February

February

Help Beat the scammers
Monday 8th February

• Mell Square, 9am-3.30pm Come along to the event in Mell Square, Monday 8 February, 9am-3.30pm and drop off your scam mail.  Solihull's Trading Standard Officers and the Regional Scambuster team will be giving out leaflets and other freebies, as well as being on hand to talk to members of the public about mass marketed scams and advice on how to protect yourself from them.
  If you can't make this event you can drop off potential scam mail in one of Solihull’s 18 collection boxes located in the borough's Connect centres, libraries and Citizen Advice Bureaux.  Read the press release.

Winter Treasure Trail
Monday 15 February

• 11am - 1pm Elmdon Park Come along for a refreshing walk around the park and seek out clues to solve the mystery password and enjoy a craft activity afterwards.

Bird Feeder Making
Tuesday 16 February

• 11am - 12:30pm Bentley Heath Park Join the Park Rangers to make a seed ball or transform a plastic bottle into a bird feeder or your garden. Don't forget to bring a plastic bottle!

Celebrating Play
Wednesday 17 February

• 12pm - 3pm Olton Jubilee Park A family fun event to celebrate the redevelopment and improvement of 10 play spaces over the last 12 months with Playbuilder grant funding. The day will offer a range of fun, play and sport activities for all ages making use f
  the new BMX track and 5-a-side football court.

National Nest Box Week
Thursday 18 February

• 11:30am (2hrs approx) Knowle Park Make a little home for your feathered friends to put up in your garden. We'll even give you the Park Rangers' secret recipe for seed balls - a real treat for the birds! Take your bird box home for£ 3.50 or leave them for the park. Booking essential as places are limited - 0121 704 8000.

Chinese New Year

It's Solihull's second year of official Chinese New Year celebrations and this year promises to be bigger and better. Below is a full list of what's going on.

8 – 22 February
Innovation in Abstraction by Professor Hai Shuet Yeung MBE
G2, Solihull Arts Complex

Innovation in Abstraction combines British and Chinese cultures in this collection of unique paintings. Mr Yeung's subject matter encompasses everything from landscapes to animals, as well as more abstract work.

Professor Yeung holds the world record for the longest artwork in the world, measuring 201.5 meters and features over 5000 koi carp, all in separate poses and each one individually coloured.

Friday 12 February
Tiger Canvas Unveiling and Dragon and Lion Dance
Library Square, Solihull, 11-11.30am

The most vibrant and exciting part of Chinese New Year celebrations, the dragon and lion dance, comes to Library Square.

This will be followed by the unveiling of two 4metre tiger canvases, celebrating the Year of the Tiger. The artworks have been created by Professor Hai Shuet Yeung and his students.

Saturday 13 February
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Mell Square, Solihull 11am-3.30pm

From the opening of the dragon's eye, the day will be full of traditional entertainment. Acrobatic and Kung Fu displays promise to leave audiences speechless, while the Tai Chi demonstration and traditional flower umbrella dance will bring some calm to the excitement.

There will also be a Chinese music, food and stalls selling traditional New Year gifts and a collection for UK Overseas Meizhou Association, a charity providing education to children in poverty. Plus two more opportunities to see the traditional dragon and lion dance.

Charity Ladies' Lunch
Thursday 25th February

• The Solihull branch of Guide Dogs celebrates its 40th birthday this year, and they have set themselves a challenge of raising £40000 in 2010 - the equivalent of 8 new Guide Dog puppies!
  Our first event is a Charity Ladies' Lunch at Hogarths Hotel in Dorridge.  Guests will enjoy a 2 course lunch, a goodie bag sponsored by House of Fraser and the chance to meet some of our local pups in training.  Tickets cost £15 and are available direct from Hogarths on 01564 779988.
  For more information contact Hogarths or Alison Selby of Guide Dogs on 07500 993210.