Author: FVCA

It is that time of year again, over the next couple of months, the trees in our gardens will be laden with fruit, but what can you do with your excess apples (& pears)?

Why not juice them?

Do you have some apples with which you would like to make apple juice or cider?

A villager has offered to scrat and to press apples in return for a contribution to Fairfield Village Community Association. If you are interested please call Robert on 07793 307500 to arrange a mutually convenient time when you can have your apples pressed.

The Association needs financial support so please take up Robert’s offer and help the Community Association. Thank you

A search online suggests that it costs at least 60p a litre to have someone squeeze your apples and put the juice in your containers.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the Activity Taster Day consultation, in total, there were 48 responses.

The suggested activities that scored the highest votes, we have tried to organise a taster session with an instructor. The below image details the activities that will be taking place on the 3rd September.

The sessions are open to EVERYONE, you do not have to live in Fairfield, Wildmoor or Stoneybridge.

Our thanks to Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire for organising this day for you.

You can attend the whole day, or for a session or two. You could just pop along for the HOMEMADE CAKES.

At the end of the Taster Day, YOU will decide which activity or activities should continue and when.

In addition to providing activity suggestions, some people used the consultation to leave comments, to prove that we do read your comments, we have provided some responses, please do get in touch, and help us deliver the solution:

“More distribution locally of flyers detailing whatsoever. Too many people do not know about Fairfield Village Hall events.” 

As community events & village hall activities are mentioned in the FVCA newsletter, which is delivered to approximately 380 homes in our community every quarter, what additional information would you like to see in the event flyer?  Is it a reminder flyer, and how often should it be delivered?  If additional flyers are to be printed & distributed, we would need to recruit more volunteers.

“Daytime Activities cannot be attending by a lot of people who work. Looking at photos that appear on facebook etc. it would appear that most of the people who attend are retired.”

Every evening at the Village Hall activities take place, as well as increasing number of Wednesday afternoon activities.  We also have cover bands & some of the region’s best indie artists perform at our village hall every month on a Saturday night, movies on a Sunday evening, plus event cinema, with screenings on the same day & time as the major UK cinema chains.  It is true, most of the people that we attract are either Over 50 who live locally or young adults (25 to 35 yrs) that live outside our area.  To increase the number of local 25- to 45-year-olds is something that we can encourage and would like, perhaps if local younger adults could get involved, others will also join in.  If there is an activity that you would like to see that would attract young adults, please suggest and help organize. Facebook does not show photographs for all activities that take place, and the people attending.  Some activities are delivered by third party organisations.

“We need extra social gathering for the elderly as there are none in Fairfield on a daily basis.”

We would love to have more activities for all age groups, but venues are limited.  We are hoping that the Taster Day will help us identify more than one additional activity that we could deliver in our community, hopefully reaching out to all age groups.  Please pop along to The Wednesday Social, and encourage other older people to do the same, tell us what you want (we note you not did tick any of the boxes) and what you will support. 

As part of this year’s Heritage Open Days, St. Mark’s will be opening its doors & hosting a musical performance, and in the village hall a film charting the history of Bromsgrove will be screened. In neighbouring Dodford, there with be guided tours of the Charterist Cottage, Rosedene.

Saturday 9^th September

St. Mark’s will be open from 9.30am, and there will be a special performance at 10am by the Roaming Villeins, something not to be missed.  

Sunday 10^th September

St. Mark’s will once again be open for two hours from 3pm, and at 5pm there will be a special screening of “Looking Back At Bromsgrove” in the village hall. 

The film explores the origins of the town and follows its growth from a thriving medieval market centre, an important stage coaching town, the nail-making capital of Britain, to the bustling residential town of today.

The town’s more recent past is brought to life with stories from the archives of Berrows Journal and the Bromsgrove Messenger, which provide a unique commentary on local events – as they actually happened – and a rare insight into the everyday lives of local people in times gone by.

The film contains a wonderful collection of old photographs, a unique map of 18th century Bromsgrove, archive film, and up to date footage. This entertaining journey through time is produced by Britain on Film.  Admission to the see the film is free, as seating limited, booking is advisable to avoid disappointment  https://bromsgrovearts.org.uk

Guided Tour of Rosedene

Rosedene, Victoria Road, Dodford, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 9BU

Join a guided tour of Rosedene, a mid 19th-century Chartist cottage in Worcestershire.

Born out of social injustice, Rosedene is a peaceful symbol of working class political and social aspirations. The cottage and its four-acre plot are the only surviving example of the Chartist dream of land ownership and therefore the vote for men.

Discover the history of Rosedene and the stories of the people that lived there on a tour with a knowledgeable guide. Tours last for one hour and take visitors around the cottage, followed by a gentle stroll around the garden and orchard with one of Rosedene’s gardeners.

Event Times
Friday 8 September: Tour 1400
Sunday 10 September: Tour 1100 & 1300
Wednesday 13 September: Tour 1100 & 1300
Friday 15 September: Tour 1100 & 1300
Sunday 17 September: Tour 1100 & 1300

To book a place on one of the tours CLICK HERE

The National Trust is working on proposals for the creation of a 12,000 hectare (47 square mile) ‘regional park’, centred along the 8 Hills between Clent and Weatheroak in North Worcestershire.

Bromsgrove District Council are being encouraged, by heritage & wildlife groups, and other stakeholders, including Fairfield Village Community Association, to include 8 Hills in their local plan, which is currently being reviewed. BDC are now actively considering 8 Hills for inclusion and are engaged in the development of a spatial framework looking at opportunities.

The overall vision for the 8 Hills Regional Park is to improve access to the countryside for local communities, create additional income opportunities for farmers, and improve wildlife corridors and heritage features.  The regional park would help to ensure that any development doesn’t reduce or cut off access to the countryside for local communities.

Interested in learning more about 8 Hills Regional Park?  Please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/8-hills