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Thu, 27 Sep 2007
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| Open day at the Garden 23rd September 2007 |
PRESS RELEASE
The Elford Hall Garden Restoration Team was
delighted with response to their “Open Day” on
Sunday afternoon. Cream teas were free as people
came to the garden and viewed the group’s plans.
This walled kitchen garden dates back to the
Georgian period and has not been cultivated for a
number of years. Substantial work now needs to be
done on the wall and buildings. The beautiful site
has river frontage on the Tame and is over 7 acres.
The garden was gifted to Birmingham in 1936 as
part of the 500 acre Elford Estate. The benefactor
Howard F Paget had made his own personal fortune
after the Great War. Another gift included
the “Elford Wing” of the then Royal Masonic
Hospital. Paget wanted the estate to be used as
a “Park of the people”, sadly the war intervened
and the idea never came to fruition.
The Birmingham Trust and Charities Committee are
now willing to grant the group a 35 year lease at
a peppercorn rent. Birmingham’s willingness to
consider the proposition is giving a unique
opportunity to realise some of what Howard Paget
must have dreamed.
The group plan to create an open and free park for
people of the village and region to enjoy. There
will be riverside walks, picnic areas and maybe a
tennis court and bowling green. Fruit trees will
be replanted around the walls of the garden and an
orchard planted next to the Victorian gardener’s
cottage. Some parts will be left as conservation
areas. Consideration is also being given to the
creation of new rights of way for the public to
enjoy.
A lot of work will have to be done. The group are
now pursuing funding opportunities for the
project. A society for “Friends “is being formed
and people are also wanted to join in with the
physical work involved.
Details can be found on the group’s web site:-
vhttp://www.elfordhallgardens.zoomshare.com/0.html
Sunday afternoon was a lovely event. The weather
held and over 120 people came to the event. A
spokesman for the group, villager Dick Cowley,
said “Seeing couples stroll through the meadow
outside the wall was great. Children were playing
and you can hear the sound of laughter. This is
just how it will be when the hard work is done.
The satisfaction for those who want to get
involved will be enormous. We intend to create
preserve some of the rural heritage for people to
enjoy now and also for the generations to come”.
Dick Cowley
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Posted 06:23
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Tue, 14 Aug 2007
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| Great News |
Birmingham City Council are now willing to grant a
long term lease at a peppercorn rent!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted 06:01
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Mon, 24 Jul 2006
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| PHOTOGRAPHS WLLAED GARDEN |
On Sunday the 23rd of July Councilor Mathew Ellis
came to the Walled Garden and met with a group of
villagers. Photographs were taken and a press
release regarding the vote is being prepared for
the newspapers.
It is hoped to set up a further meeting with
Birmingham in the coming weeks.
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Posted 13:17
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| BALLOT RESULT |
The ballots were counted at the Howard School by
the Parish Council and some members of the project
team. This took place on the 18th July. The final
result was a clear vote in favour of the project.
Two hundred and fifty one people were in favour of
the project and 51 were against. Eight ballot
papers were spoiled. A total of 504 ballots were
issued. This is a return rate of 60%.
We live in a beautiful village and none of the
project team would do anything to mar that beauty
in any way. Our sole intent is to preserve an
area of rural heritage that we will otherwise
lose.
The concerns of some villagers will be taken into
account and everything possible done to minimise
or remove any problems.
A great opportunity is just around the corner. We
need to realise that there are still hurdles to
jump. We need to negotiate a lease with
Birmnigham. At that point we still have to secure
the funding for the proje4ct. Each step takes us
closer.
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Posted 13:14
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Thu, 13 Jul 2006
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| WALK AROUND THE GARDENS - 12th July 2006 |
Between 30 and 40 people came and walked around
the garden site. It was an opportunity to look at
the Hall gardens and see the potential for a
project there. Luckily it was a beautiful evening
and the tour went well. There was a lot of
interesting discussion about issues relating to
the idea. Both positiive points and those which
concerned villagers were discussed. Another walk
will be held tonight the 13th July and another
glorious evening of sunshine is expected.
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Posted 10:09
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