Posts Tagged ‘environment’

If you care about the area where you live and want to have a hand on what is happening there come along to this open event in a couple of weeks. Click on People’s Conference Invitation below for more details and to see how to register.

People’s Conference Invitation

A patch of scrap land transformed into a community organic garden – its almost a fairy tale. Unsuitable for housing,  the land was lying unused and getting messy.  With funds from Be Birmingham and help from CSV Environment, Friends of the Earth, the city regeneration department and Lozells Neighbourhood Management, the area was transformed into a garden with 22 raised beds, seating and composting facilities. Its now been handed over on licence to a residents’ group. The chair is Carol Cadogan. The garden was officially opened on March 26th by Lea Southall of Birmingham’s Parks department and Councillors Mahmood Hussain and Hendrina Quinnen.

[Show as slideshow]

Sarah from CSV plants up the central bed with help from local childrenFreezing cold but warm food helpsApplause for residents' group chair Carol

Remember Lozells as it used to be five years ago? Rubbish, anti social behaviour on the streets, run down buildings and derelict land? Speak to locals and they will say Lozells always had a great sense of community but now it is a safer, cleaner, greener place to live as well.

How did this happen?  Mostly through Neighbourhood Management bringing together partners from all backgrounds – the police, health, city council, fire service, housing associations, residents – to work in partnership on problems which affect residents’ everyday lives. Kate Foley was the first Neighbourhood Manager. She was responsible for getting partners around the table and for attracting money from the city and Urban Living.  After Kate came Gillian. She helped residents’groups access Be Birmingham’s Successful Neighbourhoods Fund for projects like a local walking group, a joint project for young people, and the transformation of waste ground into a community growing space.

 But now  the money has run out. The Neighbourhood Management Programme has finished, victim of national cuts.  The good news is that local people are now more aware of how to hold local partners to account and have been upskilled in making their voices heard. So if you are local, use the local residents’ groups, Lozells Neighbourhood Forum, the Perry Barr Environmental Forum, The Lozells Faith Forum, The Patients’  Network.  Go along, say your piece and help keep partnership working alive locally.

New Host

This blog has been hosted by Birmingham City Council through Lozells Neighbourhood Management. It is now being passed to the  Lozells Neighbourhood Forum as a community asset, and it will be run by the forum. We would like it to reflect even more local news and views.  So …. comments please.

Events

Please send all events you want advertised on the blog to gl@gillian-lloyd.com. Warning – there is a limit of 2MB on uploads.

Poster for Launch 26.03.11What a success story – in six months Birmingham City Council, CSV Envirionment, Friends of the Earth and residents have worked together to transform a patch of derelict land in to a great community resources- 22 raised beds available to residents for a very small annual fee to grow crops of their own.  The project is being handed over to the residents committee on Sat March 26th at a launch event, 1pm – 4pm.  If you would like a bed, come along and sign up.  You can make a hanging basket with help for £5 and take it away with you.  There will be food and a chance for free to have a look around, talk to the residents and get involved.