Birmingham Open Spaces Forum

07/10/2026

A busy and productive evening for the Friends of Wylde Green Train Station at their monthly working party!

14 volunteers litter picked, cut back branches along the path, topped up the dead hedges, refurbished the Bugingham Hotel and planted teasels, foxgloves, sea hollies and more for spring.

It's lovely to hear that four passers-by stopped to say thank you. Well done to everyone involved!

06/10/2026

Calling all residents! Birmingham City Council is putting together its new Corporate Plan, which will set out the city's priorities for the next few years, and it wants to hear from you.

Parks and green spaces matter to so many people across our city, so if they're important to you - this is a good chance to say so! You can also share your views on how council services are funded and delivered, and how public money should be spent.

The survey is open until Sunday 15th November: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/bcc/corporateplan2027-30/

The Council's consultation team would also like to meet residents in person. If your Friends Group has a regular meeting or an upcoming event where they could join you, whether for a short session or just to chat with people as they pass - email [email protected] to find out more.

06/10/2026

The Wildlife Trusts' Green Community Grants Programme is offering grants of up to £25,000 for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales running outdoor nature projects.

The funding could support work that brings nature back to local green spaces, makes them easier for people to enjoy or gets more of the community involved. It can also cover activities like litter picking and recycling.

Groups need to have been running for at least a year, with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Priority goes to smaller organisations, those working in more deprived areas and those supporting marginalised communities.

Applications close on Wednesday 21 October. Find out more via the link in the comments.

Funding for Community-Led Outdoor Nature Projects (England, Scotland and Wales))

Grants of £10,000 to £25,000 are available through The Wildlife Trusts’ Green Community Grants Programme for not-for-profit groups delivering outdoor nature projects in England, Scotland and Wales.

The programme offers one-year flexible funding to support environmental action, nature recovery and climate-focused community projects.

To be eligible for funding, you must have been operating for a minimum of 12 months and your organisation's main aims and objectives must fit with one of the two funding themes:
- Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency
- Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them

Whilst applications should fit one of these two themes, funding can also be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport.

Funding can support practical outdoor projects that help bring nature back, improve access to green spaces and involve local communities in nature recovery.

Priority will be given to organisations:
- that have an income of £250,000 or below
- that work in communities located in the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation
- whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people
- whose objects or purposes within its governing document relate to habitat or species restoration/protection

The next closing date for applications is 21st October 2026.

More information can be found via the link in the comments below 👇

05/10/2026

Good news for anyone who's been enjoying Yoga in the Park this year: these free sessions have been extended until the end of October (weather permitting)!

Hosted by Yoga Borne, the sessions are a lovely way to spend a weekend morning - moving and breathing in the fresh air of our parks. Everyone's welcome, beginners included, and well-behaved children and dogs too. Just bring a mat, a towel and some water. Donations on the day are welcome.

Remaining sessions:

Senneley's Park, B32
Saturdays, 11.15am-12pm: 17th, 24th and 31st October

Stirchley Park, B30
Saturdays, 11.15am-12pm: 17th, 24th and 31st October

Bournville Park, B30
Sundays, 11.15am-12pm: 11th, 18th and 25th October

The sessions are free thanks to Sport England and The National Lottery Community Fund, but you'll need to book your place at https://www.yogaborne.com/yoga-in-the-park-2026

For more information, email [email protected]

05/10/2026

Marsh Hill Allotments are holding their Harvestfest on Saturday 10th October, 11am - 3pm. It's free and everyone's welcome!

It's a chance to see what the plot holders have been growing all year - with homemade soups and breads to share and autumn produce judging. The best pumpkin will win the Marsh Hill Cup! There'll also be ideas on collecting and saving rainwater for anyone keen to garden more sustainably.

02/10/2026

Join North Summerfield Residents for their annual Autumn Food Share at Coplow Street Grow Site on Sunday 11th October, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

It's a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon with the local community - bring along a homemade dish to share, try something new and get to know the people who help keep the grow site thriving. There'll be bulb planting to get things ready for spring, activities for families and plants for sale too.

Everyone is welcome, so pop along and say hello!

30/09/2026

8,267 hours! That's how much time the Kings Heath & Brandwood Litter Pickers have given to keeping their local area clean since June 2021 . 💚

The group has just released the 12th edition of their newsletter and it's well worth a read. There's 'before and after' photos from their anti-graffiti team, a poem from group member Ruth Davies, and handy tips on reporting "grot spots" and fly-tipping, getting broken items repaired, and more.

You'll find their latest newsletter and contact info in the comments below!

28/09/2026

There are just a few places left for this year's BOSF Conference, and we'd love for you to join us!

Saturday 10th October, 10am - 4pm
Holloway Hall, Ley Hill Park, Birmingham, B31 1TT

This year's theme is health and wellbeing in our parks and open spaces, and the day also happens to fall on World Mental Health Day. Anyone who volunteers in their local park knows how good it can be for body and mind, and this is a day to celebrate that. It's also a chance to get together, swap ideas and explore a few more ways to enjoy the outdoors.

There'll be a choice of indoor and outdoor sessions throughout the day. You could join a talk or workshop in the hall, or head out into the park for Tai Chi, forest bathing, a nature walk, the tree trail with the Friends of Ley Hill Park and more. We'll also hear what other Friends Groups have been up to in our Just 2 Minutes session, and there'll be plenty of time to catch up with everyone over a cuppa and a buffet lunch.

Places are first come, first served, with a limit of two per group or organisation. Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bosf-annual-conference-2026-tickets-2000255874165

We'll send out the full agenda nearer the time, and if you have any questions, get in touch at [email protected].

28/09/2026

Birmingham Community Matters are holding a free Get Help Session in Erdington this Wednesday where you can get practical advice on things like funding, volunteers, setting up a group or governance.

It's relaxed and informal, and a great chance to meet other people running community groups across the city too.

Wednesday 30th September, 10.30am to 12pm
YMCA, 301 Reservoir Road, B23 6DF

Book your free place here: https://www.birminghamcommunitymatters.org.uk/events/

Our next Get Help Session is in Erdington on Wednesday 30th September.

Whether you've got a question, an idea you're working on, or something that's proving a bit tricky, come along and talk it through with us.

We can help you work through challenges, answer questions and look at some practical next steps, whether that's around funding, volunteers, setting up your group, governance or something else.

It's a free, informal session and a chance to meet other people involved in community and voluntary groups across Birmingham too.

📅 Wednesday 30th September 2026
🕙 10:30am - 12:00pm
📌 YMCA, 301 Reservoir Road, B23 6DF

Find out more and reserve your free place: https://www.birminghamcommunitymatters.org.uk/events/