We were delighted to welcome the BBC Morning Live crew to Martineau Gardens this morning, as part of the BBC’s Wild About Nature Week.

Neil Jones, Strictly Come Dancing star and ex landscape gardener, talks to Jenni Fryer about the benefits the gardens bring to the local community.

Neil joined our head gardener, Matt Young, to show how anyone can bring wildlife, like bees and butterflies, into their garden, even with just a single pot.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer here. Martineau Gardens appears around 57 minutes into the programme.

Please note that on Saturday, 4 October, we will be open from 12–3pm due to staff shortages. If you’re planning a visit, we’d be delighted to welcome you!

We’re also looking for Visitor Welcome Volunteers for Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays. If you enjoy meeting people and being part of a friendly team, this is a rewarding opportunity to get involved.

For more information, visit our Volunteering page, drop by the gardens, or contact us by phone/email.

A huge thank you to Wal Warmington!

We’ve been absolutely amazed by the fundraising efforts of our supporter, Wal Warmington, who took part in the Skyline London to Brighton Bike Ride on 14 September to raise money for Martineau Gardens.

So far, Wal has raised an incredible £356 – and there’s still time to add to his total!

Donating through JustGiving is quick, easy and completely secure. Every penny goes straight to Martineau Gardens, helping us continue the work we do for the community.

You can donate here

It’s our Annual Garden Party this coming Saturday (6 Sept).

Entrance to the gardens will be ticket only, and there will be no free public access.  

We’ll be open again as normal on Monday.

Everyone is welcome to attend our Annual Garden Party. Tickets are available through Martineau Gardens or via the What’s on tab on our website.

It’s been lovely to have some rain! Not a sentence I ever thought I’d ever write, but the change in weather has enabled us to spend some time doing something other than filling endless watering cans. The downside of the recent rain has been that all the weeds have decided to put in an appearance, so we’re working on that instead. Be careful what you wish for…

We were delighted to welcome ITV News to Martineau Gardens on Tuesday 5th August.

Their visit focused on an important story about protecting wildlife, from hedgehogs and birds to the tiny creatures that make their homes in ponds.

Catch the feature here Latest Blogs (fast forward to 20:00): http://bit.ly/3UgrjYs

We’re delighted to be featured in a guest blog by the King Charles III Charitable Fund. The article highlights the role our community garden plays in helping people connect with nature and improve their wellbeing. We’re proud to be recognised by the Fund, whose support helps grassroots projects like ours continue to thrive.

Read the full blog on the King Charles III Charitable Fund’s website

It was my mum who first suggested I come to Martineau Gardens (how come mums know everything!) Lockdown had a massive impact on me, and I was scarily low again. I was lost and there was no colour in my life, I was literally seeing the world in greyscale, and I was fearful for my future.

My first impression of the gardens was one of complete safety. It was okay to be me, as nobody was judging anyone else. Acceptance of who I was and how I was feeling meant that it was safe to talk and to share my grief even on the first visit. I felt protected and emotionally held. It was good to be gardening and doing something constructive. My Nan and I used to garden together when I was growing up, and I found myself talking to her as I worked alongside the other women in the Friday group. After my second session I called my mum in floods of tears to tell her:

“I can see the colours in the flowers”

The colours stayed with me all week; it was as if a switch had been flipped back on.

As you have no doubt noticed, it’s all systems grow in the garden at the moment. For the past few months, the first job of the day has been water, water, water and now that it has actually rained a little, the garden has really taken off.

A much-loved charity in Edgbaston is giving away one million wildflower seeds as part of an ambitious citywide campaign to raise awareness and support for a new community hub which will serve even more people across Birmingham.  

Martineau Gardens will be launching its Small Seeds, Big Dreams appeal on Thursday June 12^th with a crowdfunder to kickstart the campaign.