Ongoing research; last updated 31 January 2012
19 March 2006 – The Friends of Selly Oak Park
Sunday, 19th March 2006
Scout Hut, Selly Oak Park
Present: Councillors Radcliffe & Dow, Simon Cooper (District Parks Manager), Emma Woolf (Birmingham Open Spaces Forum & Friends of Cotteridge park), Marcia Greenwood (Ward Support Officer) and approximately 35 members of the public.
Cllr Radcliffe cited the benefits of Friends Groups:
· Promotes the park
· Host community events
· Improve facilities within parks by accessing funding
· Clean up operations
· Involves the whole community
2. Background to the idea of a Friends Group – Simon Cooper
· As part of the Parks Strategy, BCC actively pursuing the idea of friends groups for the last two years.
· Selly Oak District (comprising of Selly Oak, Moseley & Kings Heath, Bournville and Kings Norton) have more friends groups than any other district. For example: Cotteridge Park, Muntz Park, Kings Norton Nature Reserve, Highbury Park and Cannon Hill Park.
· Potential friends groups to form are Hazelwell and Selly Oak.
· BCC already consult with the Lapal Canal Trust & the local scouts group with issues relating to the surrounding area of the park. The Millenium Woodlands have been adopted by the Soroptomists.
· As a ward, Selly Oak should receive some planning gain funding from the new developments. Friends groups will be one of many organisations who will be consulted as to where funding should be spent within the park. As a constituted group, a friends group may be able to apply for match funding from other funding sources.
· Aim of the public meeting – to gauge the interest of local residents in forming a constituted consultative partnership or indicating an interest in taking part in future meetings.
3. Birmingham Open Spaces Forum – Emma Woolf
· Birmingham Open Spaces Forum is an umbrella group run by volunteers which comprises of over 90 Friends & Resident Groups who support other groups with an interest in open spaces. They meet twice a year. Next meeting is due in April.
· Background to Friends of Cotteridge Park: Over 8 years ago, group of interested individuals got together in response to the budget cuts to parks and other issues to do with improving the park.
· The group is a useful contact base for communicating with the wider community. Since conception, the groups many activities have involved tree planting, bulb planting, Christmas tree recycling, etc.
· The group are reactive to facilitate residents’ requests. They recognise that different sets of the community use the park for different reasons and aim to work with all residents in resolving issues as they arise.
· Volunteers within the group are encouraged to get involved in what they are interested in. Events held so far: Green Recycling (organised through Simon), music festival (every July), summer toy library, etc.
· Friends group has raised over £60,000 of funding that has been reinvested in the park
· Cotteridge Park has a dedicated park keeper.
4. By a show of hands, it was agreed to establish a Friends of Selly Oak Park
5. Issues Raised
· Cycle route status within the park. Simon said that it was an adopted highway that was maintained by Transportation.
· Motorcycles being used within the park – should be a policing issue. Bournville Lane West Sector to be contacted about enforcement and whether prohibition signs could be erected stating that the police could take further action if caught. Police seem to be giving different messages to the residents about their enforcement powers.
· Useful to have a park keeper. Nowadays, the role needs to encompass the skills and knowledge of an environmentalist, a social worker, warden and community development. Friends groups need to continue to pressure the elected members and the City Council for this resource.
· Improvements needed to drainage and pathways.
· St. Mary’s School would be keen in developing a relationship with Selly Oak Park.
· Would there be any funding to assist the group, for example a set up grant for funding newsletters etc.
· Dumping of rubbish, fly tipping especially tyres.
· To fence the perimeter with a metal trip rail - £25k. Emma suggested that chopped down trees could be used as an alternative.
· Need to consult with the wider neighbourhood. Friends of Cotteridge Park use networks such as newsletter, websites, notice boards, schools, local shops, GP surgeries.
14 April 2006 - Birmingham Mail
A Park that needs some TLC - and where are the flowers?
A Walk In The Park
GRAHAM YOUNG VISITS SELLY OAK PARK.
After waking up on a beautiful morning I was hoping to enjoy a classic English park in the spring time.
But by the time I got to Selly Oak park the storm clouds were gathering ominously - and then it poured down.
But by the time I got to Selly Oak park the storm clouds were gathering ominously - and then it poured down.
As for the spring flowers it was almost a case of: 'Where are they?' Save for a sprinkling of daffs around various tree trunks and a few pathetic flowers wilting on the bank next to Gibbins Road, the gently sloping landscape was almost bereft of colour. Selly Oak Park needs some TLC. It's got no wall, no love letters from Friends (See Cotteridge) and nowhere obvious for visitors to park.
There are also no signs, so two colleagues who've spent 100 years between them living in south Birmingham didn't know where it was.
So-called planners have done more damage in Britain than our wartime enemies ever did. Harborne Lane to the east and the housing on the west side suffocate this park instead of showcasing it, while the square, flat-roofed houses on Bideford Drive are so ugly they're worth seeing in their own right.
Most of the western roads are fenced off from the park. Near Lepid Grove there is an unsigned footpath leading off from Corisande Road, but you'd be hard pressed to find it in the car.
HISTORY: The site was originally purchased by the city in the late 19th Century, with additional land added over a number of years. The Lapal Canal Trust aims to reopen a canal buried in the 1950s. The stump of an oak tree felled in 1909 has a plaque marking the former road junction of Selly Oak.
VANDALISM: There's hardly anything to attack. The view of tower blocks towards the QE Hospital is like town-planning graffiti in 3D.
ACTIVITIES: Some kids were braving the rain to play football - a good sign before the World Cup. But the basic playground was empty given the foul weather. Despite there being a pointless no-cycling sign, one lady in a green reflective jacket rode through regardless. Good for her.
Most of the western roads are fenced off from the park. Near Lepid Grove there is an unsigned footpath leading off from Corisande Road, but you'd be hard pressed to find it in the car.
HISTORY: The site was originally purchased by the city in the late 19th Century, with additional land added over a number of years. The Lapal Canal Trust aims to reopen a canal buried in the 1950s. The stump of an oak tree felled in 1909 has a plaque marking the former road junction of Selly Oak.
VANDALISM: There's hardly anything to attack. The view of tower blocks towards the QE Hospital is like town-planning graffiti in 3D.
ACTIVITIES: Some kids were braving the rain to play football - a good sign before the World Cup. But the basic playground was empty given the foul weather. Despite there being a pointless no-cycling sign, one lady in a green reflective jacket rode through regardless. Good for her.
Birmingham Parks Info: Tel 0121 303 2004, email parks@birmingham.gov.uk or write to: Parks, Sports and Events, PO Box 2122, Alpha Tower, Suffolk Street, Queensway, Birmingham B1 1TZ.
For Selly Oak Park tel 0121 464 8728.
3rd June 2006 - The Friends of Selly Oak Park
The minute of the first meeting of this new group records the appointment of the following committee:-
Chair: Roy Knight
Vice Chair: Jenny Edwards
Secretary: Nicholas Richardson
Treasurer: Geoff Bartlett
Committee: Malcolm Garner, Lindsay Milner and Dave Barker
For Selly Oak Park tel 0121 464 8728.
3rd June 2006 - The Friends of Selly Oak Park
The minute of the first meeting of this new group records the appointment of the following committee:-
Chair: Roy Knight
Vice Chair: Jenny Edwards
Secretary: Nicholas Richardson
Treasurer: Geoff Bartlett
Committee: Malcolm Garner, Lindsay Milner and Dave Barker
