Being welcoming and getting on with everyone is a core value for us at the Gardens Trust. So it’s unusual for us to speak out publicly about our neighbours.

The large Castle Bromwich Conservation Area is a rather rare combination of important historic buildings and natural landscapes. The 60 acres is of national significance especially surrounded, as we are, by a highly industrialised cityscape. All of us who live and work within the Conservation Area have, to greater or lesser degree, a responsibility to look after our little bit of the history as well as looking out for the long term survival of the whole.

With 20 years experience within the wider heritage sector, I know personally how hard it is to ensure financial viability for the nation’s heritage. Historic England always advises that buildings and landscapes be put ‘to appropriate and viable use where possible’  in order to sustain the historic environment. A hotel is often a very successful way of ensuring listed buildings remain intact.

We think that this can certainly work for Castle Bromwich Hall and have always tried to work together with the owners and staff for the betterment of the whole.

The ‘temporary’ marquee

marquee in context

Having remained discreet, in public, about the marquee built by the hotel 6 years ago, without planning permission, we now feel it is time to speak out against the latest planning application.

Our general objection, in tandem with all the national and regional heritage organisations, remains the same now as it was in 2019 when the marquee, a ‘temporary structure’, was first built. The marquee is a visually inappropriate structure for the surrounding 18th century landscape and, positioned directly next to the Gardens’ public access, is doubly intrusive.

In addition to the general objection, we feel the operational management of the area has fallen far below acceptable limits. In our submission on the Council’s planning portal we also cite the increase in vermin, the lack of adequate sewage expansion (for which we often suffer as we are ‘down the line’ of the piping), the failure of management to prevent fireworks being set off close to a Grade1 building (!!) and the failure to keep noise levels and interruption within acceptable and legal limits.

Indeed, we were very surprised to read that the planning application asserts that the west side of the marquee is adjacent to 500m of parkland and therefore noise spill is not a consideration. This would seem to totally ignore the presence and experience of the Gardens’ 21,000 visitors.

We still fully support the Hall owners’ efforts to run a profitable business to improve the sustainability of the historic building. However, this can only be valid if the rules, by which the rest of us also have to comply, are respected and worked to.

View south across Castle Hills Drive

We cannot see how the marquee, nor the way the events are run on site contribute to the longer term viability of the whole.

We are very aware of the growing disquiet among local residents about other unpleasant and dangerous behaviour locally.  It is in the interests of everyone, within and adjacent to the Conservation Area, that the Hall, Gardens, Church and Parkland are seen, and experienced, as blessings not curses. Working together, and within the shared rules, is essential.

The post Why we are objecting to the Hotel’s latest planning application (marquee) appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

UPDATE on the BoxMoth issue

Over the last six weeks –  aided by some strong and willing corporate volunteers- the Gardening team has finished grubbing out about 40% of our 1.2km of box hedging and topiary. 

The visual shock for visitors is great.  We are all experiencing the sadness – all the Gardeners especially.

The hedging is a fundamental design element for our early 18th century Garden. As our Head Gardener, Denise, says ‘in 1720 there was no Box Moth so historically accurate responses arent really possible.’

Taking advice from other heritage sites and working practically together the Gardeners do have a plan for the short term as well as the longer term. The first takes a lot of effort, work and time, the second will depend on us raising more money for replacement planting (we reckon about £40k).

See below for some of the mitigation work our marvellous team are involved with as winter approaches… Please be kind to them if you  catch them at work (we’re making sure there’re lots of supplies of cake and biscuits for their morning breaks) and please be patient with the changes that will have to be made in the Gardens we all share and love.

The post UPDATE Box-ing – not so clever. appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Today we’re celebrating two particular women; Edith Holden and Anna Atkins.

Edith Holden 1871 – 1920 , was born in Birmingham and is best known as an illustrator of the natural world. Although having a modicum of success in her lifetime, her star rose much higher in the 1970s and 80s with the re-publication of her charming and accomplished nature notebooks. The books including Nature Notes  and the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady sold in their thousands. The notebooks chronical her walks and cycling trips around Birmingham, Solihull and Warwickshire. We think they’re all worth looking at again.

On Saturday 5^th April we will be doing just that.

Join us for a whole day remembering and rediscovering her work starting with an introduction by enthusiast Rachel SmithChopra. It’s not only listening but also doing! In keeping with our habit in Gardens, it’s a day of practical creation too.

Be inspired by the nature around us in the Gardens and take up a pencil, crayon or brush… all materials supplied… or bring your own.

On Saturday 5^th April, we’ll also be exploring  and celebrating Anna Atkins 1799 – 1871.

Although not local, Atkins was a pioneer botanist and photographer. She produced what is known as the first photographic illustrated book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, in 1843. Atkins was a talented illustrator but wanted to find a more accurate way to depict the structure of a plant.

Her passion for botany along with the discovery of cyanotypes meant that over the span of 10 years she was able to create 3 volumes of work, representing a key step in the history of scientific illustration.

Visitors on 5^th April will also have the opportunity to make cyanotypes (‘sun printing’) with local artist Jake Lever, who has been experimenting with this technique.

See here for more about the day

And those other women connected with the Gardens?

Many, many of them!

Including all the volunteers and staff (80% women!) who keep the Gardens going and do such a good job of welcoming visitors. All the gardeners, historians, rangers, café, events, marketing , admin and office piskies, faeries and genii weaving the magic.

And here are three more names…all powerful women who have been key to the Gardens.

Lady Ida Bridgeman, Countess of Bradford (‘Lady Brad’),1848-1936, the last family resident of the Hall, who made sure the Gardens were used and not lost.

Lady Mary Bridgeman (1641- 1713), who probably had more influence over the development of the Gardens than is usually credited… a great subject for a PhD researcher.

Anne Kenrick MBE  (1923 – 2020), first Chairman of the Gardens Trust and force of, and for, nature.

The post International Womens Day 2025 appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

There comes a time, however, when we must say a very sad goodbye to these old giants. This week our trusted tree surgeon contractor, Chris, spent three days suspended high in the air on a crane platform slowly, bit by bit chopping the Melon Ground Chestnut tree down to a height just above the level of the walls.

Those of you who have sat and captured the sunshine in the Melon Ground or relaxed on a summer’s evening listening to live music during the Melon Ground Sessions, will have benefitted and marvelled at the magnificent horse chestnut leaning in over the walls.

By its girth, we think the tree is about 100 years old. We don’t know, but we think it is unlikely that it was planted there deliberately. As many visitors over the years will have seen, as it grew bigger and bigger it leant and pressed into the walls of the Melon Ground. Two circular braces were attached to the walls in an attempt to secure them and the tree kept growing and creating cracks in the wall.

The relationship, or perhaps the ‘competition’, between the tree and the wall epitomises  the dilemma that our Trust constantly faces.  We are obliged by our constitution to look after and conserve the historic fabric of this special garden design. At the same time we have to balance the long term needs of heritage with the environmental imperatives of nature and the planet.

Thankfully the Gardens are in a very large Conservation Area, so we are always able to consult with the relevant authorities about managing the trees as well as the historic walls.

About four years ago it was evident the tree was not well. Chris trimmed the tree to prevent any of the really large branches falling. The tree seemed to revive a bit… but this year on closer inspection It was found to be diseased pretty badly.

The lower trunk of the tree has now been left, for nature to take its course and for any bats, insects and birds that can benefit. We will be keeping an eye on the wall, to  spot any movement.

What about the wood?

As always, we try to find use for ‘recycled’ wood. Some of the very heavy logs will be used in our Forest School’s story circle area, some by local woodturners (and will be sold in the shop), the sawdust will be used in our compost toilet and other chippings as part of our mulching and composting.

Long term care of the trees

This year has seen an increase in costly major tree care work the Trust has had to undertake. A large pine on the Old Birmingham Road border, weakened by at least two vandal burnings has had to be cut down, a mature walnut, fallen during one of the storms also needed making safe… amongst many other smaller projects.

A mixture of climate change, unpredictable seasonal variations and the age of our many trees all suggest that the Trust’s budget setting for at least the next decade will have to include a much bigger figure for professional tree care…we reckon it will add another 3% to our ‘standstill’ costs of £1,000 per day.

As always, we depend on member and visitor income as well as project grants to fund these costs. Thank you for you continued support.

If you think you might be able to support our work in other ways, please do check our support pages here and come and have a chat.

[1] These Avenues were planted by Lady Ida Bridgeman in 1895 after a major storm blew down the remains of the Elm and Sycamore Avenues which had been planted in 1717.

The post “Oh, that old chestnut”…. appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

We look after 40 acres of sublime 18th century formal Gardens and a surrounding historic Parkland (a Local Nature Reserve), all surrounded by fast roads and industrial landscapes. 

The rare (Grade 2*) formal garden, and much valued piece of ‘the wild’, are of national significance, were rescued 40 years ago.  But are still not known well enough – not even by our 80,000 near neighbours Birmingham and Solihull.  We want to keep this green and historical gem safe for generations to come. We are even more passionate about sharing it;  with visitors and tourists, yes, but even more so with the surrounding local communities for many of whom it is the only accessible open land and cultural space.

The Gardens are open all year round and staff and volunteers run more than 100 activities and events: from forest schools and wildlife walks to creative activities and culture: theatre, arts and music.

We get people involved in caring for nature, improving their wellbeing and finding inspiration in history and beauty.

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Trust’s formation we are going through a Governance refresh and very much looking forward to the next phase with new people, new ideas and new skills to help us expand and thrive.

We are a tiny trust with a large responsibility, doing amazing things for a growing number of people. We’d welcome your skills and talent to guide us to the future. 

What’s needed? What’s involved?

As a Trustee you will be used to working in a team and have some leadership or management experience.

We particularly need people with skills in the following areas:

• • Business change; business and financial planning (especially in independent and heritage sectors).
  • Planning and building (helping us move towards building new visitor buildings)
  • Fundraising: grants as well as individual giving
  • Food and Retail development.
  • Marketing and communications: digital and otherwise.
  • And of course Historic Garden Management and Horticulture

Trustees meet every 6-8 weeks and ‘hybrid’ meetings are available for those not able to attend in person.

As a Trustee you will have:

• Induction, familiarisation and training for the role;
• Opportunities to make strategic decisions and develop new skills and experiences;
• Influence to shape innovative projects and our overall direction;
• The chance to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities;
• The opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future for an important heritage/conservation site

If you think you may have something to offer –  and to gain –  from being a Trustee please explore our website here to find out more about us, what we do and hope to do. We would be happy to have an inital conversation with you and answer more questions.

In the first instance please email cbhallgardens@gmail.com 

For information about the responsibilities and benefits of being a heritage trustee please see the excellent information from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM )  here

Here is a shareable flyer of the Trustee callout (PDF) Trustee CALL OUT

Also Here is an outline, generic role description of a Trustee.

The post Trustee positions vacant (voluntary) appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

The post Wellbeing created by local heritage worth billions per year, says Historic England appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.