Martineau Gardens

Martineau Gardens A beautiful community garden. An oasis for wildlife, a haven of tranquillity or simply a great destination to visit

Martineau Gardens is a place where people, plants and wildlife meet. Our mission is to inspire people about the natural environment. We also provide volunteering opportunities in the garden and are a venue for educational activities and courses. You can visit Martineau Gardens every day except Sunday (and Bank Holidays) between 10am and 4pm, we're free to enter (except for some special events). Ma

rtineau Gardens is the registered charity that manages the gardens and wildlife area. We are a Community Garden, a Social Enterprise and a Visitor Attraction. Our beautiful community garden is two and a half acres in size, organically managed and you'll find lots to see within this modest space. An orchard, food growing beds, a hot house, wildflower meadow, a wildlife area (with SLINC status), woodland, meandering paths, a bird hide, a children's play area, picnic space and more. We can make you hot or cold drinks for which donations are welcomed (served from the Pavilion). You can pick up a plant or two, buy fresh seasonal produce, local honey, preserves, chutneys, chopped logs and compost. We have many regular volunteers who contribute so much to the gardens. We also have corporate volunteers from local businesses. Our members elect Trustees at the Annual General Meeting to take overall responsibility for the organisation.

19/08/2026

For two weeks in the summer holidays, we ran a fun-filled playscheme – Wild Play at Martineau Gardens – for children aged 8 to 12. The children were all on income-based free school meals, with many also living in temporary accommodation. The playscheme was part of Bring it on Brum – funded by the DfE’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme – and was delivered by our Education Team alongside Roam Project, plus other sports and arts practitioners.

The children took part in a wide range of activities, including:

• Planting and nurturing a sensory garden
• Orienteering and treasure hunts
• Forest school crafts
• Outdoor cooking
• Minibeast hunting and pond dipping
• Den building in the woods
• Football skills
• Visiting The Edgbaston Priory Club and Edgbaston Stadium
• Bat crafts
• Wildflower journalling
• Card and board games

The children were also provided with a healthy daily lunch from our chef Andy, and parents were invited for a special celebratory lunch each Friday, provided by Chapter. restaurant.

Everyone had a fantastic time and the children were brilliant – they were even incredibly keen to help us water the plants every day during this very hot, dry weather!

“The positive impact of the playscheme is huge in so many ways, from visiting the Priory Tennis Club and touring the cricket ground to learning new skills and making new friends. It was summed up for me when the children in temporary accommodation were dropped back at home and a staff member there said: ‘What have you been doing with them? They are coming home so happy!’”
Jenni Fryer, Martineau Gardens CEO

If you would like to help us to fund healthy food for next year’s playscheme, we are thrilled to have been chosen as a cause for Tesco’s instore Fruit and Veg Grants Programme! Voting is open now and will run until the end of November 2026. More information about the programme and a list of participating stores can be found via the link in the comments.

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16/08/2026

Just a couple of miles from Birmingham city centre, in the leafy surroundings of Edgbaston, is Martineau Gardens - a wonderful place to enjoy a few hours outdoors.

Whether you’re planning a day out with the children, meeting friends for a wander, or simply fancy some time to yourself, there’s plenty of space to explore.

• Bring a picnic and make a day of it
• Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the gardens
• Let the children explore
• Catch up with friends
• Free parking available
• Free entry

Sometimes the best days out are the simplest ones. Pack a picnic, head to Edgbaston and enjoy a little green escape without going far from the city.

Saturday mood: a little sunshine, a comfy spot and absolutely nowhere to be. Taking some time to soak up the rays before...
15/08/2026

Saturday mood: a little sunshine, a comfy spot and absolutely nowhere to be.

Taking some time to soak up the rays before deciding whether it’s time for a nap… or snack.

A lovely moment captured by one of our amazing volunteers.

Happy Saturday from Martineau Gardens 💚

13/08/2026

Join us on Sunday 30 August at 2pm for an open-air theatre performance of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Love, laughter, and a touch of lunacy - enter a world where fairies meddle, lovers quarrel, and magic runs wild.

The performance will take place here at Martineau Gardens, creating the perfect outdoor setting for a magical afternoon.

Parking is available, and food and drinks will be on sale during the event.

Tickets:
Adults £22.38 | Children £14.79
(You can also purchase tickets directly from the gardens to avoid Eventbrite fees.)

To find out more and book your tickets, head to the link in the comments.

Are you going to a cricket match at Edgbaston Stadium on Weds 9 September?We’re offering convenient match-day parking a...
12/08/2026

Are you going to a cricket match at Edgbaston Stadium on Weds 9 September?

We’re offering convenient match-day parking at Martineau Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham - just a short distance from the stadium.

All-day parking: £25 (£27.80 incl. Eventbrite booking fee). Match ticket not included.

Enjoy secure, hassle-free parking with easy access to Edgbaston Stadium.

Reserve your space today via the link in the comments.

Despite the recent spell of hot weather, our flowers, vegetables and all sorts of wonderful wildlife are thriving. From ...
09/08/2026

Despite the recent spell of hot weather, our flowers, vegetables and all sorts of wonderful wildlife are thriving.

From busy butterflies and buzzing pollinators to bumper crops in the garden, there’s always something growing, flowering or wriggling into view.

And look what we spotted… Our pumpkins are coming along beautifully! Fun fact: pumpkins are technically a fruit, and they’re part of the same family as cucumbers and courgettes.

Thank you to our amazing volunteer for capturing this lovely pumpkin moment!

A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers from Wesleyan for all their hard work at Martineau Gardens.From renovating o...
08/08/2026

A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers from Wesleyan for all their hard work at Martineau Gardens.

From renovating our picnic benches and watering the plants to clearing paths in the woodland and building a natural fence, you’ve made a real difference to the gardens.

We really appreciate all your time, energy and enthusiasm. Thank you, everyone!

Each academic year, we provide supported work experience placements for young people aged 14-25 whose neurodevelopmental...
06/08/2026

Each academic year, we provide supported work experience placements for young people aged 14-25 whose neurodevelopmental differences or exclusion from mainstream education means they can’t access traditional work experience placements. Last academic year, we worked with four young people who each attended one day per week to work alongside our volunteers on the Therapeutic Horticulture programme, with a dedicated additional member of staff.

The young people undertook a range of practical gardening activities - including digging, sowing, planting, weeding and leaf-clearing - in our safe, secure and supportive setting. The project helps young people to grow skills for life beyond education: they gain new experiences, work as part of a team, develop self-confidence, build communication skills, learn to follow instructions and use equipment safely.

Funding for this work comes from a number of charitable trusts and foundations, for which we are incredibly grateful. We are pleased to acknowledge grant support from , who provided funding for 20 days of Supported Work Experience last academic year.

“At the start of his placement, B. was supported by [college] staff; however, he quickly grew in confidence and was able to remain on site independently for extended periods. This demonstrated both his personal growth and his commitment to the placement. He showed a noticeable increase in confidence when communicating with staff and developed his listening skills.

[Back at college], B now works effectively as part of a team and interacts positively with staff. B consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a high level of dedication. He followed instructions carefully from the manager and other volunteers, while also showing initiative in completing tasks with some support.

His responsibilities included weeding, tidying the compost area, clearing leaves, and cutting branches using secateurs, all carried out with appropriate support when needed. Overall, B was a reliable and motivated individual who contributes positively to the team environment; he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Martineau Gardens.”

A huge thank you to Andy and his wife, who recently visited Martineau Gardens for the first time and very kindly donated...
02/08/2026

A huge thank you to Andy and his wife, who recently visited Martineau Gardens for the first time and very kindly donated a collection of tools, garden ornaments, and a much-needed hose and reel.

The hose and reel have already been put to good use, especially with all the extra watering needed during this spell of dry weather.

Donations like these mean so much to us. They help make the day-to-day tasks a little easier for our dedicated volunteers, who work incredibly hard to care for and maintain the gardens.

Aren't these tansy flowers wonderfully bright?Their vibrant yellow blooms don't just brighten up the gardens, but they'r...
01/08/2026

Aren't these tansy flowers wonderfully bright?

Their vibrant yellow blooms don't just brighten up the gardens, but they're also a favourite with wildlife. Thanks to their open flower structure, easy access to nectar and sturdy landing platform, tansy flowers are valuable plants for all kinds of insects.

You can spot the butterfly in the photo, but there are also shining flower beetles, ladybirds, and a whole host of bees, flies and wasps enjoying the flowers too.

If you'd like to attract more pollinators to your own garden, other great choices include fennel and yarrow.

Address

27 Priory Road
Birmingham
B57UG

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

Telephone

0121 440 7430

Website

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