Nature Trail Launched

A Friends of Selly Oak Park committee member
quizzes wood carver Graham over his design for
the welcome post. 

Friday 11th March 2011 was a special day for Selly Oak Park as it saw the launch of our new Nature Trail. You may have seen various items of art work springing up in the park in the last few weeks. Well with two additional carvings and one bench completed on Friday we finally launched the trail. Councillor Wright declared the trail open after speeches from Neighbourhood Manager Tracey Hewitt and members of the Friends committee. This was then followed by a tour of the trail. We were joined by Children form St Mary's School, the three artists who have worked on the trail, members of the Lapal Canal Trust, Birmingham Trees for Life (who planted 9 new trees to celebrate the event), members of the original park keepers family and several senior staff from Birmingham City Council. All agreed that the trail is a major assets to the park and the neighbourhood.

Its happened again!

What's going on in Selly Oak Park? Every time you blink another sculpture appears. This log settee is the latest arrival. I wonder what's next?

Nature Trail Launch - 11th March

Over the past few weeks and months you may have noticed different features appearing in the Park - the Cyril Squirrel willow sculpture, wood carvings, seats, finger posts, plaques, interpretation boards. These are all part of a Nature / Art / History Trail which has been co-ordinated by Tracey Hewitt our Neighbourhood Manager, with much support from the Friends of Selly Oak Park. The nature Trail is now nearly complete and will be offically launched on 11th March 2011.

P.S. A date for your diary - the Selly Oak Festival, in the Park, is being planned for 18th June 2011. We already have attractions booked. Please contact us (details on the right) if you wish to participate with a stall or similar.

Willow sculpture installed




Park historian (Ken Pugh, Right) works with
designer Bob Green (left) while Tracey Hewitt (centre)
 takes a short break.

 

Wednesday 9th February was a great day for the park and for the Friends as this was the day when we installed our willow sculpture. The sculpture, which depicts a squirrel, was designed by Bob Green and installed by Bob with the help of two groups of children from St Mary's School and members of the Friends of the park. We were also greatly assisted by the Park Keeper, Derick, and by the Neighbourhood manager for Selly Oak St Mary's, Tracey Hewitt.

 



A pupil from St Mary's School
helps weave willow.



The willow squirrel is part of the nature trail that Tracey has been championing in the park and represents an excellent natural play feature with its tunnels and hide aways. In time the willow rods will take root to provide a green canopy in the summer. New shoots will be worked back into the structure.

New benches

We are very pleased that five new benches have been installed in the park. Three of these were paid for by the Friends (using money given in sponsorship by Robert Wilkinson's Fun Fair) and two by a grant from the City's Community Chest scheme.

Selly Oak Festival 18th June 2011

We will be hosting the 2011 Selly Oak Festival on 18th June 2011. This will include a junior (8-11yr, 5-a-side) football tournament. To request a stall or enter a team please e-mail festival@friendsofsellyoakpark.org.uk

Welcome Post



New welcome post



Oak leaf motif



A new welcome post has been installed at the Harborne Lane / Gibbins Rd entrance to the park. Carved from solid wood the post depicts a canal boat approaching a bridge. This image was chosen because the park is bordered by the old Dudley No. 2 (Lapal) canal and the post is close to the site of Harborne Wharf (now occupied by the Scout Hut). The post, which was paid for in part by the Lapal Canal Trust, is part of our Nature and History trail. It is matched with a similar welcome post depicting a woodpecker which sits at the top of the Gibbins Rd frontage. Both posts feature an oak leaf motif on their reverse sides to represent Selly Oak.



Woodpecker post



We expect the Nature / History trail to be completed in mid March. The trail itself is funded by Birmingham City Council and Grassroots. Nature items will include a story telling bench with bird carvings designed by children at St Mary's School, a signpost indicating natural features of the world, a willow sculpture, the Millennium wood, and signs relating to park wildlife and habitat. History items will include the park keepers lodge and the first park keeper, the donors of the park; Mrs Gibbins and her sons, Weoley Park Farm and the Lapal Canal.