Anniversary to be marked by Spring Event.
One of the longest running Community Gardens in Birmingham, Martineau Gardens, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary on Sunday 14 May, from 11am–3pm, with its Spring Event.
When the city council-run environmental centre closed in 1997, a group of local people came together to create a community garden that would stay open for free, for the public of Birmingham to visit and care for. Supporters included former staff, neighbours, Birmingham Friends of the Earth and members of the Martineau family. Today Martineau Gardens is a thriving independently run charity: volunteers (many of whom have mental health issues and learning disabilities) care for the Gardens, hundreds of school children come to learn about the environment and Birmingham people (now in their thousands) visit the Gardens annually to enjoy its peace and tranquility.
The Spring Event will celebrate twenty years of Community Gardening at Martineau Gardens. A gardening workshop, live music (including performances from Black Adder Morris, Drum Voice and Moseley Village Band) and children’s wildlife and craft activities are some of the treats in store for visitors to the family-friendly green fete.
The Honey Stall with its demonstration bee hive will show the importance of bees role in pollinating crops and gardeners will enjoy the opportunity to stock up on Martineau Gardens’ Spring herbaceous plants and compost. Garden experts will be on hand to answer gardening questions and selling plants grown at the Gardens. There will also be a gardening workshop. Freshly-cut vegetables will be for sale.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics, but there will be delicious home-made cakes, salads and sandwiches and other refreshments on sale. The Gardens, though only two miles from Birmingham city centre, are a green oasis teeming with wildlife. There’s plenty to enjoy within the two and a half-acre organically maintained garden, including woodland (with SLINC status), glass houses, formal gardens, orchard, vegetable plots, wildflower meadow, a nature trail, a bird hide, a children’s ‘shipwreck’ play area and more.
Caroline Hutton, Director of Martineau Gardens said “In an uncertain financial climate, when many small independent charities have closed, against the odds Martineau Gardens is celebrating 20 years of community gardening. Thanks to the commitment made by volunteers, staff and supporters over the years, we will be celebrating this achievement at our Spring Event.”
The Spring Event takes place at Martineau Gardens on Sunday 14th May, 11am–3pm at 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG. Admission is £3 (non-members), £1(concessions), families £6 (maximum two adults) and free to members. More details are available by calling 0121 440 7430 or logging on here
