“Volunteering has given me a role – there was a massive hole in my life but when I began volunteering here, I could see there was light at the end of the tunnel.”

Martineau Gardens, has been recognised for its commitment to the community receiving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Awarded during lockdown when gatherings were not possible, a happy band of staff and volunteers from Martineau Gardens attended the awards ceremony at Birmingham Hippodrome, in October 2021. Pictured bottom right are Claire Perry and Munsab Khan who went up on stage to represent Martineau Gardens and receive the award from John Crabtree, OBE, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.  

The good news caught the attention of the press with splashes in the Birmingham Post and the Mail and a report was broadcast on ITV Central. View the tv coverage here for a rewarding glimpse of life ‘behind the scenes’ including a Green woodworking session, digging up vegetables and candid interviews with volunteers and staff.      

Martineau Gardens supports volunteers on the therapeutic horticulture programme to look after the 2.5 acre free-to-enter community garden, many of whom have mental health issues and learning disabilities. A team of volunteers welcome over 10,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy its peace and tranquillity and a further team helps out with special events and courses. events. Hundreds of school children visit the outdoor ‘classrooms’ to learn about the environment. The Gardens have been described by visitors as ‘an oasis of calm in the bustling city’ and as ‘Birmingham’s hidden gem’ – all thanks to the dedication of the wonderful volunteers.

The short film boradcast at the awards ceremony featuring views and interviews at the Martineau Gardens

Martineau Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.  The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. 

When the City Council-run environmental centre closed, a group of local people came together to create a community garden that would stay open for free, for the public of Birmingham to visit and care for.  Established in 1997 as a volunteer-led organisation, today Martineau Gardens is a thriving independently-run registered charity.

Claire Perry, volunteer at the Gardens for over ten years said “Martineau Gardens means the world to me, to be around nature makes me calm and happy. I came here to boost my confidence, and now I’m here, I feel I’ve come out of the darkness and into the light.”

Munsab Kahn, volunteer at the Gardens said “Volunteering has given me a role – there was a massive hole in my life but when I began volunteering here, I could see there was light at the end of the tunnel.”

Gill Milburn, outgoing CEO for Martineau Gardens said  “We are delighted and honoured to receive the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Volunteers are the beating heart of Martineau Gardens. Whether supporting our work week in week out, or rising to the challenge when needed, each one makes a difference. The Award is testament to hundreds of volunteers past and present, who have given selflessly to care for our beautiful community space. We look forward to being able to have everyone back at the Gardens for a well-deserved celebration.”

Jenni Fryer, incoming CEO for Martineau Gardens said “Martineau Gardens is a much-loved, much-valued green space in the heart of the community welcoming over 10,000 visitors every year who come to enjoy its peace and tranquillity. The Gardens wouldn’t be the welcoming beautiful space it is without our volunteers.”

Martineau Gardens is open Monday to Saturday, 10am until 4pm for visits and is free to enter.

The arrival of autumn can often feel disconcerting but here at Martineau Gardens, we garden together, whatever the weather and feel all the better for it. The colour in the Gardens at this time of year bring such joy, from berries and fungi to foliage and even the odd crabapple still hanging, it’s a pleasure to spend time outside and connect with nature.

For people with existing mental health conditions, the strains of the continued pandemic and seasonal change can contribute to greater dips in wellbeing, the tranquillity and calm of Martineau Gardens brings stability for many of our regular volunteers on the Therapeutic Horticulture programme. The culture created here can go a long way in navigating these unsettling times, volunteering providing a fixed point in times of turmoil.

This Sunday 10 October 2021 is #WorldMentalHealthDay – an opportunity for us all to check in on our own mental health. At Martineau Gardens we support people with mental health issues through therapeutic horticulture.

Jenni Fryer, Acting CEO for Martineau Gardens said: “Martineau Gardens is open six days a week – we invite all our supporters and visitors to take a moment to benefit from the peaceful surroundings here by visiting. If you haven’t been here for a while, come and see us and if you can’t do that, donate to help us continue to flourish..”

Whilst we are closed on Sunday 10 October, Martineau Gardens continues to be open for free, Mondays to Saturdays, 10am until 4pm and entry is free.

We are appreciative of the long-term support of our corporate partners:

Jo Malone London    Nicholls Brimble Bhol Solicitors   

For some time, we have hoped to organise Green Woodworking sessions attended by Therapeutic Horticulture volunteers. It’s always sad when mature trees fall in times of drought, or limbs are brought down by high winds, we’ve been wanting to re-use the wood around the Gardens by transforming them into benches, tables and sculptures. Due to continued funding we receive from Jo Malone London, enabling activities like this to go ahead,

On a warm afternoon in July 2021, with the gardens full of scent and colour  looking their best, staff and volunteers gathered for an afternoon tea party to bid a fond and emotional farewell to Miranda Kingston.

Andrew Curran, one of our longstanding volunteer wildlife recorders, was elated to report his recent discovery, after the latest moth identification session:

 “The moth was sighted by the lower oak canopy near the earth oven on Thursday 8th July. I thought it was Yellow-legged Clearwing which was recorded here at Martineau Gardnes, several times in the past. To my great delight, this beautiful moth proved to be Orange-tailed Clearwing. A new identification for Martineau Gardens and nationally scarce”

Find out more about how we indentify and record moths, using a moth trap (all moths are released quickly and not harmed)

For those of you who have been following the story regarding the renovation of our Shipwreck Play Area, you will remember how we have been focusing on a natural play experience, which will engage children’s imagination. With our commitment to wildlife and the environment we wanted to keep materials as green as possible, creating a green play space that reflects our values was important to us.

We were delighted when local business Envirotoy got in touch with a good deal around their plastic-free toys. They gave us a number of sets and we were so pleased with them that we bought additional sets for busy times.

Pictured here, Stuart Loach (Director, Envirotoy) personally delivering the plastic-free play sets. The wooden sand play sets are made from ‘planwood’ a type of moulded wood that uses left over sawdust and good for waterplay too.

Prior to the official launch, our volunteers gave the sandpit area a test run and of course, a cermonial sandcastles were made.

Stay in touch with our plans, by following the story on social media. You can find out more about Envirotoy here.