Are you a Birmingham geek? Well.. you might be interested in a recent "visioning" report written by Prof. Michael Parkinson about the city centre. For once, a piece of regeneration research which speaks in plain English rather than buzz words and looks beyond economics to the importance of quality of life, community and creativity. He makes several recommendations - below are my favourite. Nothing earth-shattering, just eye-opening.
"Birmingham city centre is too much like every other city centre in the UK. It must be less bland. A "grittier" innovative approach would lead to a greater concentration of resources in under-used areas like the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth and the area around the Hippodrome theatre. The council should encourage independent retailers and small shopkeepers".
"Birmingham must celebrate its ethnic diversity with better provision for minority groups, especially young people. It needs a central arts centre and a public prayer place".
"The Jewellery Quarter is a gem, but underdeveloped. This is shortsighted. It needs more activity, visitors, management and money. It needs student housing, a film theatre, an alternative arts centre. It needs better connections to the city centre".
"Birmingham should do much more to develop the cultural and creative industries around the Custard Factory and the Bond."
In other words - come on guys, we know Birmingham is a gem of a city, let's be imaginative and show it off!
You can download the whole report in Word format here
Monday, 12 March 2007
Saturday, 3 March 2007
80/81 Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve
Where is it?
Slightly North-West of Birmingham City Centre - it includes West Bromwich, Handsworth and Hamstead. We concentrated our efforts on the area surrounding the RSPB reserve in Sandwell Valley Country Park.
What's there?
A well-maintained RSPB reserve with footpaths around Forge Mill Lake and a friendly visitors centre. Half way round the lake you meet a canal with towpath (though our A to Z insists it's the River Tame). We spotted a sadistic mallard duck riding the rapids and some local youths throwing stones at the swans. The youths made a quick getaway when they spotted Doug's official-looking flourescent yellow waterproof trousers. Fortunately the birds were not fazed and we saw Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, various types of gull, Goosander and Wigeon - mostly from the large new hide near the visitors centre, a very pleasant place to sit and eat sandwiches. A helpful volunteer in the hide pointed out interesting birds to us and let us look through his telescope. He was understandably excited when we offered him a chocolate-covered digestive biscuit.
Shortly after meeting the canal/river you can branch off on the cycle path to find Swan Pool. Sandwell Boating Club are active on this small lake and it was surreal to see numerous white sails silhouetted against the tower-blocks of West Bromwich in the distance. Eccentricity seemed to be the word for Swan Pool - we saw an unexplained caravan with colourful flags parked up next to the boats, a young man encouraging his miserable looking girlfriend to mountain bike her way through the mud, and a lone fisherman paying more attention to the football match blaring out on his radio than to his rod.
How do I get there?
Easy-peasy. Get the No 16 Bus to Hampstead from Bull St (Just off Corporation St) in Birmingham City Centre. Get off at the stop just after Hampstead Junior School and walk down the hill to the reserve.
Check out the RSPB website for opening times
Slightly North-West of Birmingham City Centre - it includes West Bromwich, Handsworth and Hamstead. We concentrated our efforts on the area surrounding the RSPB reserve in Sandwell Valley Country Park.
What's there?
A well-maintained RSPB reserve with footpaths around Forge Mill Lake and a friendly visitors centre. Half way round the lake you meet a canal with towpath (though our A to Z insists it's the River Tame). We spotted a sadistic mallard duck riding the rapids and some local youths throwing stones at the swans. The youths made a quick getaway when they spotted Doug's official-looking flourescent yellow waterproof trousers. Fortunately the birds were not fazed and we saw Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, various types of gull, Goosander and Wigeon - mostly from the large new hide near the visitors centre, a very pleasant place to sit and eat sandwiches. A helpful volunteer in the hide pointed out interesting birds to us and let us look through his telescope. He was understandably excited when we offered him a chocolate-covered digestive biscuit.
Shortly after meeting the canal/river you can branch off on the cycle path to find Swan Pool. Sandwell Boating Club are active on this small lake and it was surreal to see numerous white sails silhouetted against the tower-blocks of West Bromwich in the distance. Eccentricity seemed to be the word for Swan Pool - we saw an unexplained caravan with colourful flags parked up next to the boats, a young man encouraging his miserable looking girlfriend to mountain bike her way through the mud, and a lone fisherman paying more attention to the football match blaring out on his radio than to his rod.
How do I get there?
Easy-peasy. Get the No 16 Bus to Hampstead from Bull St (Just off Corporation St) in Birmingham City Centre. Get off at the stop just after Hampstead Junior School and walk down the hill to the reserve.
Check out the RSPB website for opening times
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