On 28 September, Multistory, on behalf of Sandwell Council, will be working with The Wildlife Trust and local volunteers to plant a meadow at the New Square Community Garden.
Members of the public are invited to take part. The Wildlife Trust will prepare the ground before volunteers begin planting and seeding. There are two time slots, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, where people can attend for as long as they like. To take part by emailing isobeljones@multistory.org.uk or call 0121 569 2881. The flower-rich meadows will include a range of species that both establish well and flower over a long period; and by using plugs there will be a relatively quick impact.
In May 2024, Multistory and The Wildlife Trust will deliver an 8-week, Level 1 training course for 12 young people from Sandwell College that focuses on surveying and tool use. The trainees will work on the preparation and cutting of the meadows that will be planted in September 2023.
Emma Chetcuti, Director of Multistory, said: “Multistory is working in partnership with Sandwell Council and local community groups to deliver a creative programme called Green Roots in West Bromwich, supported by the Urban Greening Towns Fund. We are excited to be planting two wildflower meadows at the New Square Community Garden in West Bromwich with The Wildlife Trust on 28 September. To find out more about the programme, please visit us online at the Multistory website.”
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WMCA, said: “This new meadow will increase and improve the wide variety of green spaces Sandwell already boasts. Our green spaces are not just a wonderful community asset for Sandwell residents to enjoy, they can also help improve both physical health and mental wellbeing by providing a green and welcoming place to relax and take a moment out of people’s everyday lives.”
This is just the latest in a long list of urban greening events and initiatives as part of the three-year Towns Fund Urban Greening Programme, an innovative capital project with Green Roots being the parallel cultural programme produced and delivered by Multistory. Green Roots is designed to promote, educate and influence understanding about the environment and increase opportunities for Sandwell residents, groups and students to collaborate with artists and project partners through a programme of creative activities, training and apprenticeships.
The Green Roots Cultural Programme was launched in October 2022. Highlights so far include:
-
Three, community friendly seasonal walks led by The Wildlife Trust to introduce local people to wildlife, wildflowers and trees that are growing on the high street and verges, on a circular walk from West Bromwich to Dartmouth Park. These were with Sandwell College, members of Sandwell Visually Impaired and the general public.
-
Photographer Kate Green ran three workshops with photography students at Sandwell College to explore and document how they feel about their local environment; and gain photography, digital and editing skills. This work culminated in a group exhibition, ‘Change Is Coming’, that is now on the hoardings on West Bromwich high street and on banners hanging from lamp posts. To launch the exhibition, Multistory held a celebration event at West Bromwich High Street/Arts Cafe at Central St Michael’s Sixth Form.
-
Filmmaker, Sohelia Javaheri, collaborated with photography and media students from Phoenix Collegiate on a project called Visual Poetry. Over six workshops they explored local environments through photography, digital film-making and storytelling.
-
Artist, Razi Mohebi ran ‘’Coffeegraphy’, a regular social gathering and coffee morning for creative discussion at Central Library (West Bromwich). Some participants wanted to try something new such as painting with coffee grounds and others were there for the social aspect.
-
Artist / illustrator, Lee Mackenzie continues his work with local communities and groups to produce a wildlife trail map/guide for residents and visitors that connects West Bromwich High Street, Dartmouth Park and Sandwell Valley. This project is ongoing and will be completed in Autumn 2024.