Care Compost: SOIL IMPROVER and MULCH

Martineau Gardens sells Care Compost. A 40 litre bag costs £4.50

This compost is a 100% peat free and has been made from recycled materials and there are no dded fillers. This is a nutrient rich multipurpose compost. Ph value 6 to 65 at time of testing. 

The compost can be dug in to beds. Or you could let the worms do the work, put it on top of the soil and it will retain moisture, prevent weeds and feed the soil. Good for supporting ‘no-dig’ method of gardening. 

If you’re considering using it for potting up plants in containers, we recommend that you mix it to a ratio of 50/50 with a finer multi-purpose compost. 

It’s bagged in white recyled and reusable bags – keep dry.

*Updated June 2023

Bluetit at Martineau Gardens – photocredit M Bowers

Our former hide has been removed because it had become much more of a ‘lean-to’ than was needed and we’re raising money for a sturdy new one. We need £850 to fund the cost of materials and labour to build the bird hide, ensure  it’s weather proof and provide equipment to support learning (and a love for wildlife); it will be equipped with wildlife information charts (to aid identification), a wildlife recording board, seating and binoculars.

Ways to donate:

To make a donation to our new bird hide, please post a cheque made payable to ‘Martineau Gardens’ (post to: Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, B5 7UG) or donate on-line via our appeal page at LocalGiving:

www.localgiving.com/appeal/MartineauGardensBirdHide

It might be a drizzly day in January, but there’s plenty of colour here at Martineau Gardens to lift the spirits – here’s a selection of plants in bloom, photographed this week. Don’t forget we’re open daily (except Sundays) until 4pm and entry is free of charge.

Rhododendron, by J Fletcher

A splash of colour, and warmth, in the Hot House, by S Hill-Daniel

Rosehips on the Sundial Lawn, S Hill-Daniel

Catkins by J Fletcher

Glastonbury thorn (hawthorn) by J Fletcher

Helebores in the Winter Garden, by j Fletcher

A Night-time visitor is captured on film!

Badger filmed in night time vision, visiting Martineau Gardens

If you’ve ever followed our nature trail, within our wildlife area,  then you will have noticed that Post Number 5, marks a badger path. Badgers are creatures of habit and follow set paths. A regular visitor to Martineau Gardens, our badger ‘tends’ the path itself, shoots and brambles are nibbled away  the path is kept clear so that the badger always enters the garden along the same route. It digs up insects, earthworms and other grubs – when we arrive in the Gardens the next morning, we can often see scuffle marks in the leaves, particularly at this time of year.

Being a nocturnal animal, we’ve never seen the badger that is, until last week. One of our wildlife supporters was taking an evening stroll, whilst managing the rat population, and managed to catch the badger on UV film. Click below to watch the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPCpO-5Owpc&feature=youtu.be

We’re delighted to be able to add a badger to our species list – view the full list here: www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Species-Lists1.pdf

Martineau Gardens manages the wildlife area for its biodiversity – part of our wooded area is a SLINC. 

For more details about badgers – read this: http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/inthewild/badgers/law

Once again, our wildlife volunteer surveyor Andrew Curran has spotted a moth unusual for this area of Britain. Resembling a twig, this is the Red Sword-grass moth (Xylena vetusta). The moth was recorded on the most recent moth session earlier this month. We understand this is a scarce visitor to the Midlands and is a new moth for our moth species record. Find out more about this moth here:

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/xylena-vetusta/

In summer we reported this beautiful moth – the Scarlet Tiger, and a new species to add to our list of wildlife. It’s also rare to see this moth in the midlands, find out more about this and its part as a possible climate change indicator here, with this article by MothsCount: http://bit.ly/1IrvfLs

Andrew with Brian Perry, regularly carry out moth trappings throughout the year, here at Martineau Gardens. Our moth trap is a light-box contained within wood – it’s put out in the evening, the light attracts the moths and a few fly in. The box is filled with cardboard egg boxes providing dark nooks ad crannies where moths can hide. The moths settle. The next morning, our willdlife surveyors inspect the egg trays, and the moths are released unharmed.

Wildlife volunteers surveying moths in summer at Martineau Gardens

Identifying moth before it is released at Martineau Gardens

Yellow brimstone moth, recorded one summer

Working in the woodland at Martineau Gardens

Great  exercise that helps our wildlife! Saturday 14 November  marks the return of our Winter Working Parties. This is a chance to work with others in the woodland at Martineau Gardens, on a range of conservation tasks.

Conservation work includes:

• Coppicing trees and bushes
• Digging out roots
• Pruning hedges
• Clearing  brambles, ivy etc

Stewart Holmes (Therapeutic Horticulturalist, Martineau Gardens) will be leading the sessions, Brian Perry will join him as the volunteer wildlife recorder. Read a report with more details and photos here:

The sessions run on the second Saturday each month 10.30am until 3.30pm, on the following dates:

2015: 14 November, 12 December. 2016: 9 January, 13 February  and 12 March.   

 Please note:

1) If you can only do morning or afternoon—that’s fine

2) In the event of severe weather, work parties will be cancelled

3) If you want to join us, there’s no charge, but please book a place in advance at the Office or call us on 0121 440 7430. We will need your contact details in case the party gets cancelled.

Sponsor Mike online: https://localgiving.com/fundraising/mike-martineau

Update 21 October 2015 : Mike’sdone it!!! Three massive cheers – it’s still not to late to sponsor him, in fact your generosity will make all that hard work worth it! If you donate via Mike’s online page (at Local Giving, via the big link above), the first £10 of your donation will be match funded and (if eligible) gift-aid added – but, don’t delay, the match pot fund will only last a short while!

Mike Ponton, son-in-law of Trustee Glenys Thomas is running for Martineau Gardens in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday 18 October, 2015. This is the first time that Mike has run to fundraise, having run many other full and half marathons ‘just for ‘fun’. Previous runs have been Stratford Upon Avon, Reading, South Downs, Windsor and Paris. His best half marathon time is 1hr 55 and although he is not expecting to match that, he is looking forward to running the streets of Birmingham for the first time.

Mike is married to Katie Glenys’ daughter and had heard all about the Martineau and their family’s enthusiam for it, long before his first visit. Glenys’ commitment to and love of the gardens has spread to the rest of their family.

Mike,52, works as a Systems analyst for cargo airline software so running is a good way for him to get away from an office environment

Why is he doing this?

“I am very interested in mental health issues and the welfare of people and protecting green spaces within city centres, so Martineau Gardens is an especially good project to support. I have heard from Glenys what a wonderful job the gardens offer, giving people a focus. It is so important for people to feel that they are needed and valued in society. It is also a beautiful place that gives many people a chance to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity as well as to see the wonderful plants, woodland and gardens when they visit.”

Our Autumn Event will have celebration at the centre of its festivities. Martineau Gardens (Edgbaston, Birmingham UK) will be celebrating community spirit, the autumn harvest and healthy, outdoor eating at our special event on Sunday 27 September (11am – 3pm).  Mollie Martineau (1-9-1926 to 15-8-2015), Patron for Martineau Gardens has died peacefully.  Community garden staff, volunteers and supporters will be remembering her with affection. Ming de Nasty will be launching her latest photography project ‘Sufficient’ and inviting events goers to take part. The outdoor kitchen at Martineau Gardens will be officially opened with a bake-off around the earth-oven thanks to a donation of £7,000 by community minded staff at fragrance house Jo Malone London.

Mollie Martineau’s support for Martineau Gardens will be marked by a speech at 12.30. Martineau Gardens owes its name to the Martineau Family.  Five generations of Martineaus contributed to Birmingham civic life by sitting as councillors and becoming Mayor.

Photographer Ming de Nasty is inviting growers and urban farmers to have their portrait taken with things they have grown or produced; be it a prize winning cabbage or an unusual shaped carrot.  ‘Sufficient’ is a year long photographic project, exploring people in the city who grow and produce. These images will be used to create an outdoor display at Martineau Gardens in spring 2016. This opportunity is free and participants get a free photograph on the day.

Martineau Gardens aims to inspire a move away from fast-food, by making healthy eating and food preparation fun. A newly renovated outdoor kitchen, built by volunteers, using wood from the Gardens and paid for by a generous donation from  staff at Jo Malone London, is making that more possible. The outdoor kitchen will be opened at the event. Caroline Hutton, Director at Martineau Gardens explains:

“Seeing how food grows, picking fruit, tasting honey, digging up onions, snipping herbs, lighting a fire and cooking food over it, are experiences which are inspiring and get to the heart of what Martineau Gardens represents.”

The family friendly event will also include apple pressing, seasonal produce sales, children’s environmental craft activities, gardening workshops and live music from local performers, plus delicious home-made cakes, salads and sandwiches and other refreshments, inspired by the garden harvest.

Admission fee for the Autumn Event is non-members £3, concessions £1, families £6 and free to members/friends. The Gardens are at 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG. Located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. Information at www.martineau-gardens.org.uk or by calling 0121 440 7430. Additional public parking for this event will be at the Priory Hospital (across the road) by kind permission of the hospital.

For more details of what’s planned and who’s performing – visit our Autumn Event page here: Autumn Event

Peter’s online giving page:

https://localgiving.com/fundraising/peterrunsagain2015

21st October – Update: He did it! Thanks to all your financial encouragement, Peter has pounded the streets of Birmingham for Martineau Gardens – he completed the run in just under two hours, coming in at 1 hour 56 minutes. If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time, please help all his efforts go further. If you donate via Peter’s online page (at Local Giving, via the big link above), the first £10 of your donation will be match funded and (if eligible) gift-aid added – but, don’t delay, the match pot fund will only last a short while!

(Please also give three massive cheers for Mike Ponton who ran for Martineau Gardens for the first time this year, please click here, to find out more!)

Pictured here, Peter explains why he is doing this for Martineau Gardens:

” So why am I doing this? Martineau Gardens is a vital resource for our community – I live nearby. It’s close to the city and yet it provides a place where you can go to get a breath of fresh air and forget about the hussle and bustle of life’s demands.

When I’ve had a busy day, I like to unwind at my allotment, dig up a potato or two or pick an apple but for many of the volunteers who take part in the Therapautic Horticulture project at Martineau Gardens, gardening is much more than a hobby, in fact gardening at Martineau Gardens gives them a reason not to give up, when the going gets tough. The Gardens are a place where vulnerable people feel valued. So please dig deep, and give generously.”

 How You Can Sponsor Peter:

1) By donating online through LocalGiving which is totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Martineau Gardens and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. To donate on-line, please go to my fundraising page: https://localgiving.com/fundraising/peterrunsagain2015

2) By posting a cheque to Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7UG

(Please make cheques payable to ‘Martineau Gardens’)

Martineau Gardens is participating in ‘Grow Your Tenner’ with LocalGiving, which launches on 13 October at 10am. This is a brilliant opportunity for Peter’s efforts to raise even more money for Martineau Gardens, for every donation that is made on-line after 10am on Tuesday 13 October, LocalGiving  will mtach fund this, up to £10. To find out more about how your on-line donations can be match funded, click here. 

If you would like to know more about how Martineau Gardens helps vulnerable people and others, watch our film: https://www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/about-us/what-is-a-community-garden/

 Your support would make such a difference

 Final preparations for the Birmingham Honey Show are underway: the marquees are going up and bee keepers are putting the finishing touches to their show entries.

The Honey Show is returning to Martineau Gardens for its 5th year this weekend (Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, 10am until 4pm). For more details on this wonderful family-friendly event, click here.

Entry to the event is FREE