Edgbaston community garden to showcase its attractions on family day.
Live music from local musicians, children’s wildlife activities, the Stick Man trail, seasonal produce sales and gardening inspiration are some of the treats in store for visitors to Martineau Gardens annual Autumn Event on Sunday 16 September from 11am–3pm. The organically maintained Community Garden, in Edgbaston, is holding a family-friendly ‘green’ fete to celebrate the Autumn harvest.
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, Raggle Taggle, East by South East and more. 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. The Shipwreck play area is a popular spot for picnicking and play. The Stick Man trail offers an interactive learning experience for three to seven year olds and has been designed to help children go on their own adventure with the character.
Brightly coloured boards featuring Stick Man and other characters from the picture book will be used alongside an activity sheet, with children able to claim a Stick Man Trail Certificate for completing the trail. Juliette Green, the Gardens’ Environmental Education Teacher, will be running Stick Man-themed wildlife activities and reading the Stick Man story at various times throughout the day.
Local community groups will be running stalls including Suburban Plants, the Craft Co-operative and the Beekeepers.
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.
Gill Milburn, Director of Martineau Gardens said: “Martineau Gardens is 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 is open Monday to Saturday, 10am–4pm and are free to enter 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 kind permission of the hospital.
