This week I’m going to talk a little bit about taking care of yourself, now and in the future. Over the long weekend I went to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Whilst I was very impressed with a lot of the beautiful designs and planting, the thing that struck me most was how calming it is to be in a garden or amongst nature, even with all the crowds around.
The other thing that I noticed was how cleverly lots of the gardens had reused things like old paving, wood, tyres, bottles and lots of other things that might have otherwise been thrown away. It’s good to think about how we can consume less, and re-purpose more not just to help our environment but also to help our wallets too. There’s something satisfying about making something new out of something old, and that there is still life in those objects beyond what they were originally designed for.
I know we have had some wetter weather this week (although the plants and farm crops did need the rain!), but it looks like brightening up again at the weekend. Try to take some time to get outside if you can, you might not get to visit Monty Don’s dog garden, but you’ll certainly feel the benefit.
Speaking of looking after yourself, the Council has got a couple of events coming up in Shirley and Chelmsley Wood to help you plan for later life.
We want to help people make good decisions early so that there are no nasty surprises as you get older. There is a lot you can do in advance to make things as comfortable as possible for you and your loved ones. We offer support all year round, with helpful tips in our Later Life Bulletin . If you’re ready to start thinking about the future, drop in to one of our free events this June and talk to council teams and local experts about:
- finances and planning in case you (or family members) need help
- housing choices - adaptations, right-sizing and how housing can keep you well
- support for carers
- technology and care choices
- looking after your health and wellbeing
The events take place on:
Saturday 14 June 2025, 10am to 1pm at The Bridge, 234 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AG
Saturday 28 June 2025, 10am to 1pm at The Onward Club, 107 Helmswood Drive, Chelmsley Wood B37 7NS
I’ve mentioned nature already, so I’m going to take the chance to give a plug to the Arden Free Tree Scheme. It’s open to anyone (individuals or groups) who has the space to plant hedgerows, individual trees or woodlands within Solihull Borough. It’s a great scheme, more trees are never a bad thing, making our already wonderful local area look just that bit prettier. Applications open on Monday (June 2) so please take a look at the link and see if you might be eligible, we’ll all feel the benefit. The scheme has already led to nearly 50,000 native trees and shrubs being planted in Solihull, and we’re aiming to make that 250,000 by 2030.
Thanks for reading.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, Leader of Solihull Council.