A new free Garden Show to be known as B.A.G.S - the Birmingham Annual Gardening Show - is to be held in King's Heath Park over the weekend of September 1st. and 2nd.

Last year saw the Council cancel the popular Gardeners' Weekend that had been held in the park for nearly 30 years as a cost cutting measure. A hurriedly organised replacement Flower Fest ran alongside Arts Fest but was poorly attended.

Now local residents and businesses have got together with Birmingham based allotment and gardening societies to bring the show back to King's Heath Park and have been given a £20,000 Council Grant to do so.

Although the show will start off smaller than in the past, entrance will be free.

Organisers want to take the show back to it's roots and create a new Garden Show that Birmingham and King's Heath can be proud of.

Included in the show will be stalls and displays by local flower and allotment societies, trade stalls, a craft fair and lots more besides to still make it a great day out for all the family.

The new organising committee includes representatives from King's Heath Floral Trail and the Centre Partnership.

It is hoped that a circular bus will link the show with the new Village Square where a Farmers Market will take place on Saturday September 1st, the rest of the shopping centre and special car parks.

A Walk of Fame is to be created along York Road to celebrate King’s Heath’s musical and comic heritage that will include a specially commissioned floral display featuring a guitar and microphone.

York Road has been chosen because it contains the Hare and Hounds where UB40 and Frank Skinner started their careers and the Cash Converters building which was previously the Ritz Ballroom – one of 4 ballrooms run in the 1960’s by Irish husband and wife team Mary (Ma) and Joe (Pa) Regan – where most of the famous groups and artists of the 1960’s played.

These include

• The Beatles on 15 Feb 1963 shortly after releasing  “Please Please Me”, 
• Gene Vincent/The Outlaws featuring Ritchie Blackmore on 21 June 1963,
• The Rolling Stones on 14 Sept 1963,
• The Moody Blues on 28 March 1965,
• Jimmy Cliff on 15 Dec 1965,
• Robert Plant on 24 April 1966,
• The Kinks on 11 June 1966 and
• Pink Floyd on 16 Dec 1967.

Other artists who are thought to have played at the Ritz Ballroom include Bill Haley and the Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Spencer Davis Group, Cliff Richard. Gerry Dorsey (later to be known as Engelbert Humperdink), The Walker Brothers, The Animals, Freddie and The Dreamers, The Tremeloes, Joe Brown and Dusty Springfield.

They were all supported by top local groups like The Modernaires who were the first British act to sign and record  for RCA Victor - Elvis Presley's record label.

It is intended the Walk of Fame will also celebrate Toyah Willcox and Martin Barre (lead guitarist with Jethro Tull) who were both born in Kings Heath, The Editors who shared a house in King’s Heath from 2003 onwards after graduating from Stafford University, the Ian Campbell Folk Group who were one of the biggest folk groups in the 1960’s and Bob Lamb’s Recording Studio in Highbury Road

The Walk of Fame is to be created over a number of years with the aim of the first stage being in place by 11 July 2012  - Heart of England in Bloom judging day -  consisting of the first Civic Society Musical Plate commemorating The Ritz Ballroom, some initial pavement plaques, the specially commissioned Floral display and Shop displays.

Please e mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any old photos, posters etc or memories of seeing groups at The Ritz Ballroom.

King's Heath has been selected to be one of only 73 finalists in the Britain in Bloom 2012 campaign from over 1,000 entries.

King's Heath will be judged in the Urban Community Category alongside:-

• Chirk in Wrexham
• Dyce in Aberdeen
• Kippax in Leeds
• London Bridge in Southwark
• Moor in Huntingdon
• Seedley and Langworthy in Salford

This means King's Heath will be judged twice in 2012.

On the morning of Wednesday 11 July for Heart of England in Bloom and on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 August for Britain in Bloom

The results for Heart of England in Bloom will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held at All Saint's Church in King's Heath that will be attended by over 200 delegates.

The results for the Britain in Bloom finals will be announced at an Award Ceremony in St. Peter Port, Guernsey on 6/7 October.

King's Heath's very first Wassail is thought to have taken place at the Community Centre Edible Garden on Sunday 15 January.

Wassailing is a traditional ceremony which normally takes place in cider-producing counties that involves singing and drinking the health of trees in the hope they might better thrive.

Morris dancing by King's Heath's very own Brethren Border Morris group began the Wassail, toast soaked in cider was then placed on the fruit trees in the garden and food and drink shared by all those who attended.

Sharron Carr-Wu rounded off the Wassail by telling stories and Alys Fowler demonstrated how to prune the trees in the garden.

A great afternoon was enjoyed by all those who came to what is hoped will become a regular annual event.

Many new volunteers were recruited to help maintain the grarden throughout 2012 with more events in the garden being planned for the summer.

(Wassail images within gardens belonging to Heathfield Road Community Centre's "Edible Garden". Permission and courtesy - Marcus Belben of KHCC Garden Club who must be thanked for largely organising the Wassail!)

The image below is of King's Heath's very own Brethren Border Morris Group. Click on the image to go straight to their website.