Over the next month and for the remainder of 2020, we will be growing our reach and pull together information and details on all the great work being carried out across communities as they collectively protect their parks.  

This will grow into a massive 'community-led' resource for people with a shared interest and passion for their local parks and green spaces.  

Here's just a few of the ideas and initiatives we will be telling you more about so we can share and get more people actively involved.

Litter picking groups - they do a fantastic job.  We'll connect you with your local group.

Art & Culture Trail.  We'll help you set up your trail and showcase your parks.

Walking clubs. We'll connect you and bring in more friends.

Park angels.  Volunteering with a difference.  We'll tell you more.

Creativity and green spaces collide.  Let's look at how art, music, photography and creativity in all its forms can help promote and protect our parks. 

Parks and mental health.  A walk, ride or jog in the park can do so much for your mental health.

There's something for everyone.

Connect with us and help us protect our parks. 

 

Cannon Hill Park is a park located in Birmingham, It's the most popular park in the city, covering 250 acres consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas.

Flower bed with tulips at Cannon Hill Park.

Photo Courtesy Elliott Brown

 

The Memorial to the Sousse Terror Attack Victims in Cannon Hill Park.

Photo Courtesy Daniel Sturley

 

The Midland Art Centre (Mac) is situated within Cannon Hill Park, it's a hub of creativity and learning.

Photo Courtesy Elliott Brown

 

Sandwell Valley Country Park, is an award winning Green Flag park, in the heart of the West Midlands. 

Forge Mill Lake at Sandwell Valley. There's something to do for everyone, from  a quiet walk, a keen ramble, or just to relax and reflect, with 660 acres to walk round, you can explore the pleasant surroundings through woods, farmland and by pools and streams.

Photo Courtesy Karl Newton

 

You can see the historic feature range Priory Ruins, There is so much to see and do, fun for all the family!

The RSPB Nature Centre provides a further gateway to the Country Park, with a visitor centre, & a bird hide.

Photo Courtesy Karl Newton

 

Highbury Park is a large green space bordering Moseley and Kings Heath. Just a few miles from Birmingham's City Centre, the park is one of Birmingham's many green gems.

Highbury Park -  Joseph Chamberlain was the former resident of Highbury Hall.

Photo Courtesy Daniel Sturley

 

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

Original pear and apple pergola in the Highbury Hall kitchen garden.

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

Winterbourne House & Gardens is one of Birmingham's great Gems and, amongst other things, is home to over 6,000 plant species from around the world.  

 

The beautiful gardens at Winterbourne.

Photo Courtesy Barry Whitehead

 

Japanese bridge which allows safe passage from one side of the Rock Garden pool to the other.

Photo Courtesy Peter Leadbetter

 

The Nutwalk, Winterbourne.

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

Winterbourne House is a unique heritage attraction and is set within 7 acres of beautiful botanic gardens. It is adjacent to Edgbaston Pool.

Photo Courtesy Jay Mason - Burns

 

Kings Heath Park is a large green space in Kings Heath and covers 35 acres. Located just a couple of miles from Birmingham's City Centre, the park has gained Green Flag status.

A seat beside the pool at the beautiful Kings Heath Park, surrounded by bright maples.

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

Kings Heath House and Cartland Tea Rooms 

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

 Heather in bloom in Kings Heath Park.

Photo Courtesy Christine Wright

 

Lickey Hills Country Park is a country park in Birmingham

Lickey Hills has a complex and interesting geology which has created a variety of habitats. These include woodlands, heathland and grassland, which are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife.

Lickey Hills has a Green Flag Award and is designated as a Country Park.

Lickey Hills has a number of marked walking trails of varying lengths and difficulty. There are many paths and tracks that can be followed.

Photo Courtesy Chris Fletcher

 

Photo Courtesy Karl Newton

18 hole golf course at Lickey Hills golf course.

Photo Courtesy Barry Whitehead

 

There’s a toposcope in a small “fort” on the top of the hill which points out the direction to notable landscape features you can see from Beacon Hill. 

Photo Courtesy Karl Newton

 

 

 

Photo by Barrie Johnson

 

Photo by Dean Taylor

 

Photo by Karl McCarthy

 

Photo by Jim Cossey

 

Photo by Matt Holland

 

Photo by Karl McCarthy

 

Photo by Matt Holland

 

Photo by Drew Buckley

 

Photo by Ade Ward

 

Photo by Dean Taylor

 

Photo by Samantha Lewis

 

Photo by Barrie Johnson

 

Photo by Sion Esmond

 

Photo by Jim Cossey

 

Photo by Dean Taylor

 

Photo by Drew Buckley

 

Photo by Ade Ward

 

Photo by Jim Cossey

 

Photo by Matt Holland

 

Photo by Karl MCarthy

 

Photo by Barrie Johnson

 

Photo by Karl McCarthy

Photography by Ade Ward

 

Photography by Anthony Ward

 

Photo by Edward Wyn Roberts

 

Artwork by Mikey Jones

 

Photo by Phil Taylor

 

Photo by Matt Holland

 

Photo by Don Cardy

 

Photo by Sami Owen

 

Photo by Phil Taylor

 

Photo by Janet Upton

 

Photo by Phil Taylor

 

Photo by Sian Monument

 

Photo by Bleddyn Jones-Pearson

 

Photo by W J Jones

 

Photo by Donna Marie Jones

 

Photo by Bleddyn Jones-Pearson

 

Photo by Gareth Mon Jones

 

Photo by Marilyn Williams

 

Photo by Mel Garside

 

Photo by Sami Owen

 

Photo by Morwendon House

 

Photo by Edward Wyn Roberts

 

Photo by Phil Taylor

 

Photo by Mel Garside

 

Photo by Glenn Roy

 

Photo by W J Jones

 

Photo by Matt Holland

 

Photo by Mel Garside

 

Photo by Marilyn Williams

 

Photo by Glenn Roy

 

Photo by Phil Taylor

 

Photo by Glenn Roy

 

Photo by Stephen Griffiths

 

Photo by Mandy Llewelyn

 

Photo by Karl McCarthy

 

Artwork by Mark Warner

 

 

Friends of Kings Heath Park publicised the event

Let the tree planting begin............

Photo by Christine Wright 

Great support from the community

Photo by Christine Wright 

Photo by Christine Wright 

Working as a team

Photo by Christine Wright 

Photo by Christine Wright 

The new trees will extend the existing wood in the corner of Kings Heath Park

Photo by Christine Wright 

We can all enjoy seeing these saplings mature in decades to come!

Photo by Christine Wright 

Photo by Christine Wright 

Great education for our future generations

Photo by Christine Wright 

Photo by Christine Wright 

All ages enjoying the tree planting

Photo by Christine Wright 

Photo by Christine Wright 

Great job done all!!

Photo by Christine Wright 

 

Newest and youngest volunteer helping at the park with litter-picking. Only 4 years of age and he did a sterling job. 

Friends of Kings Heath Park working with neighbours Moseley Litter Busters.

 

The wonderful volunteers who came and helped with the litter pick in Kings Heath Park.

All photos courtesy @kingsheathpark 

Picture by Paul Tyrrell

Friends of Kings Heath Park

 

Picture by Christine Wright

 

Picture by Sara Aboutorabi

 

Picture by Christine Wright

 

Picture by Christine Wright 

 

Picture by Christine Wright

 

Picture by Christine Wright 

 

Picture by Christine Wright 

 

Picture by Christine Wright 

 

Kathryn Moore, Professor of Landscape Architecture at Birmingham City University, comments on the vision as follows:

“When we think of a National Park our natural inclination is to look at rural areas but there are swathes of natural beauty right here in the heart of a metropolitan region.

For a long time the West Midlands has been viewed as a concrete jungle and the way that we have carried out our planning and construction has fed into that but if you look at the maps in a different way, there is huge potential for this project. 

Not only could creating a National Park bring some real economic, social and environmental benefits, it would also drive investment, boost tourism and create new jobs at the heart of the country.

This vision is about making the most of the opportunities the region has right now and making sure the arrival of HS2, the Commonwealth Games and the City of Culture leave a lasting legacy here and something we can all be proud of.

This vision is all about quality of life. We want to have a better life, here together in the West Midland National Park"

With the engagement and support of the West Midlands community we can make this vision become a reality.

 

Dame Caroline Spelman MP & Prof Kathryn Moore with the National Park WM Proposal and model (June 2018)

That's where our Community of Passion comes in!

Watch this space for more on this exciting project.

CONNECT with us for all our updates.

Highbury Hall, Birmingham

Photo courtesy Christine Wright

Highbury Hall is a wonderful Grade II listed building that nestles in Highbury Park. It was built in 1879 by J H Chamberlain for Joseph Chamberlain (no relation). Joseph Chamberlain lived here from 1880 until 1914.

Photos courtesy Imran Ali Bashir

 

The Orchard at Highbury Park

Photo courtesy Christine Wright 

 

Cycling through the Autumn leaves at Highbury Park

Photo courtesy Christine Wright 

 

Highbury Park in the snow 

Photos courtesy Christine Wright 

 

Canada Geese in Highbury Park

Photo courtesy Christine Wright 

 

Highbury Park Pool

Photo courtesy Christine Wright

 

Grasses at Highbury Park

Photo courtesy Christine Wright