Armed Forces Community Garden now open to public

Solihull Council’s Planting Our Future team, who pledged to plant 250,000 trees over the next ten years as part of its commitment to tackle climate change as well as implementing green infrastructure, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion Warwickshire and Birmingham County, have created a ‘healing garden’ for veterans, named The Armed Forces Community Garden (AFCG), which is now open for the public to enjoy.

Completed in May 2021, this stunning garden is home to a community wildlife garden, which hosts a relaxing seating area and leads to a walkway through a community orchard and a summer meadow filled with a purple haze meadow mix.

Beyond this, visitors will find a boardwalk and community woodland which follows the RBL’s Battle Back Centre principles to create opportunities for active recovery.
On approach to the circular archway at the entrance to the garden, visitors will see a thought-provoking and assuring message which reads ‘Courage does not always roar’ – also revealed last month.
The official opening of the garden is yet to commence due to government guidelines on COVID-19 and social distancing, however, the garden opened to members of the public in July.
The garden has already attracted many visitors since opening, including veterans like Terry Barnett, who says:

“As an ambassador for the RBL, I was delighted to visit the Armed Forces Community Garden. I truly believe that this tranquil and beautiful space will not only benefit me through being in a place of peace, but many other veterans just like me.”

Once the garden is officially opened, ‘Planting Our Future’ will invite community groups to use the area for activities such as gardening and painting. If you would like to know more about activities in the garden please get in touch with [email protected]

If you would like to visit the Armed Forces Community Garden, please follow directions for Hillfield Park, Monkspath Hall Road, Shirley, Monkspath, B91 3LU.