Tag: Birmingham

Tree ‘Popping’ in the Parkland

We were busy Tree ‘popping’ with our LYRiC (Love your River Cole) trainees in the  Parkland last week.

It was both a training exercise showing them how the tool worked as well as what could be achieved with it, as well as a chance to do some much needed woodland work.

I borrowed the Tree Popping tools from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, one of our project partners, which we put to good use removing some of the many Horse chestnut and Sycamore saplings that are springing up as well as some of the Holly.

Fortune was on our side as all the recent rain ensured the ground was soft resulting in even very tall (7ft) saplings coming out with their roots intact. 

We created two ‘dead’ hedges with the removed saplings and brash which creates a nice habitat for wildlife and a tidy boundary between areas.

We cleared a good sized area between our historic ‘Avenue of Trees‘ which just starts to hint at how the avenue will look once we have opened up this section.

If you are interested to learning more and would like to get involved please get in touch – we would love to hear from you!

Email us on: CastleBromParklandInfo@gmail.com  – Your friendly Parkland Team: Tara, Ann & Oliver.

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Blossom Picnic Food bookings open

Yumi Grindley’s food for our English Hanami blossom picnics has been a feature of the event for a few years.

This year she is offering a greater variety of scrumptious Japanese home cooking for you to pre-order.

Each is made fresh to order for you, so although there will be some curry and other things on offer on the day, there is limited supply.

Make sure you get your order in by the Thursday before each  of our picnic weekends to ensure your sushi/Katsu sandwich or curry is there waiting for you to  enjoy .

Here is the menu .. .when you have decided, click through to the website here  to order

(PLEASE NOTE … you ALSO need to purcchase and book a ticket to the Garden – then you will be able to eat your food under the blossoms in our two heritage orchards (crossed fingers for good weather and good blossoms)

 

*Sushi should be eaten fresh on the day of purchase!!!*   All Sushi menu served  with Sushi Ginger, Wasabi, Soy Sauce & Chopsticks

PikaPika Signature Fish Sushi Maki Roll x 4 pieces

Smoked Salmon, Homemade Japanese Egg Omelette, Cucumber, Avocado & Japanese QP Mayo  £5.50
 

PikaPika Vegetarian Sushi Maki Roll x 4 pieces

Homemade Japanese Omelette, Cucumber, Avocado & Boiled Spinach ( No Mayo)      £5.50
 

PikaPika Signature Vegan Sushi Maki Roll x 4 pieces

Cucumber, Avocado, Roast Sweet Potato, Boiled Spinach & VeganMayo      £5.50
 

Pork Katsu Sandwiches –

Pork Katsu/Tonkatsu are thick pork cutlets breaded with flour, egg and bread crumbs and then deep fried.Shredded cabbage,QP Japanese Mayo and Tonkatsu sauce.                    £5.50
 

Chicken Katsu Sandwiches-

Chicken Katsu are chicken breast breaded with flour, egg and bread crumbs and then deep fried. Iceberg lettuce,QP Japanese Mayo and Tonkatsu sauce.                  £5.50
 

Japanese style Veg curry and boileled rice

  £5.50
 

Japanese style Chicken curry and boiled rice           

     £6.50

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We’re recruiting…

Yes, even as the national health situation worsens we, at the Gardens, are optimistic enough to be looking to the future and recovery.

With the help of both government and lottery funding we are looking for help to keep the Gardens thriving and growing.

The 3 posts are below – please click on the links for further information and application processes.

  • Project Manager – Parkland Project (Lyric – Green Recovery Fund)  (12month full time contract) Click here  .pdf  or  Word
  • Outdoor Visitor Experience contract  (3 months plus, freelance). Click here .pdf  or Word 
  • Finance Officer/Manager. (fixed term, 2 days per week flexible). Click here .pdf or Word

Most of these posts will have to begin in ‘working from home’ mode and the initial interview processes are likely to be virtual too.

However, we are currently not delaying making these appointments.

Please share this information with those who you think might be interested

 

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Good news: we are #HereforCulture

We are thrilled to hear that we have received funding from the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund!

This will mean that the Gardens Trust will have a level of financial security through the winter to enable us to continue to look after the Gardens and make them open for the pleasure, leisure, health and wellbeing of all our visitors and users.

Hoorah!

The government funding follows on from the emergency support we had from lottery players to enable us to open immediately after lockdown.

We are proud of our independence and particularly of our services to heritage, culture and communities. But without official financial support over the last few months the Gardens would have closed, fallen into disrepair and deprived hundreds of people of the pleasure and sanctuary the Gardens provide.

We are one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. We feel exceedingly privileged and lucky to be one of the few.

The funding will help maintain our staff posts and keep our bills paid – a vital stability for us to meet  future challenges.  The support also means we can plan and make changes to the way welcome people now, and in the future.

As winter closes in during the pandemic, we know that getting fresh air in a beautiful and safe outdoor place and finding some peace and cultural interest will be a vital lifeline for many of our visitors, and volunteers!

The Cultural Recovery Fund will enable us to do this and will support us planning for a better future too.

#hereforculture

The unprecedented government investment through the £1.57bn Cultural Recovery Fund is to be roundly welcomed. Culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to everyone.

More info from the DCMS about the fund

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund – funded by Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

433 organisations will receive a share of £67 million from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to help with costs for operating, reopening and recovery. This includes famous heritage sites across the country, from Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Blyth Tall Ship to the Severn Valley Railway, the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire to the Piecehall in Halifax. The funds will save sites that are a source of pride for communities across the country.

12 organisations, including English Heritage, Landmark Trust, Historic Royal Palaces and the Canal and River Trust, will receive £34 million from the Heritage Stimulus Fund to restart construction and maintenance on cherished heritage sites to preserve visitor attractions and protect livelihoods for some of the most vulnerable heritage specialists and contractors in the sector.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has also been awarded a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund through Historic England. The AHF will use the funding to support charities and social enterprises occupying historic buildings to develop new business plans and strategies for organisations affected by the pandemic.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”

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Working together for great days out

In these troubled times the unconscious and conscious connections we make with each other and the urge to help each other out is a real and heartwarming positive.

Visits to the Gardens truly do seem to be providing people with the healing moments we all need.

Over the last few months children, whether or not they are aware of the implications of the pandemic, are also visibly relieved to be out in a space where they can express their feelings and drink in the inspiring sights and smells.

For us running the charity, this helps us remember why we are doing it.  As a charitable business we are also aware of  our interdependencies with other small businesses. Artists, performers, makers have all taken a hit and we are proud to be able to offer a space and some business for them.

Equally we are indebted to all the online organisations out there connecting us to each other. Over the last few months there are some who have been particularly helpful

Here are a few… please follow and use them too #wegrowtogether

https://www.great-days-out.co.uk/   https://www.instagram.com/greatdaysoutuk/

https://www.familyfuninbrum.co.uk/  @Familyfuninbham

https://visitbirmingham.com/   @visit_birmingham

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Summer Musical Soirees – you in?

At last, like some large furry dog coming out of a lake we shake ourselves off after months of uncertainty and get to some planning. In this case particularly for evenings. 

As a lot of our musical friends are desperately missing somewhere to play, we thought it would be nice for them, and us, if we shared our space with them and you as where better to hear some lovely music than in the safety of a gorgeous outdoor space?

Now in normal times we’d organise well ahead as so many people have busy lives and full diaries but let’s face it right now not many of us have social engagements or much else come to that in our diaries. This might give us a rare chance to programme at quite short notice in order to give us all the best shot with England’s unpredictable weather right now.

So what are we thinking? 

Well, be prepared at just a week’s notice to be invited to some Summer Evening Musical Soirees across a range of musical styles, we’re thinking some Classical, Folk and Americana, Mellow Jazz, Acoustic Reggae, Light Opera and more. All to be enjoyed with safe distancing, good company and you’re most welcome to bring your own picnic or refreshments so no hanging around at a bar or such.

So signup for our newsletter or check back here under events to be sure to see what we’re up to.

Stay safe everyone and look forward to seeing you soon

<John Mostyn,  Business Development Manager (jobshare)>

 

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