Popular character, Stick Man, based on the children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, features in a new free activity trail officially launched at Martineau Gardens, Edgbaston Birmingham on Thursday 23 August 2018, which will encourage children to get outdoors and explore the natural world.

The Stick Man Trail Welcome Event will celebrate the arrival of the Stick Man Trail in Birmingham. Taking place on Thursday 23 August, between 10am and 4pm, there will be opportunity to enjoy activities such as Make Your Own Stick Man, Listen to a Reading of Stick Man and following the Stick Man Trail around the beautiful 2.5 acre community garden.  Families will be also able to enjoy exploring the woodland, food growing areas, Shipwreck play area and picnics are welcomed. Hot and cold drinks will be served from the Pavilion. Entrance to Martineau Gardens and participation in the Trail is free – donations welcomed for the drop-in activities (sessions at 11am, 1pm and 2pm).

Martineau Gardens was chosen to host the trail as part of a nationwide scheme supported by Stick Man brand owner Magic Light Pictures and Social Farms & Gardens, a charity which promotes land-based activities that encourage learning and improved well-being.

The self-guided trail offers an interactive learning experience for three to seven year olds and has been designed to help children go on their own adventure with the character. Brightly coloured boards featuring Stick Man and other characters from the picture book will be used alongside an activity pack, with children able to claim a Stick Man Trail Certificate for completing the trail.

Gill Milburn, Director of Martineau Gardens said: “Learning about nature and the environment and creating community resources are very important parts of what we do here, so we’re thrilled that we can host a trail at our site. Stick Man is extremely popular with young children, so being able to have this trail is a real boost. We’re expecting lots of interest from regular visitors and hopefully some new visitors, who will be able to find out more about the work we do here.”

The trail is part of a unique national project devised by Social Farms & Gardens, which uses the Stick Man character to help thousands of parents and young children ‘twig' just how much fun learning through nature can be.  There are estimated to be more than 2,500 social farms and gardens in the UK, which do great work in helping transform people’s lives and the places where they live.

Heidi Seary from Social Farms & Gardens said: "Modern life sometimes means children don’t always have access to the countryside or regular opportunity to play and learn outdoors. We hope that the trail at Martineau Gardens will inspire young children and their families to go on their own outdoor adventure with Stick Man, where they can have fun, as well as learn more about the natural world and how things grow.”

Daryl Shute, brand director at Magic Light Pictures, said: "Encouraging exploration and learning about nature are core values for the Stick Man brand so we are really excited to bring these trails into a new setting and reach a wider audience."

Birmingham Repertory Theatre are looking for a dog to play the role of Toto in their Christmas production of The Wizard of Oz. Open Auditions will be held at The REP on Centenary Square on Saturday 25 August from 10am to 5pm.

The role of Toto, Dorothy’s canine companion, in The Wizard of Oz is a pivotal one and The REP is looking for a new canine star to join the company over Christmas. The show runs from 24 November to 13 January and The REP is looking for two small dogs that have the enthusiasm and stamina to play the role over the 7-week run. No previous acting or stage experience is required, but good training and obedience is.   

Directed by Liam Steel, this epic stage version of the legendary MGM musical features everyone's favourite songs including Somewhere Over The Rainbow, If I Only Had A Brain and Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead. Liam said:

“This is the perfect opportunity to find talented, local pooches to tread the boards in one of the biggest festive productions in the city. We’re not looking for ‘prima-doggas’, just raw canine talent!” 

If you think your dog has what it takes, please register your interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and attaching a picture (max photo size 2mb). All owners and dogs must be available for the open auditions on Saturday 25 August and a follow up audition on Saturday 8 September. 

West Midlands rents are expected to rise as fewer new properties are put on the rental market according to the July 2018 RICS UK Residential Market Survey.

Demand in the West Midlands lettings sector has long outpaced the number of new properties coming to market but this month 18% more respondents* reported a fall in new instructions and is the ninth consecutive quarter in which this indicator has recorded a negative or flat number.

This pattern reflects the shift in the Buy-to-Let market in the wake of tax changes which are still in the process of being implemented, as smaller scale landlords exit the sector. Significantly, the drop in instructions is evident in virtually all parts of the country to a greater or lesser extent.

At the headline level the number of new tenants looking for a new home in the West Midlands grew in July, and as the number of fresh rental stock continues to decline, demand for rental properties continues to outpace supply.

The consequence of this imbalance is that rents in the region are expected to rise once again. In the coming three months, 36% more respondents expect rents to rise, and at the 12 month mark the West Midlands expectations are one of the strongest in the UK with rents projected to increase by 2%. This is also reflected at the five year point where rents are expected to rise by approximately 3%.

Looking at the West Midlands sales market, little has changed from June. It is perhaps no surprise that as speculations built ahead of the August Bank of England rate rise, the number of people looking to buy a home in the region subdued. The number of new properties coming to the market also shows little change in July, as the net balance remains flat. The survey also suggests chartered surveyors don’t anticipate much growth in sales activity in year ahead.

Despite the little change in activity, and stock levels remaining near all-time lows, the West Midlands housing market is stronger than other parts of the UK. Prices continued to firmly rise in the last month and expectations for the three months ahead remain resilient. London, the South East and East Anglia have seen activity and, now as a result, prices starting to fall, albeit slightly, in their regions.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, commented: “The impact of recent and ongoing tax changes is clearly having a material impact on the Buy to Let sector as intended. The risk, as we have highlighted previously, is that a reduced pipeline of supply will gradually feed through into higher rents in the absence of either a significant uplift in the Build to Rent programme or government funded social housing. At the present time, there is little evidence that either is likely to make up the shortfall. This augers ill for those many households for whom owner occupation is either out of reach financially or just not a suitable tenure.”

Abdul Choudhury, RICS Policy Manager, commented: “Our survey suggests that recent Government policy and legislation changes have impeded the growth of the Private Rented Sector (PRS), which is a vital part of a functioning homes market. Withdrawing tax breaks that small landlords relied on, placing an extra 3% on second home Stamp Duty, and failing to stimulate the corporate build to rent market, has understandably impacted supply.

“While the current focus is rightly on using regulation to improve the experience for tenants, Government must urgently look again at the PRS as a whole, including ways to encourage good landlords. Ultimately, Government must consider the impact of its policies, and if the wish is to move away from PRS, it must provide a suitable alternative.  If they wish to improve PRS, as we have suggested by professionalising through regulation and the PRS code, there is justification to reconsider the approach to tax taken.”

August 13th is national Prosecco day and a great excuse to celebrate Summer 2018! It also presents a great opportunity to get creative with your Prosecco – enter Cranes Cranberry & Blood Orange Liqueur.

Made from the highest quality cranberries and infused with natural blood orange juices, Cranes Liqueur is a mixologist's must have. This versatile on-trend liqueur is not only delicious neat and ideal for creating tantalisingly refreshing cocktails but is also perfect for pimping a glass of Prosecco, the Cranbellini.

Cranes Liqueur was developed by Co-Founders, and identical twin Brothers, Ben and Dan Ritsema in collaboration with one of the UK's top mixologists. Created in Britain, this award-winningly smooth liqueur, is made from natural ingredients, with over 115 cranberries going into each 50cl bottle.

An employability support programme targeting 15 to 29-year-olds has helped three city residents land jobs at City of Wolverhampton Council.

The Black Country Impact project - which is funded by the Youth Employment Initiative, European Social Fund, Big Lottery Fund and the four Black Country councils - aims to support young adults not in employment, education or training (NEETs) break down the barriers that may be holding them back from finding work, improving skills or gaining qualifications.

It provides a tailored approach, designed to help the young adult build a future in a way that suits their specific circumstances.

Project participants Grace Odesanya, aged 29, Pele Harvey, 21, and Sofia Filipe, 23, have been successful in gaining employment with City of Wolverhampton.

All three received one-to-one customised support from their Impact key workers Stephanie Dean, Sunil Toor and Marcia Harvey, getting access to information, advice, guidance, and intensive employability support to increase their confidence and self-esteem and enable them to fulfil their full potential.

Through effective partnership working and strengthening links via the employer engagement officer – Julia Jackson Davies- Impact applicants were then short-listed for possible job opportunities.

Grace landed a job in the licensing department, while Pele and Sofia have both been recruited by customer services.

Sofia said: “I would advise anyone to join this project, as the staff are very helpful, and they enabled me to get a job. I am very pleased.”

Pele added: “Since starting on Impact in late Feb, I have gained employment and just started working as a customer service officer at Wolverhampton City Council. It’s a temporary short - term contract but a great opportunity for me to work and gain experience”

Grace said: “I have secured a job with Wolverhampton City Council in the licencing department. My Keyworker has been very supportive and at short notice has arranged for me to have travel and a clothing allowance. This has been a great help because I have been unemployed for some time and would have found this difficult to afford the cost.”

Councillor Lynne Moran, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Black Country Impact is determined to tackle the barriers that may be preventing some young adults from achieving what they are capable of.

“It is wonderful to see these three young ladies thriving after getting invaluable support and guidance through the programme.

“It provides specialist services, ranging from coaching to managed work placements, that ultimately give our young adults the best employability prospects for the future, benefiting them and our communities.”

In the City of Wolverhampton Black Country Impact has engaged with 1,557 participants since its launch in August 2016. Almost 600 have gained a qualification, or employment upon leaving the programme.

In 1976 Edgbaston’s Tony Miles, a former pupil of King Edward’s School, became Britain’s first Chess Grandmaster. Just down the road from his former school, two boys from Hallfield School are on track to follow his example.

On 28 July, Rohan Pal from Solihull took part in the Under 9’s tournament at The British Chess Championships where he proved to be unbeatable, becoming the British Under 9 Chess Champion 2018.

Similarly, Year 10-year-old Manvith Sandhu - Hallfield’s strongest player and winner of many local and regional titles - had his best result ever when he came second in the Under 11 tournament in a field of Britain’s best young chess players.

Both boys were delighted with their achievements. Rohan said: “I knew I had a good chance, but to win is just amazing!”

Nick Thomas, Hallfield School’s Chess Coach, said: “Rohan was simply unstoppable. He has come a long way in the time I have known him – he is a very talented player.

“Manvith played fantastically well and scored 5/6 in a field of 59 of Britain's elite Under 11 players to come joint second, a brilliant result.

“This is the very top event for junior chess players in Britain and an incredible achievement for both boys and also for Hallfield.”

Hallfield School is one of the best schools for elite junior chess in the country being IAPS and ECF National Champions 2018.