Calthorpe Park, Birmingham’s first Public Park, was opened in 1857 for the ‘public health’ of people in Balsall Heath. We’re celebrating the achievements of Balsall Heathans living locally making a positive impact (first panel at Seven Streets Pocket Park)
Dan Burwood from Fruit and Nut Village helped locate and install Calthorpe Park Panel:
“I’m really happy to see the history of these places. It links with what we’re doing now, to engage people with being in green spaces differently. Trying to grow perennial food, share skills around that kind of thing [links] with what was here before. I think that helps us to imagine what might be here in the future.”
Dan Burwood with the new interpretation board on the corner between Cheddar and Edward Roads
“It’s heartening to see how these things shift because we’re growing edible perennial. Food, lots of fruit trees, nut trees in these Parks now. And people were doing that before. I think the way things are isn’t the way things have to continue to be.”
Traditional allotments (some previously nearby on Edward Road) are ‘allocated’ for individual use. Fruit & Nut Village designs and plants forest gardens, community orchards, and edible hedges that belong to everyone. They focus on perennial food crops, meaning plants, bushes, and trees that live for many years. They support communities to be more self-sufficient and work in local spaces to provide freely abundant food.
Growing Together in Calthorpe Park
Fruit and Nut Village and Friends of the Earth Postcode Gardeners work together supporting many sites near existing Parks and in more urban spaces, including:
The Calthorpe Interfaith Community Orchard, located in Calthorpe Park is a true testament to Balsall Heath’s diverse community. It regularly hosts interfaith tree-plantings and celebrations. It will be a part of our Balsall Heath Community Festival, bringing people of all backgrounds and faiths together to share food under the shade of fruit trees.
Partnering with Anawim (Birmingham’s Centre for Women), Fruit & Nut Village hosts regular site planning and care sessions on Mary Street. They creat safe, therapeutic, and educational spaces where women can connect with nature and learn sustainable growing skills. Find out more on 3rd July event, the launch of Balsall Heath Community Festival.
Seven Streets Pocket Park, also a part of our Commuity Festival as part of our ‘Green Trail’ on 5th July.
Get Involved at Calthorpe Park
The beauty of a forest garden is that it thrives on collective care. Whether you have a green thumb or have never touched a trowel in your life, there’s always a space for you. You can join a relaxed weekday care session, drop into a weekend workshop, or simply stop by to enjoy the peace and quiet of the orchards.
Keep an eye on their social channels or local noticeboards for upcoming Balsall Heath sessions—and next time you’re walking through the neighborhood, look up! You might just find your next healthy snack growing right above your head.
The writer, Toqueer is an award winning Eco activist and blog writer in Birmingham, a volunteer with Retrofit and new writer for the Balsall Heathan:
I first met John Christopher, Zero Carbon House in Balsall Heath at a talk a few years ago, speaking about climate change and the need for real urgency. I got to connect with him and as a volunteer with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Footsteps at the time. I came across Retrofit Balsall Heath. I love culture and community and a desire to make a difference. I have really enjoyed visiting Balsall Heath Old Print Works and I am a regular visitor at the Balsall Heath Second Saturday, where I enjoy creative stalls and activities. Did you know there is a library too? I love the diversity, there is a large Yemini community, Kashmiri and English people all living together, great food too, something for everyone.
There is a real passion for looking after each other and it was amazing to see all the community and faith communities coming together to help 700 homes in Balsall Heath and Accocks Green to retrofit their homes, its much more than just homes, its about hearts and minds too, supporting families with energy advice, the MECC trust also do a great job and having activities like monthly cycling.
The campaign ‘Raising the slabs‘ was a great success, supporting Melrose avenue to plant fruit trees in their front garden. I recommend local people to consider volunteering and getting involved in your local area, even if you have only a few hours spare a month, Retrofit Balsall Heath is a family, we look after each other and hope to have regular socials.
Exciting news for Birmingham Commuters as the Kings Norton to New Street lines reopens. This investment in our local infrastructure has been much anticipated but for those of us in Balsall Heath, the news comes with disappointment. Despite being a key feature of the 2015 Neighbourhood Plan – it is a policy in the statutory plan – Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road open without Balsall Heath Station.
Souvenir Postcard celebrating the re-opening of Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple stations
Shock move as Jess Carter returns to Birmingham City assisting Moseley Commuters
A Tale of Two Stations
Camp Hill Station stood at the junction of Moseley Road and Highgate Road. Both Camp Hill station opened in 1840 when the railway was first laid through Balsall Heath. The Camp Hill site is now occupied by Logmoor, and the original stationmaster’s house can still be seen just by the bridge over the road in the picture below.
Camp Hill Station and crossing
View of the station in 1905
Brighton Road station was the second station on the line to Gloucester from Birmingham and was opened in 1875 by the Midland Railway. Its close proximity to the city centre meant it was always vulnerable to competition first from the trams which had a terminus nearby and later the No. 50 bus.
John Bagwell was appointed station master in 1876 and he held this position until the station was placed under the supervision of the Camp Hill station master on 15 July 1907. The station was hit by bombs in 1941, closed and never reopened.
The bridge across Brighton Road was enlarged in 1923 under a scheme to support unemployed workers.Brighton Road station was smashed to pieces by bombing in 1941 and never re-opened.View from the train of what remains of Brighton Road Station on the re-opening of Camp Hill Line 2026
A Bad Joke
We’ve been digging in the archives and have some nineteenth century train humour for you, as well as a 2026 shaggy dog story:
From ‘The Dart’satirical magAug 1891 Shaggy dog story A friend who lived at Mosely owned a highly educated retriever dog. He exercised the dog in this way. It would see its master off by the early morning Moseley train then trot off down the road to Mr Higgins newspaper shop, purchase a Post and deliver it to his master at Camp Hill Station. The dog did this for a month and then died. It caught a severe cold through having to frequently wait for the arrival of his master’s train at Camp Hill.
June 1884 Why is Camp Hilll Station like a good pork pie? Because it never lack for pepper. (The stationmaster who lived on site was called Mr Pepper.)
April 1882 Travelling to Moseley the other evening , the train due in town at 10.18 rushed by. It is called by locals “Adam” because it is the first mail. The second one is called “Cain”
April 2026 A group of drinkers recently left New Street Station after waiting eighty years for the train home. They are now in the Shakespeare Pub, but expect to be back in Balsall Heath soon.
Here’s some more free, lovely workshops from Balsall Heath is Our Planet
Learn to Prune Fruit Trees. You can learn this practical craft in a morning; pruning to help fruit trees to ensure crops of large, disease-free fruit next summer. Date; Tuesday 11th December Ladies only. 9.30 start at Balsall Heath City Farm, Clifton Road, B12 8NN . With an experienced tutor.
At long last…. Local people are being asked for their input into the designs for new rail stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell (all closed in 1941). There is now funding to build them.
Neighbourhood News Online had a great meeting with John from Balsall Heath Is Our Planet (BHIOP) last week about how we could work together sharing news and working with communities in Balsall Heath.
