Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston, Birmingham is one of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.  The therapeutic community garden is among a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces that receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space. The award, now celebrating its 20^th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.

In collaboration with the Black Country Growth Hub, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce held a unique networking experience to mark Black Country Day 2016. On 14^th July at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, the free to attend event brought delegates together to celebrate the cultural heritage of the region. Local businesses participated in a range of themed activities, including games and competitions, as well as having the chance to view historic archive images and sample traditional Black Country food.

Severn Trent customers have been asked to look out for an illegal fitting on their toilets that could lead to their water turning bright blue. Customers should check to see whether their toilets feature an illegal inlet valve that, when combined with a blue toilet block, can result in the blue toilet water being siphoned back to the kitchen tap after a loss of supply. Dan Littlewood, Water Fittings Senior Technician at Severn Trent, said: “Essentially, the incorrectly installed valves are submerged in water in toilet cisterns and won’t cause a problem unless there happens to be a loss of supply.

Summer holiday season is now in full swing with thousands of families leaving the country for their long-awaited break in the sun, but many could be leaving themselves vulnerable to the threat posed by burglars. Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, says it is important to take steps to reduce the likelihood of thieves targeting your home while you are away.

Two more parks in Haringey (Woodside and Tottenham Green) have been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy. Green Flag status means the parks have the highest standards in the country and are judged to be welcoming, safe and well managed with active community involvement. Haringey now has 22 council -maintained Green Flag parks, an increase of six in three years and the fourth highest in London.

Families will inevitably spend more time outdoors in the summer holidays, but a new survey* by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has discovered that, whilst more children are afraid of wasps, bees and spiders, over a third (37%) of UK parents think that their children are fearful of dogs. With 33% of 2-14 year olds coming into contact with a dog every single day, this could be problematic for families when they are out and about this summer, especially as 25% of parents say their child’s fear of dogs affects their daily life.