Birmingham Civic Society

Centenary Event: Dream Cities
2018-04-03 12:00 - 14:00 UTC
Roll up your sleeves, imagine, design and create a Dream City in the unique surroundings of Moor Pool Estate, created by 20th century pioneering planner John Sutton Nettlefold.
This is a drop in family activity for accompanied children between 3-12.

City Centre Walking Tour with Blue Badge Guide Ian Jelf
2018-03-31 09:00 - 10:30
A lively, informative and enjoyable walking tour of Birmingham City Centre with Blue Badge Guide, Ian Jelf. Starting at the front of St Martins-in-the-Bullring, the tour will visit key landmarks and places of interest in the city. Ian will highlight important contributions of Birmingham Civic Society, and some of the individuals who have contributed to make Birmingham a better place. A number of Birmingham Civic Society Blue Plaques feature in the tour and it will end at The Library of Birmingham.

Sensible shoes, a warm coat, brolly and/or sunglasses recommended.
Book via Eventbrite

2018 Spring Reception: On Stage at Symphony Hall
2018-03-27 17:00 - 19:00
Birmingham Civic Society’s Spring Reception for corporate members and their guests will take place this year on the stage of Symphony Hall, with Nick Reed, Chief Executive of THSH, as our keynote speaker.
As part of our Centenary year celebrations, join us for drinks in the foyer, before we move to the stage for a very special opportunity to experience the orchestra’s view of the auditorium whilst hearing from Nick Reed, our Chairman Gavin Orton, and poet Casey Bailey, who will be performing his poem ‘Blue Plaque’, commissioned to celebrate The City Beautiful 100.
Sign up via Eventbrite.

Photo: Mike Gutteridge

Georgian Town to Victorian City talk by Stephen Hartland
2018-03-24 10:00 - 11:30
Stephen Hartland, Trustee of Birmingham Civic Society, will describe the development of Birmingham from a Georgian Town to a powerful Victorian City.
Aptly held in the undercroft at Birmingham Cathedral one of the finest Georgian buildings still evident in the city.
This talk is the first in a series of talks to celebrate 100 years of Birmingham Civic Society, The City Beautiful.
Book via Eventbrite.

Signpost Event: Sutton Arts Theatre presents...Birdsong
2018-03-08 08:00 - 2018-03-17 17:00
Join Sutton Arts Theatre as they commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with a production of Birdsong

“No child or future generation will ever know what this was like, will ever understand”
As a young man, Stephen Wraysford was caught up in an all-consuming love affair in Amiens, France. As the First World War unfolds, Stephen finds himself pulled closer and closer back to Amiens, back to the Valley of the Somme. This is a tale of one man’s quest to understand how far mankind can go and still call itself human.
Birdsong tells a mesmerising and compelling story about courage, love, friendship and loss that is heartbreakingly beautiful, powerful and poignant and commemorates the centenary of the end of World War 1.

Written by Sebastian Faulks
Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff
Directed by Emily Armstrong

Find out more on the website.

Birmingham Trees for Life: Perry Common Recreation Ground
2018-03-08
Visit the Birmingham Trees for Life website for further information.

Birmingham Trees for Life: Glebe Farm Recreation Ground
2018-03-07

Signpost Event: Chinese New Year with the Farmers Choir from China
2018-02-27 19:30 - 22:30
The Symphony Hall is also celebrating Chinese New Year with the Farmers Choir from China on the evening of Tuesday 27th February.
The Choir consisting of 50 farmers from the Miao minority will be performing on the Symphony Hall stage, with audience members seated on the risers and in the choir stalls.
Tickets are free and the performance will be fantastic! Please see https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/xiaoshuijing-farmers-choir for more details and to book the tickets.

Signpost Event: Review and Preview - The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
2018-02-20 18:00 - 20:00
You are invited to a Review and Preview evening at the Barber Institute from 6pm on Tuesday 20 February.
Join Nicola Kalinsky, Barber Director, and colleagues to celebrate the highlights from 2017, be tantalised by exhibitions and events planned for later this year, and commemorate the first birthday of our Barber Association of supporters.
This will also be an opportunity to enjoy an exclusive evening viewing of the forthcoming exhibition The Rhythm of Light: Scottish Colourists from the Fleming Collection. This display is the first time these vibrantly beautiful early 20th century works have been shown together in the West Midlands.
We do hope you will join us the team for this delightful evening, and consider joining the Association as a Member or Patron.
Please confirm your attendance with David Powell, Memberships Manager, by Friday 2 February on 0121 414 7598 or email association@barber.org.uk
Refreshments served on arrival from 6pm with presentations commencing from 6.30pm. This event is free to attend.
*George Leslie Hunter, Villefranche, 20th century © Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation

Unveiling of Blue Plaque to Sir Gilbert Barling
2018-02-16 13:00 - 15:00
Join us at the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to our first Chairman
As part of our Centenary celebrations we are commissioning three new Blue Plaques to commemorate key founder members of the Society. The first of these will be to Sir Gilbert Barling CB CBE FRCS [1855-1940], the first Chairman of Birmingham Civic Society from the time of its inauguration in 1918 until his death in 1940.
In his professional life, he was Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham for twenty years. He was Professor of Surgery 1893 – 1912 and during the 1920s he took a lead role in launching the scheme, which ultimately established the hospital teaching centre and medical school close to the main university buildings. Sir Gilbert Barling also held various senior surgical appointments at Birmingham General Hospital and after retirement became its president.
The unveiling will form part of the official launch of the heritage strand of our Centenary History programme and will take place on Friday 16 February, 1pm – 2.30pm, at St Augustine’s Church, Edgbaston, the church he attended and where his funeral was held. The plaque will then be put up on his nearby former home at 6 Manor Road.
When: Friday 16 February 2018, 1pm – 2.30pm
Where: The Parish Church of St Augustine of Hippo, Edgbaston B16 9JN
We do hope that you are able to join us, please RSVP to Penny by 12 February to confirm.

Birmingham Trees for Life: Gilbertstone Recreation Ground, Sheldon
2018-02-14
Visit the Birmingham Trees for Life website for further inf0rmation.

People Places Pride: Private Tour of the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre
2018-02-13 10:00 - 12:00
Join Birmingham Civic Society for the first in our centenary year series of People,Places,Pride events:

A private, guided tour of the Museum Collections Centre, the storage facility for Birmingham Museums Trust.

The 1.5-hectare site houses all of the objects that aren’t currently on display. Among the thousands of objects stored are steam engines, sculptures, an entire collection of Austin, Rover and MG motorcars, a red telephone box and even a Space Hopper. The contrasting mix of objects and behind-the scenes atmosphere makes the Centre an intruiging place to explore.
Over tea and coffee, the guide will welcome everyone to the site, followed by a facilitated tour of the main warehouse area where you will be free to explore at your leisure for two hours.
This event is open to members for £10pp and non members, £15pp.
Book your ticket via Eventbrite

Signpost Event: Step Together - Birmingham St Mary's Hospice
2018-02-01 - 2018-03-31
Join Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice and Step Together with people from across the region to walk in tribute to your loved ones.
Between 1 February and 31 March push yourself out of your comfort zone and take on our new virtual Step Together challenge, getting sponsored for every stride you take.
Walk it, jog it, skip it, hop it, it doesn’t matter, the choice is yours. Step out on your own or create a movement with family, friends, work mates or members of your community group, whatever it takes to keep going and achieve your steps goal.
#JoinTheMovement and let’s see how many times we can Step Together and take the 16 million steps needed to complete a lap of the world!
Sign up for FREE today
Sign up as an individual and pledge to raise a minimum of £25 in sponsorship to receive your own commemorative medal. Or why not go the extra mile and pledge to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship and you will receive a medal and Step Together t-shirt
Sign up a team of work colleagues or with your community group (min 3 per team) and pledge to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship to receive a commemorative medal each. Or why not go the extra mile and pledge to raise a minimum of £500 in sponsorship and you will all receive a medal and Step Together t-shirt.
How does it work?
Between Thursday 1st February and Saturday 31st March 2018 you have 8 weeks to complete as many steps as you can.
You choose your own personal steps target and build up the count however you want, whether its walking the kids to school, going for a lunchtime stroll at work or taking the stairs rather than the lift, every step you track will be added to our overall team total with the aim of reaching a minimum of 16 million steps in total – the equivalent of walking once around the world! Let’s see how many laps of the earth we can do!
How can you track your steps?
To make tracking your steps and fundraising easy and fun, we have joined forces with GivePenny, an exciting new fundraising platform that helps charities to launch new challenges like Step Together. Using GivePenny’s connection to the FitBit watch and FitBit smartphone app, you’ll be able to collect sponsorship for every step you track, as well as one-off donations.
To set up your GivePenny tracking and fundraising page HERE
Alternatively, you can track your steps offline via:

GPS watch or any other wearable fitness device
A smartphone fitness tracking app
Pedometer (available to purchase below if needed)

How to get your medal
To claim your bespoke Step Together medal we ask you to have submitted your total number of steps and to have reached your chosen sponsorship target by Saturday 31stMarch 2018.
You can pay in your sponsorship money by sending a cheque to the Hospice, bringing in cash to the Hospice or by paying online by simply clicking on the following link:
DONATE HERE
More information about the challenge can be found on the FAQs document.
Step Together is available to everyone whether you are taking part in memory of a loved one, to support your local Hospice, to get fit and healthy or just for fun. By signing up today you are helping to deliver a future where the best experience of living is available to everyone leading up to and at the end of life.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the events team on 0121 472 1191 or email events@birminghamhospice.org.uk

Birmingham Trees for Life: Pype Hayes Park
2018-02-01

Birmingham Trees for Life: Oak Meadow, Yardley
2018-01-25
Visit the Birmingham Treees for Life website for further information.
