On International Day of Peace last month, 60 people from across the district gathered for the opening of a new Peace Garden at Spring Lane Playing Fields – organised by Erdington Rotary Club (ERC).
The ‘place of peace and reflection’ is housed in the playing fields’ ‘tiny forest and ecological area’ and is the first stage of an ongoing commitment which will ‘develop over the coming years.’
Dignitaries honouring the event included Erdington Ward Councillor and Leader of Birmingham Conservatives Robert Alden, alongside the Rotary Club’s Immediate Past District Governor (IPDG) John Parkinson and Past District Governor (PDG) Margaret Morley.
Participants were invited to plant a Peace Rose to commemorate the occasion, before dignitaries addressed the crowds. Once open to the public, ERC are also keen to bring young people into the Peace Garden’s development, hoping community participation will further underpin the project.
Partly sponsored by the supermarket chain Tesco, who have an Express outlet at Six Ways near Erdington High Street, the Peace Garden at Spring Lane Playing Fields is part of the local Rotarian’s Create Hope in the World agenda which sees the Club support many local charities and projects.
The project was further supported by £250 that Erdington Rotary Club was awarded for environmental work with The Queen’s Green Canopy Project.
The idea for a Peace Garden came after ERC was awarded a Peace Pole for the work it does supporting Erdington Cricket Club and encouraging young people to play sport.
ERC spokesman Gary Dancer said:“We are very grateful to Changing Lives Through Rugby and Tesco for their support. The garden is a place of peace and reflection for the whole community and will be built up during the coming years.
“The next stage will be a rose garden featuring a mix of peace and Rotary roses. We plan to add to the garden over the years by creating more bug hotels and making it as environmentally sustainable as possible. This is part of Rotary’s commitment to the environment.
“We will also use the garden to provide educational opportunities to local young people and schools. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the district team with this very important project which will be a wonderful asset for our community.”
For further information on the work of Erdington Rotary Club or how to join, visit: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=360