Installed in September 2022, the base includes holes to provide a comfortable habitat for insects to shelter in. Brumbee is made from oak wood and has wings crafted from recycled plastic.
The Mediterranean Garden has an orchard of peaches, medlars, apples and pears but as it is a sheltered site we're also experimenting with plants from warmer climates such as figs, olives and grapes – all of which are thriving! We've also recently planted an avocado and a loquat – we'll be watching to see if they survive and whether they will fruit.
This garden also forms part of the Great Canal Orchard. Our ambition is for the orchard to eventually run from Aldersley Junction in Wolverhampton to Diglis in Worcester via Birmingham city centre.
Working with the community
Over the next few years, we – together with other community groups - will be planting fruit trees using existing hedge lines, pocket orchards and linear orchards. Once the plants are established, we hope that passing boaters and members of the community will pick and enjoy the fruit.
The orchard in our Mediterranean Garden is underplanted with bulbs and wildflowers to attract a variety of insects at different times of the year. In 2022 grasses and flowers were added to provide extra colour during the Commonwealth Games.
The flowers in the planter at the front of the garden are changed according to the seasons and include bulbs such as alliums, daffodils and tulips plus salvias, marigolds and sunflowers.
There is also a flagpole for the Green Flag which was awarded for the Revolution Walk in 2020 and Birmingham city centre in 2022.
