In our twenty first year (2018) we refurbished our Pavilion, ensuring that this much-loved and oft-used building is now here to stay for the future.
This page tells the story of raising the funds and what we achieved – our thanks to all our supporters who helped to make this happen.
***Latest News!***
May 2018:
The Pavilion refurbishment is quite breathtaking. Last issue we reported that new walls had been constructed and sheep wool insulation installed. Since January, building firm and social enterprise, Jericho, have been working hard on transforming the interior: walls and ceiling plastered, fire doors, fire alarms, emergency lights and electrics fitted and the concrete floor smoothed in preparation for flooring material. The carpenters have been busy building door frames and creating the serving hatch for the kitchen area.
As an environmental organisation, Martineau Gardens strongly advocate the use of environmentally friendly products – in painting the Pavilion we wanted to try and avoid some of the more harmful hazards associated with paint such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). We were delighted when Earthborn (suppliers of Eco friendly paint, www.earthbornpaints.co.uk ) offered to support us, with the specialist paints we needed. We needed a specialist paint which was breathable, to complement all the other wall components. In summary, using the Earthborn breathable paint allows the wall to deal properly with moisture, helping preserve the timber frame and maximise the insulation provided by the sheep wool.
February to March 2018:
The sheep wool insulation has been installed, the walls and ceiling have been plastered. Fire doors, fire alarms, emergency lights and electrics have been fitted and the concrete floor has been smoothed in preparation for flooring material. The carpenters have been busy building door frames and creating the serving hatch for the kitchen area. We are taking bookings for the Pavilion, you can hire this beautiful building for your meetings, training courses and family celebrations and parties from May 2018. Find out more here:
December to January 2018:
Phase two of the Pavilion refurbishment is well under way. Whilst we didn’t hit the target on our recent crowdfunding Pavilion appeal to achieve everything on our to-do-list, building works are progressing well. January has seen new walls constructed and the arrival of rolls of sheep wool insulation. Building firm and social enterprise, Jericho, are installing this environmentally-friendly material which will help to insulate the Pavilion, keeping it warm in winter, cool in summer and keep our fuel bills down.
- Rolls of sheep’s wool being delivered
- Shears to trim the wool to size
October to November 2017: Asbestos has been removed. The interior of the Pavilion is astonishing. We’ve uncovered quarry tiles, revealed a high vaulted ceiling and have removed internal walls. What was previously a cramped, dark area, is starting to feel spacious and more natural daylight is coming through. This is the space that will be used as a classroom, as a place for local groups to meet and a space for you to hire for your events and celebrations.
Our thanks to all our supporters who donated to the crowdfunding appeal to get this work underway.
Our timber-framed building
September to October 2017: We ran a crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for the next steps of the refurbishment. We made a film to explain. From November onwards, you can continue to donate to the refurbishment of Martineau Gardens on-line here, via LocalGiving.
March 2017: Refurbishment of our buildings got underway— social enterprise Jericho waterproofed, insulated and painted the Pavilion. The former office has been transformed into a welcoming Reception area, with plenty of space for volunteers to relax and a brand new kitchenette has been installed.
Martineau Gardens remains open during the refurbishment to the Pavilion.
The Pavilion—at the heart of Martineau Gardens
Over past years, the Pavilion has been a popular feature of the Gardens and has served many functions, helping us to deliver the events and activities throughout the year that make Martineau Gardens such a unique place to visit.
- Staff and volunteers creating a stumpery – therapeutic horticulture for all
- Our woodland is a short stroll from the Pavilion
- Families relaxing around the Shipwreck play area
- Serving refreshment at events
A refurbished Pavilion will ensure that Martineau Gardens can remain open and free to enter for the people of Birmingham by allowing us to continue providing events, and opportunities for volunteering, education, relaxing and experiences of wild nature.
Why refurbish the Pavilion?
The Pavilion, though charming and a valued part of the character of Martineau Gardens, was never meant for winter use. It’s draughty and hard to heat, and in a generally poor state of repair. We began the refurbishment work in late 2016 by relocating the Volunteers’ Room to the Mollie Martineau building. The former room in the Pavilion, was cramped and uncomfortable, and the kitchen inadequate, even for basic food preparation but now our united Volunteer Room and Reception area is light, area and welcoming – we want to apply the same transformation to the Pavilion, with your support, our Crowdfunding Appeal will make this happen.
(The Pavilion before the roof was replaced, picture dated Autumn 2016)
Progress so far
Due to the generosity of 16 charitable trusts, we have successfully raised over £48,000 for the refurbishment. This has allowed us to begin work on the Pavilion:
- The roof has been replaced (no more leaks!)
- Asbestos roof tiles have been removed
- The outside walls have been painted a lovely ‘lichen’ colour, courtesy of Farrow & Ball
- The new volunteers’ room has been kitted out with a modern kitchen
- Tiles for our new roof – R Allen Roofers, Jericho Construction social enterprise, Volunteers, Trustee and Staff
- The Pavilion in Spring, freshly painted
The next steps
The current layout of the Pavilion limits our ability to hold events and school visits particularly when the weather is inclement. Refurbishing the Pavilion will make the space warmer, more comfortable, and more practical. We will save money on heating bills and reduce our impact on the environment.
Refurbishment will involve:
- Changing the layout of the Pavilion, knocking walls through
- Installing a wood burning stove (already pledged to us!)
- Fitting secondary glazing on the windows
- Adding new guttering and drainage
- Rewiring
- Removing remaining asbestos
- Insulating the walls and roof with Sheep’s wool
- Putting in a modern kitchen
- Wood from coppiced trees and waste wood, for fuel
-
Wood from coppiced trees and waste wood, for fuel
- Sheep’s wool insulation in the walls and roof
- Sheep’s wool close up
Photo credits: Swaledale sheep, Lake District, photo by DAVID ILIFF, license: CC-BY-SA 3.0 sheep’s wool, photo credit: Shadowcat, wikicommons
Our Refurbishment Plans
Layout changes will provide:
∙ More space for events and school groups ∙ A professional kitchen ∙ Warmer, practical space
Five reasons to support the refurbishment
Our Pavilion was constructed pre-war – it’s intrinsic to the ‘feel’ and special character of Martineau Gardens and it’s a much loved building.
1.Wildlife for children
A refurbished Pavilion creates a big, dry classroom space providing a better experience for local primary school children who come to the Gardens on environmental education visits, and extend the school visit beyond the drier months.
2. A space for you
A multi-functional space for YOU to hire for your parties and family celebrations; a place for your organisations’ meetings and training courses
3. A building that doesn’t cost the earth
- Peacock at Martineau Gardens Photo credit: M Hughes
- Southern Hawker dragonfly
- Bees attracted to the chives at the Martineau Gardens’ herb beds
Warm, dry and watertight, the Pavilion will need less ongoing repair work. By cutting our energy usage, we’re protecting the wider environment as well.
4. A garden for everyone
Refurbishment helps us to increase our income from venue hire to help keep the Gardens open for free for everyone and …
5. … the Therapeutic Horticulture project continues
-
Planting up a stumpery with ferns
Martineau Gardens needs your help!
By donating to the Refurbishment Appeal, you have the opportunity to convert your generosity to a lasting impact, helping to keep the Gardens open and free for the people of Birmingham to visit.
Ways to donate:
Online donations: www. localgiving.org/charity/martineau-gardens
Telephone: 0121 440 7430 to make a card payment
Post: Post a cheque (made payable to Martineau Gardens) to Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG
… or pop into see us with cash. It all counts, and if you’re a UK tax payer, we can claim the Gift Aid making your gift worth a further 25p per £1 you donate.
A damselfly basking in sunshine by the pond, at Martineau Gardens