The Secret(ish) Garden Behind the Library

Tucked behind the library, past the last row of books and beyond the back wall, is a quiet garden. It might seem small at first glance, but a few of weekends ago, it opened into something much bigger — a world of whispered secrets, talking plants, buried treasure, and magical names like Moonlit Hollow and Caterpillar Bloom.

As part of our storytelling activity for families and children, we invited library visitors to step into this space, slow down, and really look at what was growing. Lavender, brambles, elder, strawberries, and more — each plant had a story to tell, …

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Stitch It In Time: The First Mending Café at Stirchley Library

Last Saturday, 6th June, was the very first Mending Café at Stirchley Library – and what a lovely way to spend the afternoon. There was a great turnout, with people bringing along all sorts of items in need of care and attention: a jumper with a hole (or two in it), a t-shirt which was mainly holes!, a torn dress, fraying oven gloves, and other well-loved garments waiting for a new lease of life.

For some, it was a chance to reconnect with old skills; for others, it was their very first time trying something like darning – and they …

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New revised proposal from Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City Council has recently published a revised proposal following the final phase of consultation that took place between 23rd August and 27th September. In their revised proposal,Stirchley Library hours will remain open for 21 hours a week! This is fantastic news for our community, as it represents a return to a 3 day a week professionally staffed library service. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Save Stirchley Librarycampaign and made sure that the Council has been aware just how important the library is to us all.

Whilst this is good news for Stirchley …

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Birds of Stirchley trail

Thank you to everyone who came along to the River Rea walk as part of Birmingham Heritage Week at the beginning of September. This followed six bird portraits by local artist Stephen Earl Rogers positioned in community gardens run by Fruit & Nut Village, and a talk on route about the history of the Rea in Stirchley by Jen Dixon, our Volunteer Coordinator.

If you couldn’t join the walk on the day, you can find an outline of the walk and a map to follow on our local resources page.

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Urgent action needed to save Stirchley Library

The Council has published a Phase 2 Consultation Pack outlining its plans for each library in the city, announced in-person consultation meetings for each library, and issued a new online survey. Stirchley’s consultation meeting is next Wednesday 4th September 10.30am-12pm.

Option 1 and Option 2 from the original consultation document have been dropped, Option 3 and 4 remain with more detail about what this will mean for individual libraries.

Under Option 3 Stirchley Library will close. This is unthinkable and must be strongly opposed.

Under Option 4 Stirchley Library will open just 14 hours a week, along with 18 other

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