COVID-19 memorial garden in Castle Vale approved by council

Green spaces for local people to remember loved ones

Malaka Chowdhury | Thursday 3rd February 2022 7:20pm

A COVID-19 memorial garden is set to be built in Castle Vale, leading the way ahead of the nine other council approved gardens around the city. 

Erdington will be the first location where construction will begin as a final tribute to the MP Jack Dromey who met with council representatives to discuss the garden on the day before his death. His funeral on Monday was attended by hundreds of people, including former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, the latter of whom described Mr Dromey as having “remade history many times over” in his career. 

The council engaged with local residents, community groups, park staff and local councillors to choose locations, with the Castle Vale garden to be built on Land off Park Lane. 

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council said, “It is really important to remember and pay tribute to those we have lost in the city as a result of the pandemic. Every person that has been lost to COVID-19 was dearly loved by their family, friends and colleagues.” Mr Ward said he hoped the gardens would provide 'a focal point for people to remember.”

He added, “The tributes that were paid across the political divide following the death of Jack show how well regarded and respected he was by the people of Erdington- and given that one of the last meetings he had was in support of residents who had suggested a location for a memorial garden in their area means that it is a fitting tribute to ensure that work on the first of these gardens starts in his constituency.”

The garden designs were drawn up by the Council's Chelsea Flower Show award-winning team, with the main feature of a central pebble bed where communities have the chance to write the name of a lost loved one during the pandemic on the stones. 

Other design features include benches to sit and reflect, trees spaced at two-metre intervals as a nod to social distancing and a range of colourful plant species like forget-me-nots. 

Cllr John O'Shea, Cabinet member for Street Scene and Parks at Birmingham City Council praised the valuable contribution of parks during the pandemic.

He said, “They provided a location for exercise and meeting- and the use of parks rose significantly when much of society was locked down to control the spread of the virus.” 

“These gardens will help signify the role that parks have played during these times as well as giving people a way to remember those we have lost and everything that has happened during these tragic times.”

Head of Operations at EcoBirmingham Michael Addison said, “We fully support the plans for more green spaces in the city to aid biodiversity, tackle air pollution and improve people's physical and mental health.” 

Local Castle Vale campaigner John Macefield said, “The memorial garden will be a poignant tribute to the people we have lost, a place to remember them and keep them in our hearts. Green spaces particulary ones that are well looked after are really important for health, wellbeing and wildlife.”

Mr Macefield also thanked Jane Roche for her efforts in securing the garden.

“She lost her dad and sister to Covid-19. The garden will be a wonderful tribute to them amd we have her to thank for it.” 

The other nine locations for the parks are as follows: Edgbaston, Hodge Hill, Hall Green, Ladywood, Northfield, Perry Barr, Selly Oak, Sutton Coldfield and Yardley. 

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