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Christine Wright Environment & green action
08 Dec 2020 - Christine Wright
Gallery

Kings Heath Park - a much loved green space in the Birmingham suburbs

Take the full post for a selection of photos looking at the life of Kings Heath Park throughout the seasons. 

The park is managed by Birmingham City Council, with the help of a team of local volunteers, the 'Friends of Kings Heath Park'.

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Kings Heath Park - a much loved green space in the Birmingham suburbs





Take the full post for a selection of photos looking at the life of Kings Heath Park throughout the seasons. 

The park is managed by Birmingham City Council, with the help of a team of local volunteers, the 'Friends of Kings Heath Park'.


All photography by Christine Wright.

Find out more about the 'Friends of Kings Heath Park' by connecting here.

Kings Heath Park is centered on the Park House which was built in 1832 for the MP, William Congreve Russell. In 1880, it was bought by John Cartland (ancestor of the author Barbara Cartland, lover of pinkness and author of  romantic novels!).

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The land was sold to the council and opened as a public park in 1908. The building houses council offices and the Cartland Tea Rooms.

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Plants are available for sale in the nursery at Kings Heath Park.

Let's take a look at the Park though the seasons :

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Photography by Christine Wright.

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Elliott Brown People & community
30 Nov 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Halloween Decorations around Kings Heath on the 31st October 2020

We are closer to a Covid Christmas now than Halloween. But on the afternoon of the 31st October 2020, I had one last walk around Kings Heath before the 2nd lockdown announcment. Mainly to see those flower planters on closed roads. But also saw Halloween decorations in front of houses, in windows etc. Pumpkins, skeletons, cobwebs!

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Halloween Decorations around Kings Heath on the 31st October 2020





We are closer to a Covid Christmas now than Halloween. But on the afternoon of the 31st October 2020, I had one last walk around Kings Heath before the 2nd lockdown announcment. Mainly to see those flower planters on closed roads. But also saw Halloween decorations in front of houses, in windows etc. Pumpkins, skeletons, cobwebs!


HALLOWEEN KINGS HEATH, 31ST OCTOBER 2020

A month late, but Happy Halloween! The Nightmare Before Christmas! It was heavily raining on the morning of the 31st October 2020, and with a dry spell in the afternoon, I got the 11C bus to Kings Heath. Mainly to see the Low Traffic Neighbourhood around Kings Heath. But couldn't help notice some houses had Halloween decorations out at the time. It was rumoured that another lockdown was coming, but it wasn't confirmed until later that day.

 

Halloween bunting spotted on a hedge on Colmore Road in Kings Heath.

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Passing Vicarage Road and Kings Heath Park and onto Avenue Road. Saw this window with these decorations inside. The Day of the Dead!

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Then onto Highbury Road. Social Distance Trick or Treaters Welcome Here! Skeleton on the wall.

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Later after seeing the last of the LTN flower planters went down Springfield Road to get the 11A bus home.

Various Halloween decorations around this tree plus a hand!

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Cobwebs around this telegraph pole and on the bushes.

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More Halloween decorations in this window with the blue plaque for Miss Minnie May (who was a Teacher of Dressmaking that lived here in 1939).

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Near the end of the road was this pair of carved pumpkins. Looks like a bat.

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A more traditional scary Halloween pumpkin carving!

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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Elliott Brown Green open spaces
22 Sep 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

An Indian Summer in Kings Heath Park during September 2020

A Sunday afternoon visit to Kings Heath Park during September 2020, on award winning person with passion Elliott's 38th birthday. It was sunny afternoon, plenty of people about. Cartlands Tea Room was open again where you could buy ice cream. Hopefully people were sticking to the "Rule of Six". Households can't mix at home so instead they have public parks.

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An Indian Summer in Kings Heath Park during September 2020





A Sunday afternoon visit to Kings Heath Park during September 2020, on award winning person with passion Elliott's 38th birthday. It was sunny afternoon, plenty of people about. Cartlands Tea Room was open again where you could buy ice cream. Hopefully people were sticking to the "Rule of Six". Households can't mix at home so instead they have public parks.


September 2020, means that during the month, Elliott (that's me) would have another birthday. On the Sunday afternoon, we headed to Kings Heath Park, for a bit of a walk around. The walk was a bit slow at times (I'm usually a fast walker, but wasn't on my own). On a Sunday in September with sunshine and fine weather, was a lot of people out in the park. Both car parks were full (personally I prefer to get the 11C bus there if I was on my own).

Since my last visit, Cartlands Tea Room has reopened. And you can buy a 99 ice cream with a Flake. The garden centre is open again, but only Monday's to Friday's. The TV Garden was still closed to the public. Kids playing on the basketball court, others having a kick about with a football, or at the two play areas. Or having a picnic on the lawn.

 

Sign / banner seen on Vicarage Road in Kings Heath, Saying that Cartlands Tea Room is now reopened.

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The large open field from the path near the drive. The odd couple sitting on the grass.

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A stunning blue sky and more people sitting on the grass.

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Floral display near the School of Horticultural Training. How home to the Cartlands Tea Room.

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Some people took their own foldable chairs to sit amongst the floral displays for a chat.

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Kings Heath Garden Centre. Not open at weekends. But if you go Monday to Friday, wear your mask, and stay 2m apart.

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Another field near the bottom of the park. At least one person sitting on the lawn. Perfect blue sky.

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Steps into the field to the bottom of the park.

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Tall thin trees near the bottom end of the park.

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More people sitting on the lawn near or having a kick about.

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View towards the play area near Avenue Road.

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Back near the School of Horticultural Training, home of Cartlands Tea Room (now reopened).

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One of the signs on the noticedboard of interest: Don't litter, if the bins are full please take it home!

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Entrance to Cartlands Tea Room. Was later a socially distanced queue of people queuing for ice cream or coffee or tea.

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They also had these sky blue chairs outside.

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Moorhen in the pond.

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Robin on the bench around a tree.

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Also spotted a squirrel climbing up a tree.

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A few more bits and pieces before leaving. One of the short woodland paths off the main path to the bottom of the park.

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Another peek at the TV Garden through the locked gate. I've not been able to go into here in over 6 years now.

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Never Give Up. Yarn bombing. This was on the fence even during the earlier part of the last lockdown.

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The pond, none of the fountain water jets were on. Hose pipe exposed above the water.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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Elliott Brown Squares and public spaces
15 Jun 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

The Classic Car Meet at Kings Heath Village Square on the August Bank Holiday Monday 2019

On Monday 26th August 2019, I was changing buses from the 50 to 11A, when I spotted a Classic Car Meet at Kings Heath Village Square near All Saints Church, so went to check it out, before walking to the next 11A bus stop on the Vicarage Road. Was a variety of classic cars there that day. It was the August Bank Holiday Monday.

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The Classic Car Meet at Kings Heath Village Square on the August Bank Holiday Monday 2019





On Monday 26th August 2019, I was changing buses from the 50 to 11A, when I spotted a Classic Car Meet at Kings Heath Village Square near All Saints Church, so went to check it out, before walking to the next 11A bus stop on the Vicarage Road. Was a variety of classic cars there that day. It was the August Bank Holiday Monday.


Classic Car Meet at Kings Heath Village Square

Kings Heath Village Square opened in October 2011, and is suitable for any kind of event. During normal times, the square was available for hire. The square is at the corner of Vicarage Road and High Street in Kings Heath near All Saints Church.

On Monday the 26th August 2019, it was the August Bank Holiday Monday, and one such event was using the square. There was a Classic Car Meet on that day.

I had got off the no 50 bus and was going to switch to an 11A when I spotted this car meet and went to check it out before getting my bus home that day.

This view was taken from the 11A bus as it waited at the lights. Wythall Transport Museum were also having their usual Bank Holiday Weekend heritage bus rides up and down the Alcester Road. There was an old Metrobus to the right. Which I didn't notice until I first saw this photo on my computer.

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When I first arrived I saw this Ford F 150 pick up truck, made in 1977. It originally came from Texas.

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Another view of the Ford F150 from the 11A bus.

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This is a Austin Six from 1929.

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This Riley Elf was near the bushes close to Vicarage Road.

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This old car was either a Rover 2000 or the Rover P6.

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Various old cars near the All Saints Centre including the T48 Corsa Spyder.

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A line of about 5 classic cars. The red car to the left was a 1977 Triumph Stag Mk II.

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On the Labyrinth in the middle of the square at the time was this live band. With a drum kit and a guitar.

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Close to All Saints Church was a 1966 Volvo Amazon.

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The orange car with the boot open was a 1972 MGB GT.

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Next up was this Volkswagen Type 2.

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A classic Volkswagen Beetle

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For a similar post click: Austin Seven's in Victoria Square (April 2012).

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

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Elliott Brown Green open spaces
03 Jun 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

A sunny May afternoon at Kings Heath Park on lockdown

This was my first time back to Kings Heath since lockdown came into effect in late March 2020. Since restrictions were eased, we headed for a walk round Highbury Park, before walking to Kings Heath Park. Was so many people out and about enjoying the weather. Sporting activities were going on there. Playground still closed though.

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A sunny May afternoon at Kings Heath Park on lockdown





This was my first time back to Kings Heath since lockdown came into effect in late March 2020. Since restrictions were eased, we headed for a walk round Highbury Park, before walking to Kings Heath Park. Was so many people out and about enjoying the weather. Sporting activities were going on there. Playground still closed though.


Back to Kings Heath for the first time in over 2 months since lockdown came into effect. On Thursday 21st May 2020. Lockdown restrictions have been eased, so you can travel a bit further, but can still not use public transport (so went we in the car).

During the Highbury Park walk, we left Highbury Park heading up Dads Lane, going under the Camp Hill line railway bridge and crossing onto Avenue Road. Just a short walk before reaching the Avenue Road entrance to Kings Heath Park.

My May post at Highbury Park is here: A sunny day in May at Highbury Park and Highbury Hall.

The playground near Avenue Road - the Kings Heath Park Play Area was obviously closed due to the pandemic / lockdown. And remains closed even when lockdown restrictions were eased.

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Families sitting on the grass, and in front of them I think a family was playing a game of croquet (or something, hard to tell with the trees in the way).

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In the pond, saw a moorhen.

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The trees around the pond were lush and green and fully grown back after the last winter. The fountains weren't on though.

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Saw a Bowling Green on a walk around, and saw some men playing a game of bowls (not sure if they were of the same family or not). What was concerning was the group of men playing football, surely they are not all related and live in the same household? I did not see any security or Police in the park.

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More people relaxing on the lawn to the back of the park, some sitting down on the grass. Hopefully socially distancing?

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Meanwhile a walk past the TV Garden. All gates were locked, but I took photos through the bars of the gates. Got this old brick wall and gate.

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A purple shed and purple flowers. Google Lens says that they are Allium aflatunese. Last went around here 6 years ago (around the TV Garden).

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A close up look at the Allium aflatunese purple coloured flowers, in the TV Garden.

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Before we left, I wanted to get a phone of this yarn bombing on the fence of the football pitch.

Life is tough but so are we

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More Birmingham park posts coming soon, so watch this space!

Expect posts from:

  • Old Yardley Park
  • The Vale Village
  • Summerfield Park
  • Daisy Farm Park
  • Cofton Park

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

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