a Life September – St John Ambulance will be running demonstrations. Robbie Hornby will bring beautiful watercolour illustrations, Maggie Hunter handcrafted boxes and knitted craft and Suburban Plants will bring plants for sale.
The Community Garden, just two miles from Birmingham city centre, is a green oasis teeming with wildlife and is looked after by volunteers, many of whom have mental health issues and learning disabilities. Hundreds of school children visit the Gardens to learn about science and environmental issues. Every year Birmingham people visit the gardens to explore its woodland, glass houses, formal garden, orchard, demonstration food growing areas, wildflower meadow, pond and wildlife area with SLINC status.
Director Caroline Hutton sways “Martineau Gardens are a community-run garden which is open for the people of Birmingham to visit. This event will be a chance to find out a bit more about gardening and the growing year, plus have some fun and relax.”
Martineau Gardens are open Monday to Saturday, 10am–4pm and are free entry except on event days. Admission fee for the Autumn Event is non-members £3, concessions £1, families £6 and free to members. The Gardens are at 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG. Located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. Information at www.martineau-gardens.org.uk or by calling 0121 440 7430. Additional public parking for this event will be at the Priory Hospital (across the road) by permission of the hospital.
