Chamberlain Highbury Trust

05/10/2026

Find out more about the Chamberlains and Highbury hall at this Acocks Green History Society talk on Wednesday.

Next Wednesday at Arthur Moore Hall. (Alexander Road, close to Acocks Green Police Station). Interesting talk and refreshments. Come along!

05/10/2026

🌿 **Highbury Gardens – Bluebell Bank Clearance** 🌿

Another Monday, another patch of Highbury Gardens getting some much-needed attention!

This week our volunteers were tackling the **bramble on the Bluebell Bank**, clearing back the dense growth and opening up the area ready for the woodland ground flora to thrive. 🌱

Bramble is an important plant for wildlife, providing food, shelter and nesting habitat, but when it becomes too dense it can quickly take over and outcompete other plants.

The Bluebell Bank needs careful management so that there is space for the **bluebells and other woodland plants** to emerge and flourish when the season arrives. So, there was plenty of cutting, clearing and shifting to be done!

And, as always at Highbury, the volunteers had a little wildlife company along the way. 🐿️

We had a **guest appearance from an extremely tame little squirrel**, who seemed more than happy to join us for the morning — and even stopped by to try **Alan's gloves on for size!** 😂🐿️🧤

We're not entirely sure whether he was there to help with the bramble clearance or just inspect our equipment, but he certainly made himself at home.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and got stuck in. Slowly but surely, we're bringing the Bluebell Bank back under control and making space for the plants and wildlife that call Highbury Gardens home. 💚

01/10/2026

🍂 Our October Open Days are coming up! 🍂

Join us at Highbury Hall & Park on Sunday 4, 1-4pm and Monday 5 October, 10am - 1pm.

There are just a few places left for our Head Gardener’s Restoration Walk on Sun 4 Oct, and Hall Tours and Hidden Highbury Tours on both days are booking up fast.

Planning to visit? Book your place now – we’d love to see you at Highbury! 🌿

👉 Find out more at https://highburyhallandpark.co.uk/whats-on/

27/09/2026

🍄 We’re excited to be hosting the Birmingham Fungi Festival at Highbury Hall & Park! 🍄

Join us on Saturday 17 October, 12–4pm for an afternoon celebrating all things fungi, with plenty to discover for all ages.

There’ll be free drop-in activities including The Great Mushroom Hunt, textile workshops, storytelling, printmaking and a Mushroom Murder Mystery, alongside delicious food and a Mushroom Market featuring nature-inspired makers and creators.

There will also be a programme of ticketed fungi forays, workshops and talks led by fungi experts.

Come along and explore the fascinating world of fungi at Highbury! 🌳🍄

Find out more and book your tickets:

Join us for the second Birmingham Fungi Festival on Saturday 17th October!

25/09/2026

It was with deepest sadness that the Trustees of Chamberlain Highbury Trust received the news of the death of Joe Holyoak.

As an architect, urban designer, conservationist, teacher, writer and campaigner, Joe contributed so much good to Birmingham and indeed the wider world. He had an assured feel for the built and natural environments that shape our lives and never lost his enthusiasm for serving people faithfully and sustainably.

Others appreciated and enjoyed – as we did – Joe’s knowledge, humour and humanity.

Joe’s direct association with Highbury spanned decades and we Trustees have always appreciated his gentle prompting and advice in everything we do.

When we were preparing our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a delivery grant towards a full restoration of Highbury’s gardens and mansion, Joe generously gave of his time to serve on our advisory groups and attend consultative meetings with our neighbours and local communities.

We will all, staff members and volunteers alike, miss Joe and he will live on in the contributions he made at Highbury and in our memory.

The Victorian Society has also shared a lovely tribute to Joe, which you can read here:

Joe Holyoak (1944–2026) was one of Birmingham’s most knowledgeable and influential architectural conservationists, whose association with the Victorian Society spanned more than half a century. An architect, urban designer, teacher and writer, he twice chaired the Birmingham & West Midlands Grou...

25/09/2026

🌳 Congratulations, John!
We’re delighted to announce that John Kelly is the recipient of the 2026 Jo Smith Heritage Award, recognising his outstanding contribution as a volunteer at Highbury Orchard.

John has volunteered at the Orchard for an incredible 17 years. He was presented with his award certificate by CHT Activity Planner Lucy Bailey-Wright on 24 September, with fellow Orchard volunteers there to celebrate with him.

Thank you, John, for 17 years of dedication to Highbury! 🍎🌿

22/09/2026

It might be sunny, but there’s no mistaking that autumn is here! 🍂☀️

The sunlight through the trees in the park was lovely today, and I couldn’t resist taking a few photos of the leaves too.

A reminder that there’s often something lovely to spot if we take the time to look. 😊

20/09/2026

The doors are open - come and join us for A Thousand Journeys to Highbury. There's plenty to do and explore! 🐎 🚲🛵🏃🏾‍♀️

19/09/2026

Plan your Journey! Very few places on Carriage rides from the station left but all still bookable tomorrow to return to Kings Heath Station. All walks and tours can be booked on the day!

19/09/2026

🌿 Getting Highbury Gardens ready for the weekend! 🌿

There’s been plenty happening at Highbury Gardens as our amazing volunteers have been getting the site ready for A Thousand Journeys to Highbury this weekend.

💪 Post holes dug
🌱 Pathways cleared
🛠️ Spaces prepared
❤️ And lots of teamwork behind the scenes!

It might not always be the glamorous side of volunteering, but it’s the work that helps make events like this possible — creating a welcoming, accessible space for everyone to enjoy.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and got stuck in. 🙌

We’ll see you at A Thousand Journeys to Highbury on 20th September! 🌳