Share your garden cuttings on the web

A new website that will enable locals to share garden cuttings, seeds and plants this spring and summer is the brainchild of Sallyann Rose and Mike Sloyan. Details of the project, called Gardening Exchange, can be found at www.gardeningexchange.org
Webdesigner Mike Sloyan said: “Gardening Exchange is a free website platform that enables gardeners to share plants, cuttings, seeds etc as well as ideas and knowledge about gardening. There is a particular interest in sharing ideas on eco gardening practices. There are general discussion boards along with boards covering a range of gardening issues: Green Issues, Gardening Help and Advice, Gardening Events, Gardening Humour. We trialled the site for one week, during which 21 gardeners shared plants and advice. We now hope that with the beginning of spring the seeds of the concept will blossom and grow into a region wide community.”
Sallyann Rose hopes that Gardening Exchange ” will promote a giving culture amongst gardeners that will also help to create a greener and more attractive environment throughout Castle Vale.”
Gardening Exchange will have a table at Castle Vale Farmers Market on Saturday April 19 where interested gardeners can learn more about the website and also use the table to share their plants and cuttings etc.

JKS postponement puts Worcester back on top

 

Worcester Academy regained top spot from JKS in Division Two of the Midland Combination with a 9-2 away win at Cadbury. JKS had briefly held first position in midweek, but their Saturday fixture against Enville was postponed. JKS are now three points behind the leaders with five games in hand.

Castle Vale FC had no fixture this weekend.

Time flies

Evenings will be lighter longer, as the clocks go forward tonight by one hour.

Patients to choose their hospital

 

From April 1 2008 patients referred to hospital by their local doctor will be able to choose any hospital in England, including some private hospitals. If a patient’s local doctor decides that they need to see a specialist in a hospital or clinic, the doctor can offer a list of available hospitals in England offering NHS treatment and can book an appointment electronically at a time and place convenient to them while they are in the surgery.
The patient may decide they would like more time to choose or they may wish to do more research or consult with friends of family for example. More help for patients will be available on the NHS Choices website. Once they have decided which hospital is right for them, they will be able to call the Appointment Line on 08456 088 888 which can offer more information and can book the appointment for them.
Exceptions to the system are chest pain and cancer services – where speed of access and diagnosis are a priority. If a patient needs to be referred to the rapid access chest pain clinic or for cancer services – the GP will automatically refer them to the hospitals which have been specifically set up with designated specialists and teams who can see patients quickly, normallywithin two weeks. Patients are not yet able to choose mental health and maternity services anywhere in England, though they do continue to have their current choice of local services.

Saturday 5th April – Active Arts Day

willow weaving

Next Saturday (5th April) sees the launch of a new programme of Arts Events in Castle Vale. Active Arts Day will be see arts events and activities provided free at four venues in Castle Vale: The Residents Club in Yatesbury Avenue, The Sanctuary, The Library at Spitfire House, and St Cuthbert’s Church Hall. Music, song, dance, flower arranging, photography, card making and willow weaving will be on offer between 12 midday and 5pm. More details are available from Bob Brueton at the Astral (0121 464 9222)

Margaret says goodbye to TRA

 Margaret Dunsford has retired from her job as Operations Manager at the TRA (Tenants and Residents Alliance) after six years with the organisation. Colleagues and friends attended a special luncheon buffet at Spitfire House to say farewell, and happy 60th birthday to Margaret, whom Carole Rafferty, TRA Chairperson, described as “a wonderful friend.”
Margaret told her audience that she had enjoyed a “lovely time with the TRA, working long hours, in some difficult times, helping people.”

Midlands architects overlooked for City library designs

 FOA – (Foreign Office Architects) design for London 2012 Olympic Stadium

Alejandro Zaera Polo and Farshid Moussavi of Foreign Office Architects

Birmingham City Council have today announced a shortlist of seven architect companies invited to submit their designs for the proposed new central library.  The project will cost £193 million. The shortlisted seven are from various countries; four of them have offices in London, two are Dutch; one is Danish. There are no Birmingham-based, or Midlands-based architect companies shortlisted. The Council Cabinet is keen to promote the image of Birmingham as ‘a global city with a local heart.’ 
 
The shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
Foreign Office Architects (Japan/London based)
Foster and Partners (London based)
Hopkins Architects (London based)
Mecanoo (Dutch based)
OMA (Dutch based)
Schmidt Hammer Lassen (Danish based)
Wilkinson Eyre (London based)

‘ What train station? What campaign?….’

Click here to go to the original article (October 2007), and to Mike Sloyan’s comment (posted 27.03.08) about the ‘plans’ for a train station for Castle Vale.

Brum 15th on ‘most likely to be burgled’ list

Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, comes 15th in the league table of places where homes are most likely to be burgled, according to figures released yesterday by Endsleigh Insurance. Home accident statistics put Brum as the 9th safest place in the country. Click here for Vale Mail article 25/03/08

Vale Carnival moves on: Local music talent to replace funfair

OUT goes the funfair
MORE focus on local musical talent
The Castle Vale summer carnival is to be scaled down and moved from the traditional Farnborough Road site to the smaller venue of Centre Park this year. The event will take place on Sunday 6th July, and will be themed: ‘Carnival- A Party in the Park’, with an emphasis on music and local performances. Uncertainty about work scheduled for the playing fields, and the fact that it is ‘off the beaten track’ caused the Carnival Committee to abandon the Farnborough Road site.

Carnival organiser Bob Brueton said: “Centre Park doesn’t have the car parking space that Farnborough Road has, but it is much easier for most local people to get to. We shall be using the Fort Car Park and providing a mini-bus shuttle-system for people who need it. Over the years, the carnival has attracted many people from outside the Vale, but we expect this one to have a more local appeal, so most people will be able to walk to the event. “

One of the aims of the new Carnival Committee is to make this event a participatory event, where local people can perform on stage and show their talents. Some outside, professional performers are also being lined up for the day. The performances will replace the carnival’s traditional centre-piece, the arena, where birds of prey, motorcycling and other display teams have been the focus.

The organisers still hope for crowds of between three and four thousand if the weather is good, though the emphasis this year will be on local musical talent for local people. Despite the absence of the funfair, there will still be stalls, clowns, and circus skills for youngsters, though there will be no licensed bar this year, in keeping with the area’s ‘alcohol restriced zone’ status.