The MRA represents the local community of the Moor Pool Estate, a garden suburb of Birmingham.
The committee are a small group of volunteers living on the estate. Our aim is to help protect
the character of the estate and nurture community connections.
What we do:
• Publish & deliver The Duck newsletter• Host community events• Collaborate on issues with local council• Advise on conservation rules• Advise and monitor on planning issues• Offer community security advice
A small annual membership fee helps fund the work we do across the estate.
Subscription details can be found at the foot of this page.
Welcome to the online edition of the newsletter.
What appears below is an approximation of the printed edition.
It has been formatted to render properly on the Web. The printed edition is
available
here
.
What's On
22nd June - 13th September
Moor Pool 5k Summer Challenge:
You can run, walk, or complete the challenge in a wheelchair anywhere in and around Moor Pool, in one go or spread the distance out over the 12 weeks. It’s all about getting active and enjoying the outdoors and Moor Pool at your own pace, whether you’re aiming for a personal best or enjoying time out with the family and friends, the challenge is for everyone of all ages and abilities. Register at
https://www.moorpoolhall.org.uk/moor-pool-5k-2026.
Tuesday 30th June 7-8pm
Heritage Talk - Collars, Corsets and Social class, part 2:
Connor McGrath and Willow Pinchin, vintage clothing experts and collectors, return to further explore social history through fashion. Tickets £3 on the door. Refreshments from 6.30pm.
12th July - 21st September
The Worker Bees of Moor Pool trail -:
The worker bees of Moor Pool are busy helping the garden suburb run smoothly, each with an important job to do. Visit all 9 stops on the map, complete the mini challenges, and discover how people worked and lived in the early days of the Moor Pool Estate.
Let’s Do Lego!:
Free Lego play sessions. We have lots of different bricks so there’s something for everyone to play with, from toddlers to teens. All you need to bring is enthusiasm and imagination.
Tuesday 28th July 7-8pm
Heritage Talk - The history of sanitation and public health in the 19th and 20th century in Birmingham and the West Midlands:
With Professor Justine Pick. Tickets £3 on the door. Refreshments from 6.30pm.
Friday 31st July and 14th August 10am-12pm
Summertime Crafts:
Join us for a morning of seasonal crafting this summer. £5 per child. No booking required, just turn up!
Sunday 6 September 7.15pm
Circle Cinema - The Penguin Lessons:
Moor Pool’s resident film club. Tickets on the door are £6 for non-members or £1 for members.
Sunday 13 September 10am-3pm
Harborne Handmade Autumn Market:
25 of the best local makers selling their unique and handmade products, as well as cake and hot drinks.
Saturday 9th May 11am - 2.30pm
Carless Eco Centre Plant Sale:
Early access from 10am for Friends of Moor Pool. We’ll be selling plants, cakes, drinks and tools. There will also be a free mud kitchen and sunflower seed planting for the kids. Cash and card payments accepted. All profits going back into conserving Moor Pool Estate.
Sunday 20th September 11am-3pm
Moor Pool Heritage Festival:
Join us for this annual celebration of the unique heritage and vibrant community spirit of the Moor Pool Estate! Taking place in the heart of one of Birmingham’s ‘best kept architectural secrets’ (according to English Heritage), the festival offers a fun-filled day for all ages. Explore the charming architecture, lush green spaces and heritage buildings that make Moor Pool so special.
Saturday 26th September 7.15pm
Fish & Chip Quiz Supper:
Gather the gang and get competitive for our ever-popular fish and chip quiz supper! Tickets are £15 per person (incl. your choice of fish or halloumi and chips) and will be available to book online soon. Bring your own drinks.
Tuesday 29th September 7-8pm
Heritage Talk - Birmingham’s Dad’s Army:
With Paul Jaques and Dave Vaux from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Tickets £3 on the door. Refreshments from 6.30pm.
Saturday 3rd October 7.15-10pm
Silent Disco:
Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening! We will have three different music channels to choose from so there will be something for everyone to groove to! Tickets are £10 per person. Tickets must be pre-booked and will be available to book online soon.
Seen on the estate
From The MRA Chair
Well summer has well and truly arrived with another
heatwave! There is so much to enjoy at this time of the year
,plus this year football fans have the World Cup too. In our
own backyard the MRA is preparing for a Garden Party in
partnership with Nettlefold Garden and this year we are
determined not to be rained off as we were last year! Major
Mustard will be back with his puppet show and there will
lots of games for the children who are invited to come in
Fancy Dress. 2-4 on Sunday July 5th.
Update on the Traffic Calming proposal for
Ravenhurst Rd
The proposed scheme for Ravenhurst Rd beside the pool
was, it seemed accepted, but after a late petition was sent
to the Council objecting on the grounds that parking spaces
would be lost and potential noise there is to be a further
consultation. The MRA had supported the proposal on
road safety grounds whilst noting that some residents were
concerned about a loss of parking and potential noise from
proposed speed cushions. The MRA will respond again
when the new consultation comes out. Whatever your view
is please respond, as the number of responses matter when a
decision is taken.
Banking Hub coming to Harborne High St.
Those that bank with Lloyds will be aware that the branch
on Harborne Hight St is to close in October. However, there
will be a Banking Hub which will serve the major banks in a
limited way. In this edition our local Cllr. Martin Brooks has
written a piece describing where it will be and how it will
operate.
Living with Dementia
Recently Terry Cheung of care providers Home Instead
supported the Dementia Fun Day which took place at
Moor Pool Hall last month alongside Age UK and the
Alzheimer’s Society. He told me ‘I also had the privilege
of delivering the dementia awareness session on the day,
and it was encouraging to see so many local residents attend
and engage with the event.’ He has written a positive and
helpful article for the Duck which also signposts where help
is available if you or a family member is facing a dementia
diagnosis.
Trees and TPOs
It was recently brought to the attention of the MRA that a
tree had been taken down on the Estate without the reason
being apparent. As chair of the Association, I contacted
the Council’s Tree Preservation Officer to enquire what
procedures the Council has when permission is sought –
as it should be- to take a tree down. All the trees on the
Estate are under Tree Preservation Orders. He explained
that as it would be both impractical and very expensive for
a full assessment to be carried out by the Council on each
tree where there is a request to remove it, the Council is
guided by photos and information which they receive from
contractors. All reputable tree surgeons will do this as they
could be liable if they removed a tree without permission.
The request for removal is assessed by the qualified Council
Arboricultural Officer. In the case mentioned he had
observed himself from the photos submitted that the tree was
damaged as well as growing around a fence which would
lead to more damage and perhaps disease which could cause
the tree to fall.
The Association was pleased to have the reassurance that
all requests are properly considered before permission for
removal - or not- is granted.
If you love Moor Pool and
want to keep its historic
character, please donate!
You can become a Friend
of Moor Pool by making a
regular monthly donation
of £5, £10 or £20. By
donating to Moor Pool
Heritage Trust on a regular basis, you will help to:
conserve the character of our beautiful garden suburb
and listed buildings; maintain the green environment
of trees, pool and parks; help us to deliver our
educational programme. You will also receive priority
notice of MPHT activities, including early booking
for our ever-popular Santa’s grotto!
Find out more at
moorpoolhall.org.uk/get-involved/friends-of-moor-pool
News From Clubs and Societies
Moor Pool Reading Group
Our next meeting will be at 7.30pm
in the Lower Hall on 2 July, when
we’ll be discussing A Long Winter by
Colm Toibin. We are a friendly group
and welcome new members – please
contact
Gillian Morgan
for further information.
Having read Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers in March,
the choice for May was The Age of Innocence by Edith
Wharton, written in 1920. The book looks back to the
vanished world of upper class New York in the 1870s. It
forensically examines the social rules of the time and what
happens when they are potentially challenged. Although
the first chapter seemed initially offputting, the book was
widely enjoyed because of its clever, observational and witty
writing, vividly drawn characters and the insight it gives into
this period in history.
The Circle Cinema Club
After a very successful double bill in
June to celebrate the 10 year anniversary
of the club the next screening will
be on September 6th and the chosen
film is The Penguin Lessons starring Steve Coogan and
Jonathan Pryce.
Doors open at 6.15pm for refreshments and tea and coffee
(BYO drinks) and the film will start at 7.15pm. www.circlecinema.co.uk
Moor Pool Skittles Club
Our Summer season is well under way,
even if in recent weeks weather has not
been as summery as we’d like! However,
there is always a warm and friendly
welcome in the Skittle Club. So do come
along and join us for some mild exercise, good fun and lots
of good humour!
We generally play on Monday from 7.30p.m finishing
around 9p.m. Please be aware that the club is for over 16yrs
only and access to the alley is via steps down to the Lower
Hall which can be difficult to negotiate. Contact us before
coming along.
Tina at
tsuzanne444@gmail.com
or
07757 967 264
Harborne Banking Hub to open in July
Many Harborne residents have approached me with
concerns that Lloyds Bank, our last bank branch on the
High Street, will be closing in October. This is a real
blow for customers who rely on face-to-face support, and
disproportionately impacts the elderly, disabled and low-
income individuals. Local businesses are also adversely
affected.
It’s therefore welcome news that a banking hub will
be opening in Harborne in late July. Banking hubs are
shared spaces offering face to face banking services
in areas where traditional bank branches have closed.
They’re a tried and tested model, with over 200 banking
hubs now operating nationally. They’re run by Cash
Access UK, a not-for-profit company owned by the
major banks.
The Harborne banking Hub will be located at 93a High
Street, next to the Post Office, and will be open 9.00am
– 5.00pm Monday to Fridays. There are two elements
to a banking hub, a counter service available throughout
opening hours, and one to one personal banking services.
The counter service, run by the Post Office, will be
available to customers of all banks. We’ll be able to
pay in cash (notes and coins) and cheques, withdraw
cash check balances, pay utility bills and top up gas and
electricity. Businesses will also be able to access change-
giving services.
Five banks – in Harborne likely to be HSBC, Nat
West, Lloyds, Halifax and Barclays – will each be
providing personal banking services one day a week.
This means that you’ll be a able to talk face-to-face with
a community banker from your own bank in a private
space within the hub about more complicated banking
enquiries like payments and transfers, managing your
account, and how to use online banking.
We’ve Just Been Told It’s Dementia – What Do We Do Now?
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia can be frightening and
overwhelming. Many people describe feeling shocked, anxious
and unsure what to do next. Family members and friends often
experience similar emotions and may worry about what the future
holds.
The first thing to remember is that you are not alone. Whilst
there is currently no cure for dementia, there is a great deal of
support available and many people continue to lead fulfilling and
meaningful lives for years after diagnosis.
It can help to take things one step at a time. Not everything has
to be sorted immediately. Maintaining familiar routines, staying
socially connected, keeping physically active and eating well can
all help people remain independent for longer. Simple measures
around the home, such as improving lighting, removing trip
hazards, using reminder notes and calendars, and encouraging
regular hydration, can make a real difference.
Family members and carers often tell me that they feel they need to
have all the answers or cope alone. In reality, dementia is a journey
that no one should have to face without support. Reaching out early
and accepting help can benefit both the person living with dementia
and those closest to them.
Over the past 20 years, I have met many families who have
discovered that life does not stop with a diagnosis. People living
with dementia still need friendship, purpose and meaningful
relationships. Small things, such as continuing hobbies, attending
local groups or simply enjoying a cup of tea with friends, can have
a huge impact on wellbeing.
Earlier this year, Home Instead was pleased to support the
Fun Family Day at Moor Pool Hall alongside Age UK and the
Alzheimer’s Society, where I had the privilege of delivering
a Dementia Awareness session. It was wonderful to see local
residents, families and organisations coming together to raise
awareness and support one another.
If you or someone close to you has recently received a diagnosis
of dementia and are unsure where to turn, please remember that
support is available. Home Instead is always happy to offer advice
and signpost people to appropriate organisations and services,
whether or not they require home care. Sometimes, just having
a conversation with someone who understands can make all the
difference.
Terry Cheung has worked in dementia care for over 20 years and regularly
delivers free Dementia Awareness talks within the local community. He is
also a Mental Health First Aid England Instructor. Please call 0121 456
5559 for any free dementia awareness training.
Subscription fees are £10. Due (where possible) on 1st January.
Payments can be made by standing order or by bank transfer to:
Sort Code 30 19 14,
Account Number 03808193.
Alzheimer’s Society 