Heart-felt tribute to women who won the vote

A PUBLIC art exhibition, taking place in Chelmsley Wood next month, will mark 100 years since the first British women won the vote.
The event will celebrate the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act and also pay tribute to others who have fought for equality in the years that have followed.
Creative locals have been invited to make their own knitted, felted or stitched heart to add to a specially-created display.
The artwork is the brainchild of the B37 Art Project, who will also be organising textile workshops in the shopping centre during the six-week holiday. For full details of the dates, visit the group's Facebook page.
Sessions will take place at The Green Estate, opposite Lloyds Bank. Materials are free, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Heart of the Matter exhibition will take place on August 25. Residents are welcome to take their piece home afterwards or else donate it to charity.

Stone carving sessions at Chelmsley venue

CHIPPING AWAY AT IT: This grotesque on the side of Coleshill Church
gives an idea of what an experienced stone carver can achieve!

LOOKING to learn a new skill? Popular stone carving workshops are returning to Chelmsley Wood next week.

The sessions - which will give people the chance to try their hand at this ancient art - will be running at the Three Trees Centre from August 2-3 (10am-4pm). Please note that there is a £5 registration fee for the two-day programme.

To book your place call Three Trees on 0121 582 0767 or email 3treesbooking@gmail.com

Digging into Castle Brom's busy history

A TALK taking place next week promises to delve into the hidden history of Castle Bromwich.
The event will be hosted by local historian Bill Dargue and will be held at the Gunmakers Arms pub, in Birmingham city centre.
The talk will touch upon some of the most interesting places in the suburb, the history of which stretches back centuries.
Bill wrote: "Recent research shows that the site of Bromwich castle goes back rather further than its suspected Norman motte and bailey origins.
"A number of other buildings of interest also remain scattered along the Chester Road, which was the equivalent in the 18th century of the M6 motorway."
The event takes place on Tuesday (July 31) and will stat at 7pm. Tickets are £2 on the door or available for a slightly cheaper £1.66 here.

Life-saving training session in Marston Green

VILLAGERS in Marston Green will be offered training with the defibrillator recently installed outside the Parish Hall.
The free session has been organised by Marston Green & District Lions Club and will take place inside the Parish Hall, on Elmdon Road, tomorrow (Thursday).
The training will be led by first responders from the charity Fast Aid and will start at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Chelmsley's balconies project to feature on BBC show

LEAF IT TO US: The balconies at Fillingham Court, in Chelmsley Wood,
have been transformed 

A PROJECT to create balcony gardens at a Chelmsley Wood-based social housing scheme will feature on a prime time BBC programme this week.
Gardeners' World will be reporting on the work that has been done to bring a splash of colour to residents at Fillingham Court.
A total of three balconies have been transformed at the building, with one modelled on a cottage garden and the other using more exotic greenery. The third balcony is growing food plants.
The scheme, which has received funding from WM Housing, the National Lottery and National Grid, is the brainchild of the North Solihull-based community interest company Gro-Organic.
Stacey Sammons, the project lead, has been working with the residents of the three-floor apartment block since the start of the year.
"The work on the balconies is the culmination of six months’ consultation with the residents which has helped build community spirit and boost their well-being," she said.
"We’re really excited about this project and it will be great for the residents to feature on Gardeners’ World."
Residents Carol Panton, aged 67, and Phil Roberts, 70, have helped design the Victorian oasis balcony garden, which imitates the decor of their ground-floor apartment.
Carol, who played a key part in the design and planning, said: "It’s been a real focus for me this last few weeks and I’m looking forward to being on camera and determined to play a full part in the planting.
"I’m very happy with all the ideas and plants chosen, except I did draw the line at geraniums!”
The Gro-Organic team is also working with residents to improve the site's communal gardens and has plans to give a makeover to other verandas.
Gardeners’ World is broadcast on BBC2 this Wednesday (July 25), from 9pm.

Anger over fire at Millennium Wood

SMOULDERING: A separate fire scorched Hodge Hill Common this week

FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a blaze which was deliberately started on a Marston Green nature reserve.
Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council said it was "disappointed" to report the incident at Millennium Wood on Tuesday evening.
Photos show scorched earth and some blackened shrubbery, but the speedy arrival of the fire service prevented the flames spreading further.
The driest start to summer on record - with hardly any rain having fallen in the region in recent weeks - has meant parks and open spaces are a tempting target for arsonists.
A grass fire was reported near Forth Drive, Chelmsley Wood, on Monday evening and residents in Castle Bromwich may have seen the smoke rising from nearby Hodge Hill Common, where crews doused flames on Thursday.
The region's firefighters have condemned those starting fires in the tinder-dry conditions, warning that they are diverting resources "from where most needed".
The most serious instance of arson since the start of the heatwave was on Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester.
The blaze broke out on June 24 and at its height the inferno covered an area of seven square miles. Soldiers had at one stage been drafted in to help bring the wildfire under control, with fire crews having finally left this week.

Chelmsley man admits murdering his wife

A CHELMSLEY Wood pensioner this week pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife.
Arthur Stonehouse, 73, of Coralin Close, was arrested after his wife Tracy's body was discovered at the couple's home earlier this year. Officers had been called out to the address in the early hours of April 6
A post-mortem examination established that the 51-year-old had suffered multiple stab wounds and other injuries to her head and neck.
Stonehouse (pictured above), who was arrested and then taken to hospital after being falling ill, was charged with his spouse's murder later the same month.
During an appearance at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Thursday), he admitted murder.
The defendant is due back at the same court on August 6 for sentencing.