Our purpose
Campaigning to bring back amenities to Manor Farm Park, and to promote activities improving health and wellbeing.
Environment Agency flood plans
for Manor Farm Park
The Environment Agency Flood Alleviation Plans threaten three Bournville Parks. Our partners, Friends of Manor Farm Park, are seeking the views of local residents and park users on the proposals. To find out more and acccess the latest updates please visit www.friendsofmanorfarmpark.org.uk .
Our background
Manor Farm Park and
its Cadbury heritage
Manor Farm Park in Northfield, Birmingham comprises 50 acres of parkland including woods, ornamental trees, streams, a lake and varied terrain and natural features as well as geological features, and evidence of historic agricultural land use, and ancient hedgerows.
The park was donated in trust to Birmingham City Council in George Cadbury’s will and passed to the Council on the death of his widow Dame Elizabeth Cadbury. This included the Cadbury Barn which had been built by the couple in 1895 to provide refreshments for visitors in particular those from the inner city who were invited to enjoy “a day in the country”. The site was also used for the training of members of the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War 2, which was entirely in line with George Cadbury’s philanthropy and ethos. You can read more about the Cadbury legacy
here.
The Cadbury Barn Trust charity
The Cadbury Barn Trust was established in 2020 following several years of discussions between a Stakeholder Group of interested parties and Birmingham City Council about how facilities for park users could be provided at the main entrance to Manor Farm Park. It is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registration number 1190666.
A number of consultations over the years confirm that people want refreshments, toilets and community space to facilitate a range of activities based in the park. Originally we planned to provide these by restoring and repurposing the Cadbury Barn.
The loss of the Cadbury Barn
Sadly arsonists destroyed the Barn in 2017 but the Stakeholder group agreed that their aim remained, to provide refreshment and toilet facilities appropriate to the modern day needs and desires of park users and the local community. The Cadbury Barn Trust was established to move forwards and find an alternative approach to meeting those needs.
Our Plans
The Council holds a sum of money for community use in the park. We are in discussions with officers and councillors about the future use of the existing buildings, and the best way to deploy these funds for the benefit of the community. This led to the rectent public consultation which is now closed, but you can still
click here for more details of the proposals.
We have exciting plans to build new refreshment and welfare facilities, community space and other amenities including toilets in Manor Farm Park to enhance the health and social welfare of park users and the wider community.
Initially we are trying to secure temporary buildings to provide toilets, refreshments, storage and possibly meeting space during limited hours only.
Longer term, through a combination of demolition, refurbishment and new build, we aim to have a purpose-built community centre that provides an attractive and comfortable venue for social, sporting, and cultural events. Click here to go to our Site Design page for more details.
The park is tremendously valued by the community of the surrounding areas, and heavily used for walking and recreation. Park users have told us they are eagerly looking for the sort of improvements we have in mind.
We are also partnering with the Birmingham School of Bell Ringers who are looking to take on the Lodge and create an iconic new Bell Tower at the entrance.
News
Updates from our Chair, John Stewart
UPDATE WINTER 2022
George Cadbury’s Centenary
A memorial service in Bournville this October marked George Cadbury’s death on 24 October 1922. We owe much to the vision and work of this man; of course, he developed chocolate as a major consumer item but there is much else that he left us. For example, the design of Bournville as the suburb we know today was largely down to George’s vision for simple beautiful designs and the work of his architect William Harvey Alexander who transferred it into reality. He also left part of the estate for the Manor House to Birmingham Corporation which, in 1955, become Manor Farm Park.
But, as Cadbury Trustee Peter Douglas-Osborne argues in an article for the Birmingham Post, George’s legacy probably shaped the design of modern cities across the world. The Garden City Movement was thought to have started in 1903 with the building of Letchworth in Hertfordshire. However, Peter’s research shows that the Garden City Movement drew heavily on the principles George used to build the Bournville estate which started in 1879. George was a modest man who refused a Lordship and an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham and it comes as no surprise that he did not take credit for a movement that clearly was inspired by his own work in to create our Bournville.
Summer activities programme 2022
The Trust ran its first Summer Activity Programme this year. We put on a range of activities for all ages and had over 320 attendees. Foraging, Tree Identification, Forest School sessions for under 5s, Art for Adults and Yoga were all well attended. Of course, the great summer weather helped but everyone enjoyed the sessions and the park. Thanks go to the Celebrating Communities Fund that provided the funding for the sessions.
The Trust hopes to run a similar programme next summer and we are confident that by then we will have installed a welfare unit with a kitchen and toilet to support the activities.
A step closer to getting a community centre in the park
Earlier in the year we responded to the Council’s consultation about the future of the Farm Buildings; there were over 300 responses, most of which were positive. We have now heard that the City Council has applied to the Charity Commission to seek a variation to the original deeds that would enable the Cadbury Barn Trust and the Birmingham School of Bell Ringing to develop the site for users of the park. We expect the Commission to reply next year.
Helping the Trust
Trustee John Stewart took over as chair from Lesley Pattenson in the summer. The Trust would like to thank Lesley for her hard work and leadership of the Trust, especially for her determination to form the Trust. Lesley remains as a Trustee.
We would like to welcome Julie Johnson-White as a Trustee. Julie has many years of experience in local government and the civil service and knows the local area very well. We are also talking to two more prospective Trustees who we hope will join us very soon.
As we get nearer to realising the objectives of the Trust, we are looking for more people to take part in it work. Soon we hope to be talking to the Council about a lease for the site and developing plans for renovating some of the existing buildings and creating new ones. We would like to hear from anyone with legal or property development experience who could help us to bring our vision to life.
Temporary container to provide interim amenities now fully funded
With the support of the Birmingham City Council Parks Department, we received planning approval to site two temporary containers in the car park.
The first, a storage container, was installed in the park in April 2022, see photos below.
We subsequently secured enough grant funding to purchase and install a second container with welfare facilities including a toilet, kitchenette and storage in order to support events in the park organised by ourselves or the Friends of Manor Farm Park. See proposed location in red, nera the Shelter. It will not reduce parking spaces.
We have been having ongoing discussions with the Council to work out the logistics of installing this container and connecting it to the utilities. The red rectangle in the photo shows its proposed location.
We hope to see progress in 2024.
The Arts Council Jubilee Fund
Thanks to the adults and children who helped design, paint and decorate the new storage container alongside artists from the Northfield Arts Forum. The container is proving invaluable in saving time for volunteers from the Friends and the Cadbury Barn Trust who no longer have to carry equipment, displays and other materials from their homes when needed.
After some delays in creating and installing the
new entrance feature for the park 'The Jubilee Gate', it was installed in late 2023.
Cadbury Barn Trust progress since inception in 2020, to 2024
We have made much progress since the Cadbury Barn Trust was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in July 2020.
- We have worked with Birmingham City Council on plans for temporary facilities to include a toilet, kitchenette and storage in order to support events in the park.
- Our planning application to site these two containers in the corner of the car park was successful, no doubt partly due to the support of many local people.
- We created a partnership with the Birmingham School of Bell Ringing to develop plans for the site.
- We have produced outline plans for the development of the site and how to manage it.
- We have received National Lottery Awards for All funding for project management support.
- We also secured a small grant from the Harry Payne Trust for marketing and publicity and from the Cooke and Wolstenolme Trust towards the interim welfare container.
- We gained grants to fund our 2022 and 2023 Summer Activities programme.
- We have secured funds to enable us to purchase and install the interim welfare container.
- We secured an Arts Council grant to paint the continers and fund a new entrance feature, 'The Jubileee Gate' which was installed in 2023.
- We collaborated with the Friends of Manor Farm Park on the Heritage Trail which can be accessed by QR codes; 10000 leaflets were produced, many already distributed, but more are also available.
- A video about the park and its history has been produced as part of the Heritage Lottery funding.
- We worked with the Council on their Public Consultation in 2022. We have asked them to submit an application to the Charities Commission requesting the variation to George Cadbury's will that is required to enable the Council to lease us part of the site.
- The Cadbury Barn Trust gave an update on progress during the Friends of Manor Farm Park Annual General Meetings in July 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Please watch our video below
Manor Farm Park Heritage Trail
The Manor Farm Park Heritage Trail has been created, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant.
A series of QR codes have been
sited around the park at key points and leaflets about the heritage trail have been delivered to local residents. They can also be
requested by emailing
secretary@friendsofmanorfarmpark.org.uk
Please follow and post on the new Manor Farm Park Instagram account – which will show photos, news and promote events happening in the park, whether organised by ourselves, the Friends, or other organisations: #manorfarmpark #cadburybarntrust #friendsofmanorfarmpark
How you can get involved
If you are interested in getting involved in the project and have skills, experience and enthusiasm and time to put in a few hours each month, we would love to hear from you. Roles range from Trustee of the Board to advisors, fundraisers, social media experts, and in due course, more practical roles. We are seeking to diversify our Board, as we are underrepresented by people from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures, younger people, and women. We also need people with skills in law, property or charity law, property development or building. Contact John Stewart, the Chair of the Board, to discuss.
Our Board of Trustees
Trustees are drawn from the local area and include professional, business and political people with wide experience in finance, construction, health, heritage, social affairs and recreation.
Lesley Pattenson
Trustee, former Chair to July 2022
I retired following a career as a project manager, researcher, consultant and trainer at local, regional and national levels both within the NHS and as a free-lancer, with particular expertise in user and community engagement, equality and diversity, communications and health promotion. Alongside my career, and utilising those skills, I have been involved in establishing, developing and contributing to the running of voluntary and community groups for nearly 5 decades.
As a local resident I joined the Friends of Manor Farm Park committee in 2008 and in 2012 established a Stakeholder Group to try to secure community facilities in Manor Farm Park. I went on to chair the Cadbury Barn Trust when we established it as a CIO in 2020, but handed over to John in 2022. I remain committed to securing amenities in the park so that it can further develop and flourish as a space for pleasure and relaxation, learning, physical activity, volunteering and promotion of wellbeing.
John Stewart
Chair (from July 2022)
I have been the Chair of the Trust since mid-2022 and an active member of the stakeholder group which lead to Cadbury Barn Trust’s creation. A governance and regulation specialist in the energy industry. I was a director of several management companies and led policy teams developing industry wide codes of practice.
As a committee member of Friends of Manor Farm Park, I managed the development of the Park’s Heritage Trail.
Peter Ullathorne
Treasurer
A Birmingham University graduate and a Chartered Accountant, I have lived in the area for over 40 years. I am an experienced company director and charity Trustee, having served on the boards of national and local charities and industrial companies.
I have been involved with Manor Farm Park for many years, and have a keen interest in the heritage of the park, including its use by the Friends Ambulance Unit during the Second World War, and the social philosophy of the Cadbury family.
Peter Mayer
Evan Joanette
Trustee
I joined Cadbury Barn Trust in 2022 to support on community engagement, with a background in online outreach and social media messaging. I have over 15 years of experience in the public and private sector in the water industry dealing with regulation. For over a decade, I supported customers, many vulnerable, lending them a voice as they tried to resolve water supply, sewerage flooding or bill-related problems.
I have lived near Manor Farm Park for over 10 years and have been actively engaged with Birmingham City council’s community forums and initiatives in the area.
My vision for the park is to see the onsite facilities improved to support more community events to bring together residents from South Birmingham and beyond. I hope that Manor Farm Park could one day be a contending outdoor venue for family, music and food festivals.
Peter Douglas Osborn
Trustee
I enjoy public work, and I'm especially proud of representing Weoley Castle for 18 years on the city council. I've retired from being chairman of Shencare Community Transport, but retain board membership.
I love to fly having learned at Birmingham Airport while serving on its board. Learning about transport has been a fascination during my lifetime.
My association with George Cadbury began when I used to spend lunch breaks at the Friends of Manor Farm Park meeting house, way back in 1970. A stern bust of Mr Cadbury, who built that house, used to look down at me!
Frances Grudzinska
Trustee
I am a trainee Respiratory Physician and academic interested in respiratory infections in older adults.
I joined Cadbury Barn Trust in 2022 after spending time in Manor Farm Park and recognising the brilliant resource and potential. My main role at the trust has been the development of the activity programme in the park. I am passionate about improving access to the park for all through fun activities.
Nisha Budhia
Trustee
I am a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of client from large listed entities to
charitable organisations.
I am local to and have enjoyed spending time in Manor Farm Park for a number of years and joined the Cadbury Barn Trust in 2024. My vision for Manor Farm Park is for it to become a vibrant community hub providing a space that enhances the quality of life for all residents, promoting wellness and an appreciation for the natural environment.
Abiola Aderibigbe
Trustee
I am an experienced solicitor with charity and non-profit expertise. I am the Group Head of Legal & Commercial for the Building Engineering Services Association, a non-profit organisation and main UK trade association for building engineering services and specialist engineers, and serve as General Counsel for the International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice UK, an international human rights charity. Beyond legal practice, I enjoy academia participating as a PhD candidate, a lecturer and an academic reviewer at various universities across the globe.
I love and embrace what the Cadbury Barn Trust represents and I am honoured and privileged to serve on its board.
Anita Nicholls
Part-time Project Manager
I have been with Cadbury Barn Trust for two years as its Project Manager. I have worked in the voluntary sector for many years in management and chief executive positions and as a consultant. Much of that work was in South Birmingham so I know Manor Farm Park well and have spent enjoyable times there with my children. I am actively involved in the delivery of activities in the park for all ages ensuring they are safe and funded and meet the needs of local residents. I see the park as a place where we can spend time outdoors, learn about the natural environment, engage in physical and creative activity and have fun with family and friends. This is important to our wellbeing in a stressful world.
We are seeking volunteers, advisors and potential new trustees from diverse backgrounds
and with a variety of relevant experience.
Contact Anita at cadburybarnmanager@gmail.com to discuss this opportunity to serve and support your local community.
Our partners
Our key partners are:
The
Friends of Manor Farm Park is a long established organisation which
helps maintain the park environment
and organise activities in the park.
Birmingham City Council's Parks' Department managers and local councillors are supportive of our plans and have worked closely with us over many years.
We also have the support of:
- Bournville Village Trust
- The Active Wellbeing Society
- Northfield Community Partnership
- Manor Farm Sports Club
- Birmingham School of Bellringers
- Friends of Bournville.
Our funders include:
Governance
Contact
We would love to hear from you, whether you have questions, suggestions or offers of help.
07968 325639