The Tipton Grand Tour

Aside from Pokemon, we've relied on Tipton's Libraries to provide some much needed relief from Pokemon and daytime television during the break. We were very lucky to be able to take part in the installation of the ceramic garden in Tipton Library. A morning full of sticking the flowers into artificial grass to create the display alongside a number of other very willing volunteers. There were plenty of laughs to be had when trying to put the flowers together, and inevitably there was a flower 'A&E' where broken petals and insects were taken to be expertly mended by the artists. A very hearty lunch that included battered and non-battered chips with cheese sandwiches kept us all going that Saturday morning.

The flowers were the product of a project by Creative Black Country, working with community and education groups to create 1200 unique ceramic flowers to create an utterly magical garden. Each flower was created by service users with a range of learning and physical disabilities. The artists involved were on hand to guide, advise and repair flowers and it was easy to see their enthusiasm for this very special project.

The finished garden (as you can see from the photographs) was truly breathtaking – the photographs don't do it justice really – you did have to be there to see it.

The garden is now being taken down from the library and being split – part going to Oak House Museum in West Bromwich and part going to Sandwell Arts Café in Central Sixth, West Bromwich (the old public). I would really recommend that you go and see it for yourself.

Although we're off to sunnier climes for our holiday (we couldn't get a week on the Cut!), we'll be looking forward to getting back to God's own (Black) Country. It'll soon be time for the Canal Festival in September, and then it will only be a few weeks until Christmas. Don't worry though – the dates for the Sleigh Run around Tipton have already been published and put on many a calendar!