Rubery Wombles (RW) started out as a litter picking group in early 2019, covering all of Rubery and they have now expanded to take on a couple of ongoing projects.

This group of volunteers look after a local woodland in Rubery, Bromsgrove by removing non native plants, planting native bluebell bulbs and have managed to raise money to buy bat boxes and bird nesting boxes.

RW have also been instructed on how to look after the brook that runs through it. In early 2022, they were given a piece of land by Birmingham City Council to create a community garden growing fresh produce for the local community.

The group chat regularly to people passing by the garden and some come in for produce. Most are very interested but not many actually come and help. Rubery, Birmingham houses some of the most deprived families in Birmingham, some due to drug or alcohol addiction. This housing includes four blocks of flats with no gardens. As well as growing edibles we have a sensory garden with seating and other quiet areas with seating.

RW have a portable ramp into the garden and it is currently all wheelchair friendly. They mostly use their Facebook group set up in September 2019, plus other local Facebook groups to show what is going on in the garden, ask for volunteers, those wanting to ‘adopt a planter’ and to say that everyone is welcome for a cuppa and a chat, or to just wander around or sit quietly and enjoy the garden. 

Deelands Community Garden has the postcode B45 9RR and is situated behind Deelands hall and its enclosed garden. The RW garden is situated behind green palisades fencing for visibility and protection, although thankfully they haven’t had any problems. Children always love coming into the garden and this is the best way to get adults interested!

RW hold monthly craft activities for children accompanied by an adult and they have made ladybird houses, decorated pumpkins and made bird feeders. Local children love to fill the bird feeders and water the growing plants, some are amazed to see vegetables they recognise growing in the ground, or on bushes.

The group really do need more adult volunteers and a way to reach locals not using social media. RW tried delivering 200 leaflets with very little affect sadly. RW are hoping the local social prescriber can send people their way who could really benefit from the peace of the garden. 

The Rubery Wombles philosophy: 

“We are a group of residents who are passionate about keeping our local parks, lanes and public areas free of litter, broken glass and fly tipping.

We want pleasant, safe, clean areas for our children to play and for pets and wildlife to be free from risk of injury.

In Deelands Community Garden all the fruit, vegetables, salad and herbs are grown for the local community to eat free of charge.”

Contact: [email protected]