Alexandra Taylor: Writer

Present your sweetheart with a bunch of fascinating facts about our favourite Valentine’s Day flowers. 1. Tale as old as time… The oldest fossilised remains of a rose were found in Florissant, Colorado and have been estimated to date from 35 million years ago. 2. Ancient associations Roses have been associated with romance for thousands of years since being linked to Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love in ancient Greece and Rome. 3. Growing old The oldest living rose bush grows up the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany and is believed to be up to 1000 years old. 4. National symbol The rose was adopted as the national flower of England by new Tudor king Henry VII in the 15th century. He combined the red rose of Lancaster with the white rose of York to symbolise the country’s unity after the Wars of the Roses. 5. A thorny issue Technically, roses don’t have thorns, they have prickles. Thorns have deeper roots in a plant’s stem, but prickl...

From the outside, 11 Packenham Road in Edgbaston looks like any other traditional Edgbaston town house. But step through the front door and your senses will be captivated by the sights and smells of the Brazilian rain forest. Over twenty indigenous tribes of the Amazon basin have contributed to Xapiri, which is part gallery, part museum, part classroom and part shop. Owners Jack and Gareth are seasoned travellers who have trekked extensively through northern Brazil. In April 2015 they returned to the UK for the first time in five years, on a mission to spread awareness of the peoples they met and the issues faced by them, such as deforestation and a lack of respect from modern Brazilian society. The rooms are packed with beautifully displayed ceramics, jewellery, baskets and carvings. “Eighty per cent of the items here have been made to sell,” explains Jack. “There’s little appreciation for the art in Brazil, but we pay a fair price and it’s a major source of income for the tr...

It would be easy to assume that in this age of ebooks, wifi and online gaming that our Victorian public libraries may have outlived their usefulness. But far from being left behind, these fantastic resources are as relevant to our modern communities as they ever have been. “Where else can you find a friendly, open space with free access to information with expert staff who can help you find exactly what you want?” asks Elaine, who works at Kings Heath Library. “We have a huge mix of people through the door, of all ages and ethnicities,” adds colleague Sam. “Many come in to use the computers, as well as to borrow books, and we’ve got an extensive local history collection including photos scanned from originals brought in by local people.” You won’t be able to find those on the internet. Other assets include piano music, audio books, maps and a community room, available to hire at reasonable rates, for anyone who would like to put on an event. On Mondays it’s used by the Cit...

“That’s the cell,” says Stuart, indicating a storeroom with a grilled metal security door. “We get put in there if we’re naughty.” Stuart, one of the trustees of the Mosley and Kings Heath Men’s Shed, is giving me a guided tour of their impressive workshop. He’s quick to dispel any misconceptions that it’s a men-only space. “Yes, it is aimed at older people and specifically men, but it’s not exclusive to either of those groups, and several of our members are women. If people can get to us, they’re welcome,” he says. “Even people with physical problems that mean they’re unable to use the equipment, they can supervise the work room, or just come for a chat.” The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia in the mid 1990s in response to concerns over social isolation and depression in older men. It has now spread to dozens of other countries, and there are over 200 sheds in the UK, with more joining the network every week. “It’s a place to spend time, to potter, make someth...

I’m sitting with Carrie and Fran in Loco Lounge, talking about death. A little morbid for a Monday afternoon? Well, no actually. Carrie and Fran run ‘A Natural Undertaking’, and their open and positive approach towards the subject has helped them win several accolades, including the title ‘Green Funeral Director’ in this year’s Good Funeral Awards. “We’re so touched that the families we’ve worked with went out of their way to support and nominate us,” says Fran. “That means the world to us. It’s a big challenge, in the middle of the UK’s second biggest city, to try and put a bit of green in everything, but we do what we can.” Carrie was born in Marston Green Maternity Hospital and, apart from a short stint in Manchester, has lived in the area her whole life. Fran came to university in Birmingham twenty four years ago and never left. They’re passionate about the area and supporting other independent businesses. “We work with a number of florists, celebrants, caterers, venue...

The festive season is when our local pubs come into their own, so what better time to celebrate the entertainment they’ve been providing in our neighbourhoods for hundreds of years.  It was the Romans who first brought taverns to the UK, but the real boom came after the introduction of gin in the 17th century. Now there are around 48,000 pubs across the country, 73 of those within a 5 mile radius of Birmingham city centre. A time traveller going back to experience a 17th century alehouse would perhaps be surprised at how little has changed. Just like the bands that you can enjoy today (Hare and Hounds and The Station in Kings Heath, Patrick Kavanagh and The Bull’s Head in Moseley), live music has always gone hand in hand with the drinks on offer. Many premises also included a card room or a billiard room, and by the end of the 18th century, saloons or lounges were another common feature. This was a room where, for an admission fee or higher drinks prices, singing, dancing,...

Congratulations to Carters of Moseley! They’ve just been awarded a star in the 2016 Michelin Guide. Birmingham now has five Michelin starred restaurants, more than any other English city outside London, and is fast gaining a reputation as a delicious destination for gastro enthusiasts. Our little corner of Birmingham is particularly special. When Carters were awarded the Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year in 2015, the publication’s editor commented, “I wish every town had a restaurant of this standard.” We’re very lucky having such an acclaimed eatery on our doorstep, but posh nosh isn’t the only dish our neighbourhood has to shout about. There’s a smorgasbord of options to suit every palette and pocket, all within a fifteen minute walk. For that all important first date, when you want to impress without breaking the bank, my advice would be to take a trip to the Mediterranean, courtesy of Byzantium in Kings Heath or La Plancha in Moseley. You can share a tempting...

Every December thousands of people flock to Birmingham from all over the country, hoping to find gifts for their loved ones in high profile shopping destinations such as the Frankfurt Christmas Market or the Bullring.   But here in Moseley and Kings Heath, we have no need to brave the heaving crowds or pay over-inflated tourist prices in the city centre. By staying close to home this Christmas we can support our local traders and save a few quid into the bargain. Forget the German-style stalls lining New Street this year. Kings Heath and Moseley will both be holding farmers’ markets and craft markets in December - perfect for picking up locally grown veggies for the Christmas table, a beautiful piece of artisan pottery for your sister, or a jar of something tasty for your best mate. The Moseley Christmas Lights will be switched on, with accompanying stalls, activities and entertainment, on Saturday 5th December and the MAC is also holding craft markets packed with hand mad...

October 31st. Halloween. You’re walking home. It’s dark. You hear a noise behind you and spin round, heart thumping. There’s nothing but the empty street, a crisp packet blowing along the gutter. You pick it up and stuff it in a nearby bin, laughing at your own jumpiness. Halloween is just an excuse for a party, a cultural tradition born out of Pagan superstition and modified by Christian mythology. It’s not real. It’s just another night. But then you catch a movement out of the corner of your eye. Something dark and shadowy which disappears down a side road before you get a proper look. Your first instinct is to run, to seek the warmth and security of home. But, no! You refuse to give in to irrational fear. Humming your favourite tune under your breath for comfort you decide to follow. You find yourself at the entrance to Martineau Gardens, a large sign announcing their Halloween Story Night. Did the creature head in here? Paying the £5 adult entry fee you slip inside, lookin...

For two months this summer Birmingham was invaded by dozens of owls, spreading their wings as far afield as Sutton Coldfield, Winson Green and Bournville. ‘The Big Hoot’ involved 89 fibreglass sculptures, each one decorated by a different artist, and placed all over the city for everyone to discover and enjoy. Three of the owls flew all the way to Kings Heath. One landed in Kings Heath Park, one in the Village Square and one outside the library. The latter was painted by local artist Karoline Rerrie, who lives just down the road in Selly Park. She was delighted that her owl ended up so close to home. “It took me two weeks to paint him,” she says, over tea and cake at Maison Mayci. “I did feel quite attached to him by the time I’d finished. I don’t know how they decided which owls went where, but I didn’t find out where he was until the map went up online.” Originally from Northamptonshire, Karoline settled in Birmingham after completing a degree in Graphic Design at what w...