What's Happening in Birmingham, England…

This summer, a Rare Plant Fair is due to be held in South Birmingham.

The fair will be hosted at Winterbourne House and Garden. The house is a prime example of a suburban Edwardian villa. Its garden was created by John and Margaret Nettlefold, and it was inspired by the works of Gertrude Jeykll.

The Nettlefold family departed from the house in 1919 and several families came to reside there. These included John Nicolson, a horticultural devotee, who added a scree and Japanese features. The University of Birmingham eventually became the property’s owners in 1944.

The botanical garden is now listed as Grade II and includes a restored walled area, lawns fringed with themed borders, a genuine sandstone rockery garden and a woodland trail. It contains many indigenous rare plants, along with collections from the Americas, China and various Alpine regions. There are glasshouses filled with cacti, tropical and carnivorous plants and alpines.

A wisteria-covered terrace affords a comprehensive vista of the seven acres and is home to a tearoom. Plants are available for purchase and free advice is on offer.

Entry to the fair costs £7.20 for adults, £22 for a family and £6.20 for concessions (aged 5 to 16 and 65 plus). Flyer printing can be an effective method of advertising an event like this.

The Rare Plant Fair will take place between 10.30am and 5pm on Wednesday, 11th July at Winterbourne House and Garden, South Birmingham.