Join us in the Gardens on Saturday 18th July for some exciting and thrilling full contact combat sport in clanking armour.

Birmingham Medieval Combat are a martial arts sports team basing their activities on the foot combat tournaments of the 14-15th Century, similar to Jousts.

On this day they will be treating us to some skillful duels and noisy group battles – all unscripted ‘ouch’- in the Gardens.

Across the day there will be plenty of opportunities to talk and ask questions of the combattants, to learn about theior skills and techniques and to understand the growing popularity of this modern version of the ancient sport.

Likely shape of the day –  subject to change

• 11am – Duels and Weapons Combat demonstration
• 11.30 -1pm – Prebookable Adult Beginners Class (10 spaces only) BOOK HERE
• 1.30pm – Armoured martial arts and group battle
• 3pm – Group battle and …… eek free for all skirmish

The BMC team will be onsite all day offering adhoc fights,  answering questions and showcasing their weapons and equipment.

No need to book for the event day –

Normal Entry Fees to the Gardens apply

£5-£6.60 See main website page 

Cafe open… come and picnic.. if you dare

Suitable for all ages to watch – but please note these are noisy and unscripted fights

The post Medieval Combat – watch, cheer, learn: A Demonstration Battle Day appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Our Medieval summer continues with the return of Three Inch Theatre’s wonderful family friendly show..

An epic tale of Arthurian adventure and medieval mayhem.

Tickets from £20 -£60, (under 5s’ Free)

Early Bird (ends Apr 30th)

• Standard ticket £21.20
• Family (2+2) £58

May onwards:

• Standard Adult £24
• Under 18 £12
• Family (2+2)  £63.50

BOOK HERE 

(external site)

The post King Arthur and the Holy Fail appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens represent a rare example of a 17th century Jacobean country house, complete with its original garden setting and parkland. Situated only five miles from Birmingham City centre, the hall is now in private ownership, but 40 acres of historic garden and the parkland are managed by Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens Trust. The site contains a mosaic of habitats including formal gardens, orchards, woodland, wetlands and grasslands making it ideal for all year round foraging!

Our Foraging Courses begin with a short introduction to Wild Food UK, what to expect from your day and a brief summary of the general countryside codes, including our Foraging Code.

Heading off at a leisurely pace, your instructor will teach you how to safely identify the different species of edible and poisonous plants and mushrooms that you discover. This exploration will take about 2.5hrs, during which we’ll take a break for a homemade refreshment, such as our Hogweed & Wild Garlic Soup or Elderflower Champagne!

Then it’s back to the meeting point for a tasty wild food meal. This will include a selection of foraged homemade treats created by your instructor, and a dish made with what we have collected during the walk.

All of our food is seasonal, so what you are served depends on what is growing at that time of year. In Spring we will be making use of the fresh wild greens and in Autumn, the array of tasty wild mushrooms that the area has to offer.

You will receive a comprehensive set of Wild Food UK ‘Course Notes’ a few days after your course. This email will contain links and articles relating to the plants and mushrooms we discovered or discussed during the day.

Dates

• Friday 24th April (12-3.30pm)
• Sunday 10th May (12.3.30pm)
• Saturday 11th July (10am- 1.30)
• Sunday 16th Aug  (12-3.30pm)

Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens has free parking, a courtyard cafe and toilet facilities. There is usually a charge to enter the gardens, but if you are attending a course with us we will cover the cost. 

Discover more about this Historical Landmark: Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens

N.B. Please be aware of the possibility that you will also cover Steep slopes, rough woodland on this course.

Tickets here

The post WildFoodUK Foraging Course appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Yogi Claire will lead you in this unique yoga class is suitable for all levels, with a focus on relaxation and mindfulness.

Gentle, flowing sequences and restorative Yin yoga postures will be fused together, along with meditation, breath work, poetry, seasonal anecdotes and guided relaxation to help you feel balanced, grounded and rejuvenated.

Where exactly in the Gardens we practice is weather dependent. If it is warm and sunny we can practice amongst the trees and flowers. If the weather is less agreeable, we have the option to retreat under a canopy, protecting us from the elements, while still allowing us to enjoy the scenic gardens.

Book directly with Claire  – click each date below

Sunday June 14th   10am

Friday June 19th 6.30pm

Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to check in and set up your mat so the class…

The post Yoga for Midsummer appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Yogi Claire will lead you in this unique yoga class is suitable for all levels, with a focus on relaxation and mindfulness.

Gentle, flowing sequences and restorative Yin yoga postures will be fused together, along with meditation, breath work, poetry, seasonal anecdotes and guided relaxation to help you feel balanced, grounded and rejuvenated.

Where exactly in the Gardens we practice is weather dependent. If it is warm and sunny we can practice amongst the trees and flowers. If the weather is less agreeable, we have the option to retreat under a canopy, protecting us from the elements, while still allowing us to enjoy the scenic gardens.

Book directly with Claire  – click each date below

Sunday June 14th   10am

Friday June 19th 6.30pm

Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to check in and set up your mat so the class…

The post Yoga for Midsummer appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Join us for a feast of award-winning street food, live entertainment, and a buzzing atmosphere that’s perfect for the whole family—including your four-legged friends!

Whether you’re a foodie on the hunt for your next favourite dish or just looking for a fantastic day out you’ll find it at the Gardens on July 5th

What to expect:
A hand-picked lineup of top independent vendors serving up award winning street food!
Bring the whole crew—four legged friends included!

Where: Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens
Time Slots: 11:30am – 3pm & 3:30pm – 7pm

Please note all visitors (including gardens members) must have a ticket from Digbeth Dining Club

Book your tickets HERE

https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Birmingham/Castle-Bromwich-Hall-Gardens/Castle-Bromwich-Dining-Club/42277184/

The post Digbeth Dining Club summer tour at the Gardens appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Having ‘adopted’ local naturalist and artist Edith Holden as our guide and inspiration, we invite all visitors to have a go at capturing a bit of Spring on paper.

There will be paper and drawing materials available to use and you are welcome to bring your own. 

No pressure, no judgement…. just observe and enjoy.

Across the day, Edith Holden enthusiast and collector,  Rachel Smith- Chopra, will be on hand to share her experiences and knowledge of  Edith Holden’s travels around Birmingham and Solihull.

individuals, families, groups… all welcome.

All materials and activities free with Normal Gardens Entrance Fee. No need to book.

The post Pictures of Spring – drawing inspiration from Edith Holden appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Greg Blackman

Known as “The Satsuma Of Soul” due to his love of orange clothing, Greg Blackman is a UK singer-songwriter whose soulful voice, witty spirit, and social awareness who began by collaborating with artists including Dutty Moonshine Big Band, Utah Saints, Daz I Kue, Featurecast, and Lack of Afro.

His rich, versatile delivery has drawn praise from across the industry: Rag ’N’ Bone Man called him “so sick — get to know!”, Craig Charles described him as “fast becoming one of the best in the business,” and Jamie Cullum declared his song Save Me “should be permanently playlisted” on BBC Radio 2.

Greg’s music has reached wide audiences on BBC Radio, MTV, and 6 Music, while his live performance with Dutty Moonshine at WOMAD has been archived in the British Library as culturally significant.

https://linktr.ee/MrGregBlackman

 

Tickets

£ 15 (incl £1.08 booking fee)

Last entry 8 pm

 

 

The post Summer Soul Picnic appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Come for the atmosphere, the music, the conviviality. Picnics welcome, but we also have a small cafe-bar for snacks and liquid refreshments.

Gates open from 7pm if you’d like to explore our gorgeous gardens before the music starts around 7.45pm

Tickets available in advance and on the door up until 7:30pm

Remember- we are totally outdoors with nature – Cardies, hats and blankets might keep your body comfy while the warmth of the music warms your soul.

More info about tonight’s musicians

This week’s music is, as ever, hosted and curated by John Mostyn.

Katie Stevens Katie is a multi-instrumentalist from Birmingham UK. After her classical training at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Katie followed her interest of instrumental folk music traditions through seminars, self study, private lessons and travel. She now plays in many bands and ensembles in the Midlands and South West which span a divergent range of styles such as balkan, Bulgarian, Klezmer, Irish, Brazilian and Arabic. As well as the clarinet, saxophone and flute, Katie also plays Irish whistle and flute, Bulgarian kaval and Arabic ney. She regularly tours the UK with a large range of different acts playing at arts centres, on the festival circuit and a number of rural touring schemes. Sam Slater Sam is a musician, composer and producer, playing guitars and the Arabic Oud for a number of eclectic jazz, world and roots music projects, alongside long-standing touring and writing with the critically acclaimed gypsy jazz, flamenco and contemporary classical instrumental band TG Collective, and Anglo-Polish singer songwriter Katy Carr. He has performed worldwide, from the mountains of Bulgaria and castles of Spain, to the many festivals and concert halls of the UK, and car parks of southern Serbia!Sam also directs the jazz-inspired Birmingham record label and artist development indie, Stoney Lane Records, and live producers/programmers Mubu Music.He has played on live sessions from BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends to Poland’s Trójka Radio, with his music featured on television from NBC and ESPN to the BBC, ITV and CBeebies! In 2020, he won Best Crime/Investigative Track from the American PMA Mark Awards for his co-composed string quartet, A Curious Voyage.

Vo Fletcher – resident musician In a long and varied career Vocalist/Guitarist Vo Fletcher has played, recorded and toured with: Nigel Kennedy, Fairport Convention, the Ric Sanders Group, Rik Mayall, Tuxedo Bay, Touch & Go, The Albion Morris Band, Catherine Howe and Brent Ford & The Nylons to name but a few. He used to be a presenter on Channel 5 but he’s alright now.

The post Melon Ground Sessions Thursday June 30th appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

The second in our regular summer evening outdoor acoustic sessions in the Melon Ground area of the 10acre historic Garden.

Come for the atmosphere, the music, the conviviality. Picnics welcome, but we also have a small cafe bar for snacks and liquid refreshments

Gates open from 7pm if you’d like to explore our gorgeous gardens before the music starts around 7.45pm

Tickets available in advance and (limited ) on the door

Remember- we are totally outdoors with nature – Cardies, hats and blankets might keep your body comfy while the warmth of the music warms your soul.

This week’s music is, as ever, hosted and curated by John Mostyn

Vo Fletcher

“In a long and varied career Vocalist/Guitarist Vo Fletcher has played, recorded and toured with: Nigel Kennedy, Fairport Convention, the Ric Sanders Group, Rik Mayall, Tuxedo Bay, Touch & Go, The Albion Morris Band, Catherine Howe and Brent Ford & The Nylons to name but a few. He used to be a presenter on Channel 5 but he’s alright now. “

Ric Sanders

“The violin was Ric’s first love and he took up the instrument as a youngster. His first professional engagement was in 1972, touring Europe with Stomu Yamashta’s Red Buddah Theatre. During the mid-1970s Ric was in demand as a jazz soloist and worked with, among others, Michael Garrick, Johnny Patrick and legendary jazz pianist Jaques Dieval. In the late 1970s, Ric pursued both his folk and jazz interests as a member of, respectively, The Albion Band and Soft Machine. He toured and recorded with both bands. With The Albion Band, Ric performed at the National Theatre.In 1980, Ric and Soft Machine guitarist John Etheridge formed Second Vision. They recorded an album and toured extensively. Ric next teamed up with guitarist Vo Fletcher in music education projects: the duo supported a Musicians Union initiative in schools and recorded for BBC television. Since 1985, Ric has played full-time with Fairport Convention but has continued to take an active interest in jazz and other musical forms. He has collaborated with June Tabor, Andrew Cronshaw and Martin Simpson among others and also recorded solo albums and a violin tuitional introduced by Jools Holland. His session credits include Roy Harper, Jethro Tull, Strawbs, Pentangle, Gerry Rafferty, Loudon Wainwright III, Robert Plant, The Fureys, and Ashley Hutchings among many others. As well as Fairport Convention, Ric has his own trio, The Ric Sanders Trio, with Vo Fletcher and Mike Gregory. The group performs a wide repertoire of jazz and good time blues”

The post Melon Ground Sessions Thursday June 16th appeared first on Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.