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Your Place Your Space Green open spaces
29 Feb 2024 - Your Place Your Space
News & Updates
https://www.youtube.com/embed/gSSwl5QxZqk

What a fantastic open space!

Hidden away in Winson Green on the border of Smethwick with Birmingham is this lovely park with historical importance.  

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60 passion points
Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
04 Jan 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Graham Jones wood carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands

There is many wooden carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands region by local woodcarver Graham Jones. There is collection in Selly Oak Park. Recent ones have been installed in Hall Green and Swanshurst Park. In the past he's made ones for the Lickey Hills Country Park and Jephson Gardens, Leamingon Spa.

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Graham Jones wood carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands





There is many wooden carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands region by local woodcarver Graham Jones. There is collection in Selly Oak Park. Recent ones have been installed in Hall Green and Swanshurst Park. In the past he's made ones for the Lickey Hills Country Park and Jephson Gardens, Leamingon Spa.


Graham Jones | Wood Carver

He has over 30 years experience of creating public wood carvings. Many of them can be found in Birmingham, and other areas.

 

Copper Beech Tree bench and snail

Location: Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa.

Wooden carving from an oak tree that was felled in 2013 in Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa. Seen near the Parade and River Leam. It was carved by Graham Jones from a  copper beech tree. The tree had been there from the 1840s to 2013.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBT%20Jephson%20Gardens%20RLS%20(May%202016)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBT%20Jephson%20Gardens%20RLS%20(May%202016)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBT%20Jephson%20Gardens%20RLS%20(May%202016)%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBT%20Jephson%20Gardens%20RLS%20(May%202016)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CBT%20Jephson%20Gardens%20RLS%20(May%202016)%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Spirit of the Woods

Location: Lickey Hills Country Park, on Bilberry Hill. Not far from the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre.

A carved wooden sculpture called The Spirit of the Woods. Made by Graham Jones in 1993. Part of a Sculpture Trail. The sculpture trail was first commissioned in 1991 by Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LHCP%20GJ%20Spirit%20ot%20Woods%20(Apr%202017)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LHCP%20GJ%20Spirit%20ot%20Woods%20(Apr%202017)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Galton Valley Owl

Location: Opposite the Galton Valley Pumping Station on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Old Mainline (Wolverhampton Level). Near Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick.

Probably installed in 2023. Close to The Galton Valley Canal Heritage Area.

dndimg alt="Galton Valley Owl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wooden%20owl%20Smethwick%20BCNOML%2001012024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Galton Valley Owl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wooden%20owl%20Smethwick%20BCNOML%2001012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Owl Totem Pole

Location: Elmdon Park, Solihull

The totem pole was created from ideas put forward by local schools, after an Oaks and Shires event in 2004.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Elmdon%20Park%20(Dec%202015)%20(11)%20.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Owl%20totem%20Elmdon%20Park%20(Dec%202015)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Owl%20totem%20Elmdon%20Park%20(Dec%202015)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Owl%20totem%20Elmdon%20Park%20(Dec%202015)%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Twitters

Location: Elmdon Park, Solihull

'Twitters' came to Elmdon Park in 2003 and is carved from a tree that was removed from the park.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Elmdon%20Park%20(Dec%202015)%20(12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Swanshurst Park Centenary Pole

Location: Swanshurst Park, near Yardley Wood Road, closer to Moseley than Billesley, in view of the Moseley New Pool.

A wooden totem with a painted black swan on the side and a crow on top. Installed in 2023 for the Friends of Swanshurst Park group for the Centenary of Swanshurst Park (1923 - 2023).

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst%20Park%20GJ%20wooden%2023112023%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Hall Green

Location: Greet Mill Meadow, Shire Country Park, near Stratford Road, Hall Green.

Installed in 2022 for the Hall Green's Keepin' It Clean litter buster group.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HG%20Greet%20Mill%20Meadow%20SCP%2016092022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Be green because we're Hall Green let's make a difference

Location: Between Stratford Road and Reddings Lane on York Road in Hall Green. Behind the Apple Green petrol station.

Installed in 2023 for the Hall Green's Keepin' It Clean litter buster group.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Keep%20Hall%20Green%20Clean%20(Dec%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Keep%20Hall%20Green%20Clean%20(Dec%202023)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Dragon Bench

Location: Outside of Hall Green Library on the Stratford Road.

The Dragon Bench was  carved by Graham Jones in 2002. It was unveiled in February 2003, on the 40th anniversary of the library. May have been inspired by the dragon Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Tolkien lived down the road in the hamlet of Sarehole in the early 1900s as a small boy). May have been done in association with pupils of Hall Green School.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dragon%20bench%20HGL%20(Sep%202009)%20(19).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dragon%20bench%20HGL%20(Sep%202009)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dragon%20bench%20HGL%20(Sep%202009)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dragon%20bench%20HGL%20(Sep%202009)%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dragon%20bench%20HGL%20(Sep%202009)%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Chinn Brook Meadows

Location: Chinn Brook Meadows, Shire Country Park. Near Highfield Road, Yardley Wood.

Carved from the remains of a tree trunk. Image of a swan and flowers on it, plus a hand.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinn%20Brook%20Meadows%20SCP%20(Jan%202017)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinn%20Brook%20Meadows%20SCP%20(Jan%202017)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinn%20Brook%20Meadows%20SCP%20(Jan%202017)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinn%20Brook%20Meadows%20SCP%20(Jan%202017)%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Roots and Branches

Location: Handsworth Park.

Wooden carving by Graham Jones & cast in metal by Tim Tolkien.

Four trees with extended roots on the ground in steel which can be used as seats. Roots extend out above the ground forming seating with the inner space proving a meeting place. Made in 2019-20. Part of the Handsworth Park Arts Trail.

dndimg alt="Roots and Branches" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Handsworth%20Park%20(Sep%202021)%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Commonwealth of Nations

Location: St Thomas' Peace Garden.

These appear to have been made for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in mind. The Commonwealth replaced the British Empire in name in 1949. There was also a wooden table here, and mosaics on the ground.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peace%20Garden%20B2022CG%20GJ%2031122023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

Lapal - Welcome to Selly Oak Park

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(Jan%202017)%20(1)%20.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(Jan%202017)%20(2)%20.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(March%202018)%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bench in memory of Geoff Bartlett, Found Friend of Selly Oak Park

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(Jan%202017)%20(3)%20.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Deer or kangaroo

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(Jan%202017)%20(5)%20.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Carved log bench

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Nuthatch

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Pk%20GJ%20(Jun%202012)%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Selly Oak Park bench

Location: Selly Oak Park.

Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(May%202020)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Graham Jones" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Park%20(May%202020)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Stephen Giles Construction & regeneration
30 Jul 2023 - Stephen Giles
News & Updates

APPROVAL: Sustainable Urban Farm for the JQ

Plans to turn the upper two levels (5 & 6) of Vyse Street car park into a sustainable urban farm have won the backing of Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.

Campaign group Slow Food Birmingham and Urban Design Hub are free to reanimate an underutilised, nondescript grey space into a unique and productive green one.

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APPROVAL: Sustainable Urban Farm for the JQ





Plans to turn the upper two levels (5 & 6) of Vyse Street car park into a sustainable urban farm have won the backing of Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.

Campaign group Slow Food Birmingham and Urban Design Hub are free to reanimate an underutilised, nondescript grey space into a unique and productive green one.


dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/JQ%20Vyse%20Street%202.jpg" />

 

The aim of the farm is to champion local producers and food businesses and help to support the wants and needs of the local economy and people with a fresher, tastier, and more sustainable alternative to the major supermarkets.

Spread over two phases the project will include glasshouses for vertical growing, a non-odour emitting mushroom farm, plant beds, bee-keeping facilities, a community garden, an events space, three wind turbines, and a biodiversity centre with a café.

All goods to and from the site will even be delivered via electric cargo bikes and electric vans/milk floats.

We hope that the project will foster valuable conversations about the city’s food system and create a model for change, championing hyper-local food production and education", Slow Food said earlier in the year.

Councillors unaminously approved the project with the consensus being that the initiative “will provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to the local community."

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/JQ%20Vyse%20Street%201.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/SUF.PNG" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/JQ%20Vyse%20Street%203.jpg" />

Vyse Street farm, images from Urban Design Hub.

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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
12 Jul 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Gold winning 2023 Birmingham Parks re-creation of the Chelsea Flower Show piece at Cannon Hill Park

In May 2023, Cofton Nursery on behalf of Birmingham City Council, once again won Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show with their winning entry Birmingham Parks. In July 2023, they are re-creating it at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston. Located close to Mini Golf and the tennis courts. Was a rainy day when I found it.

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Gold winning 2023 Birmingham Parks re-creation of the Chelsea Flower Show piece at Cannon Hill Park





In May 2023, Cofton Nursery on behalf of Birmingham City Council, once again won Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show with their winning entry Birmingham Parks. In July 2023, they are re-creating it at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston. Located close to Mini Golf and the tennis courts. Was a rainy day when I found it.


Usually Cofton Nursery would split their Gold winning Chelsea Flower Show display between Victoria Square and Cathedral Square. But Victoria Square in Birmingham City Centre is unavailable due to the public realm works, and the renovation works at the Birmingham Council House, and Cathedral Square not used this time, maybe as the Cathedral is under scaffolding for the Divine Beauty project.

 

But in the past, Cofton Nursery have put previous Chelsea Flower Show winning displays in Cannon Hill Park (or part of the displays).

In July 2023, they installed a partial re-creation of their winning entry in Cannon Hill Park, located close to Mini Golf and the tennis courts.

It is called Birmingham Parks.

 

It was raining a lot on the walk into the park from the Pershore Road entrance (near the Wildlife Conservation Park) and the bridges near the Queen's Ride car park.

But the rain started to slow down or stop by the time I located the piece.

It looks a bit incomplete.

They will probably complete it in a few weeks time when they have more staff to do it. Looks good so far.

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cannon Hill Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Parks%20CFS%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%2011072023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Your Place Your Space Green open spaces
18 Jun 2023 - Your Place Your Space
Gallery

Gardens at Winterbourne House - stunning!

A visit to Winterbourne House gardens is highly recommended. Here we share some photography taken by follower of Birmingham Gems, Jack Babbington during a visit to Winterbourne House in June 2023.  Enjoy!

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Gardens at Winterbourne House - stunning!





A visit to Winterbourne House gardens is highly recommended. Here we share some photography taken by follower of Birmingham Gems, Jack Babbington during a visit to Winterbourne House in June 2023.  Enjoy!


Here is a selection of stunning photography of Winterbourne House Gardens.  

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 6.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 2.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 3.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 4.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 7.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 8.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne 9.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

We hope you have enjoyed our photography.

Why not go and experience this great Birmingham Gem for yourself.

Thank you Jack Babbington for sharing his photography.

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