Birmingham’s historic architecture and changing landscape will be put in the picture at a new exhibition showcasing how the city’s skyline has been transformed over the last 20 years.

Birmingham City University’s Parkside Gallery will host the ‘Brummagem Lost City Found’ exhibition from today (September 18), which brings together a collection of large-scale prints, paper constructions and rare archive materials centred around some of the city’s most iconic sites.

The artworks, which feature artistic takes on Spaghetti Junction, the Inner Ring Road and New Street Signal Box, have been produced by two local artists, Birmingham City University Professor, Andrew Kulman and Sara Kulman.

Both Andrew and Sara are residents of Birmingham and use city’s transformation as the inspiration for the work on show in ‘Brummagem Lost City Found’.

The exhibition has been compiled in a bid to recognise and honour the Brutalist architecture which characterised the  city’s architecture during the 1950s-70s.

Professor Andrew Kulman said: “Over the last 20 years Birmingham has lost much of the Brutalist architecture that characterised the city. Most recently the iconic Central Library was controversially demolished and is being replaced by brand new buildings.

“While it would be hard to deny the benefits to the city, there is an overwhelming feeling of loss as the old buildings fall and the city is reshaped. As the city is regenerated there is a sense of nostalgia among those who called the ‘concrete jungle’ home.”

‘Brummagem Lost City Found’ is free for the public to attend at Birmingham City University’s Parkside Gallery at its City Centre Campus in Eastside.

Sara Kulman added: “Birmingham is a fantastic place for artists to work and exhibit, the changing city is a great inspiration. This exhibition has given me the opportunity to reflect on the city as it is today, to bring new life and a fresh perspective to the remaining structures that defined my youth, a city that I still call home.”

The exhibition will run from September 18 to October 27.

Goaty McGoatface the rare Bagot goat is the newest addition at Sandwell Counci’s Forge Mill Farm in West Bromwich.

The six week old kid, who will be known as Goaty, was named by members of the public who suggested their favourite names on Facebook. Goaty was born in August to the farm’s oldest Bagot goat, Ivy, who is 15.

The council is supporting a scheme run by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to breed the rare goats as there are fewer than 200 registered breeding females left.

Goaty will become part of the farm’s breeding stock, increasing the number of these rare animals for years to come.

Councillor Richard Marshall, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for leisure, said: "Goaty is very cute – and a very important little goat.

“We wanted the public to be involved in naming him. Someone suggested Goaty McGoatface, people thought it was funny and then a few more suggested it. We thought it suited him so we went with it.”

The Bagot is believed to be Britain’s oldest breed of goat with records of them being around in 1389 at Blithfield, the Staffordshire home of Sir John Bagot.

The exact origin of the Bagot goat is unknown - one theory  is they were brought to Britain during the Crusades in the Middle Ages, while others believe they originated from native goats in medieval times.

Brits spend 48 days a year on the sofa, with nine out of ten¹ people enjoying relaxing on the sofa with their family - and it’s also having a positive impact on our relationships, new research reveals.

ScS, one of the UK’s leading furniture and flooring specialists, surveyed more than 1,000 people to find out about their sofa-time habits. The research found the majority of Brits spend at least an hour a day relaxing on the sofa, with more than half (55%) using that time to catch up with family and friends.

Brits are most likely to spend time on the sofa with their partners too, with over two thirds saying they are more likely to couple up on the couch as part of their sofa-time. Relationship expert, Caroline Brealey explains the positive impact sofa-time is having on couples and their relationships.

Caroline says: “In a relationship it's the little things that count. Big romantic gestures are lovely, but the day to day moments you share are what keep you connected and the relationship healthy.  Cuddling provides comfort and security and after a long day at work spending some quality time cuddled up on the sofa together being close and having physical contact can be hugely intimate and romantic.”

She continues: “Sofa time is also important for people with children as it brings together the family. Time spent with your children on the sofa, whether reading, watching a movie or chatting, is essential for maintaining family ties and creating common interests.”

The poll also revealed the nation’s sofa-time habits. Interestingly, when it comes to where we sit, more than half of respondents admitted that they have a favourite spot on the sofa and get annoyed if another family member ‘steals’ it. This is most common in those aged 45 – 54, with 60% admitting the trait, compared to just 36% of those aged 18-24.

Despite common belief, it’s actually older people who spend the least amount of time on the sofa each day, with 17% of those aged 65 and over spending less than an hour a day on the sofa compared to just 6% of 25 to 34 year olds.

Simon Nicholson, Furniture Buying Director at ScS, said: “With our lives seeming to get busier and busier, fitting in time with the family and our partners can be a struggle, so it’s great to see so many are putting their sofas to really great use as part of this precious family time.

“While it’s tempting to get engrossed in your favourite TV shows and other distractions, it seems that families around the country are using time together on the sofa at the end of a long day to catch up and invest in their relationships, which we think is a real testament to the benefits and comfort offered by the [modest/humble] family sofa.”

Sandwell Council is to give the West Bromwich-based People’s Orchestra a special £1,000 grant to help it to replace vital equipment it lost in a recent theft.

The orchestra lost a public address system, cables, wires and IT equipment which were snatched from the back of the van belonging the group in a second theft they have suffered.

Now Councillor Richard Marshall, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for leisure, said he was delighted to be able to announce that the council was to help the group to keep playing music for Black Country enthusiasts.

He said: “The People’s Orchestra is a well-respected organisation who have really been badly affected by two thefts of their equipment.

"They provide excellent entertainment for music lovers and do some excellent work in the community and deserve some assistance at this difficult time."

The orchestra, which is based at West Bromwich Town Hall, is made up of a diverse mix of talented musicians from varied backgrounds aged 18-75 years.

The primary objective of the orchestra is to advance, improve and develop an appreciation for arts and music through public concerts.

It also works to help unemployed people back into work by helping to boost their confidence and gain new skills.

Managing director Sarah Marshall estimated that the stolen equipment could cost as much as £2,000 to replace after the "truly heartbreaking thefts" on their vehicle.

She added: "We are absolutely delighted to hear of the council’s kind offer because we have to work so hard to raise the money to buy this equipment to help people to play music and the unemployed members to get back into work."

Last month marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar, MC;  one of only three people to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice, and namesake to one of the four Help for Heroes (H4H) Recovery Centres.

This week two granddaughters of Christopher Chavasse, twin brother of Noel, visited the recovery centre named Chavasse VC House after the British Medical Doctor. Noel was engaged to his cousin, Frances Gladys Ryland Chavasse, but the captain was killed in action before they could be married. His great-nieces, Camilla Kinton and Julia Hatfield, are some of the closest living descendants. They were invited to the recovery centre to mark the anniversary of their great uncle’s passing and see how the centre has developed since they attended its opening over five years ago.

Camilla said: “This is the best possible memorial to Noel Chavasse as he cared about the whole person; not just the physical but the emotional side too. The Help for Heroes Recovery Centre does just that here; it cares for the whole person. It’s nice to be able to keep the name of Noel Chavasse alive and I feel that he very much would have approved of the recovery centre. Our great-uncle cared for “his boys” and it’s possible that if had lived then he might have opened up his own house to let his comrades recover after the war. It was quite unusual for his a man of his time to be concerned for the wellbeing of his soldiers”.

She continued: ”Noel came from a family of those with a great faith and sense of duty; they always wanted to help others. Even when Noel carried out those acts which saw him awarded the Victoria Cross he didn’t feel like he was being brave. It was just the way he was; he just wanted to help his men”.

Camilla and Julia spent time with beneficiaries of Chavasse VC House hearing how Help for Heroes has assisted them on their road to recovery; both physically and mentally. They also heard how Noel was integral to improving the wellbeing of his comrades in the trenches by setting up recreational areas which he stocked with a gramophone and books.

The Olympic athlete and British Army Officer died on August 4, 1917, during the Passchendaele offensive. He was just age 32. Captain Chavasse received serious head injuries during the battle, but refused to be evacuated and continued to venture into no man’s land and tend to the wounded.

Despite being injured Captain Chavasse saved the lives of an estimated 20 seriously wounded men while under heavy gunfire. A few days later, while resting, his trench was hit by a shell. Mortally wounded, the Captain crawled half a mile to seek help for others. He was eventually evacuated but died of his wounds two days later.

Noel Chavasse was the most highly decorated British Officer of the First World War and had previously displayed courageous acts of bravery during the Battle of the Somme. When the time came to build the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre in Colchester, it was widely agreed that it should bear his name, not only to acknowledge his sacrifice but to those who fell during the Great War.

Colchester Recovery Centre inspires, enables and supports those who are wounded, injured or sick while serving our country, encouraging them to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives, while also supporting their loved ones. With an adaptive gym, an award winning reflective garden (Hope on the Horizon), a Support Hub made up of multiple charities and other organisations, psychological well-being suite, en-suite bedrooms, family rooms and a creative studio, the Centre has been specially designed to offer the very best recovery environment. It supports those from East Anglia, East Midlands and West Midlands.

Steve Schollar, Help for Heroes’ Head of Recovery Services East, said: “No matter when someone served, H4H gives them the support they need to put them back on the road to recovery In recent years we have supported individuals aged from 18 to 90 years, focussing on the five key areas of Medical, Mind, Body, Spirit and Family. The specialist teams here create the conditions for our heroes and their families to recover and move forward with their lives. I’m proud to say that Help for Heroes and Chavasse VC House continue to play a major part in the Nation’s commitment to our veterans”.

Dog owners can get their pets microchipped for free at an event being held in the City of Wolverhampton.

RSPCA Stafford, Wolverhampton and District Branch are working in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council’s Public Protection team to offer the service at West Park on Saturday, September 23, from 10am to 2pm.

A new law which came into force on April 6, 2016, requires all dogs over eight weeks old in England, Scotland and Wales to be microchipped.

The measures are aimed at cracking down on vicious or illegal dogs as well as helping protect animals that may become lost.

Dogs need to be microchipped and registered with their keepers’ contact details. All keepers, including breeders, will need to keep these details up to date.

The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and its information about the dog and the owner’s contact details will be officially held on an approved micro-chip database.

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “Microchipping is a great way to make sure that you and your pet can be reunited should the unthinkable ever happen, and your dog does go missing.

“Unlike dog tags and collars, which can fall off or be removed, microchipping is a permanent form of identification. By microchipping your companion, you can help to increase your chances of being rightfully reunited with your pet, should they ever be lost or even stolen from you.”

If a pet is already microchipped, it is important to remember to keep the dog’s details updated. If people move house or change phone number, they should contact their microchip database provider to let them know.

Not only it is a legal requirement to ensure that contact details are up-to-date, but the microchip is useless without them.

Jenny Stringer, Chair of RSPCA Stafford, Wolverhampton and District Branch Chair, said: “There are so many owners that aren't aware that by law all dogs must be microchipped, so the local RSPCA Stafford Wolverhampton & District Branch have held a number of events to help microchip local animals.

“Thousands of animals are lost every year and many never reunited with their owners - having your dog microchipped reduces this happening. We are really pleased to be working in conjunction with the council to provide this free service at West Park. Microchipping can cost up to £25 so it's a huge saving.”

If a dog without a microchip comes to the attention of the authorities, its keeper could be served with a notice requiring the dog to be microchipped, and may face criminal prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply with the notice.

The only exemption is where a vet has certified in writing that a dog is unfit to have the chip fitted.