Urban Design History Walk with Hugh + Make a Board Game with Ray #2

Join us at 5pm for food and refreshments

This month's theme of heritage, imagination + play continues with a choice of two classes, plus creative activities for little ones.

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Urban Planning History Walk with Hugh (designed with adults in mind)

What if we had the power to design the streets, neighbourhoods and cities we live in? In this class, Hugh invites us to consider who currently decides what our shared spaces look and feel like, and imagine how this could be different. After a presentation about the process of urban planning and design (around 20 minutes), we will bring this learning to life on a walk around the neighbourhood, where we will explore the design of our local streets and spaces, and imagine what they might look like if they were created by and for us.

The walk will take around 40 minutes and the planned route takes us over pavement, grass and onto the canal towpath (see map below). If you have any access needs, please let us know when you register so we can find routes that work for all of us.

Following Hugh’s walk, local writer Portland will join us to host a session around creative writing. Drawing on her experience as an author, she will help us to imaginatively think about the built environment around us and then guide us through the process of authoring a piece of creative writing that engages with our past memories of the places we live, move and visit in our daily lives. From here the class will prompt you to reflect on what you learned from the walk with Hugh and, using creative writing as a tool, to imagine what you would like to see in the neighbourhood in the future.

Note this will be a focused session designed with adults in mind, recommended age 14 and over.

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Make a Board Game with Ray #2 (recommended age 5+)

Join Ray for part two of this three-part class to design and create a new board game together. This session will focus on designing the practical aspects of the game including the characters, locations and terrains, discussing the materials we want to use and creating a mock up.

This class is mainly aimed at people who also took part in part 1 last week. Part 3 will be held during Supper Club on Tuesday June 25.

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Younger ones

Creative activities linked to the theme will be on offer for younger ones and anyone else who would like to join.

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Neighbourhood Trade School is based on the principle that everyone has something to share and everyone has something to learn. We invite each class host to choose items that they would find useful and delightful to receive in return for their time and experience in sharing a skill, so we invite you to explore which of our host's barter items you would like to bring along with you, if you are able to do so.

Hugh's Barter List:

• Subscribe to Mossy Earth on Youtube and consider supporting
• Cans of beans (any kind)
• Native perennial herbs/flowers/ seeds

Ray's Barter List:

• Bits and bobs/ materials that could be used to make board game pieces
• Pieces of old board games)
• Board games you don’t play any more

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Hugh was used to expanses of green growing up, and when he moved to Holland, was shocked at the lack of natural space between cities. Seeking to understand the differences in how spaces are designed and how those decisions are made, he went on to do a degree in Urban Planning and Design, but ultimately rejected the ethos of mainstream urban planning. Hugh wants to host this class to help us grow our understanding of how spaces are made and remade, and becomre more confident in our ability to participate in urban design and help shape our built environment.

Portland had a stroke a few years ago that left her unable to do the job she loved, unable to work at all. She discovered creative writing not only as a way to come to terms with her new life with disabilities but also to actively embrace it. It’s an escape from the day to day, let’s you roam in your imagination, and it gives you a voice to be heard. As well as writing novels, Portland uses her love of the written and spoken word to support her local community. For Bartley Green reservoir, she has created ‘fake folk lore’ available in audio for people to listen to stories as they walk around that beautiful open space – or from the comfort of their own home if they don’t feel up to the walk. Portland also hosts a sharing library from her front garden, courtesy of Civic Square, giving people free access to a range of books just a few minutes’ walk from where they live.

Ray is a local neighbour and true board game aficionado. He believes games are “the great equaliser” and is inspired by their power to bring people together. Growing up he always loved games and problem solving, and now runs Edgbaston Board Game Club which meets on Mondays at Cafe Rumi on Hagley Road. Ray has made several board games with and for members of his family and finds that creating games is a great way to unlock your creativity.

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Neighbourhood Trade School is based on the principle that everyone has something to share and everyone has something to learn.

What if we could activate the potential in our homes, streets, libraries, playgrounds, schools and more as places to exchange learning together in a kind, joyful, noble and intergenerational way that is available to all of us?

We invite you to explore how exchanging skills and knowledge of many forms can make our neighbourhoods resilient to the challenges and opportunities we will face together, now and in the future. Discover what you’d love to share or learn more about, as we shape Neighbourhood Trade School together.

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The Midland Sailing Club site is accessible from the footpath around Edgbaston Reservoir. You can walk or ride your bike, or reach the site via bus route 80, which stops on Icknield Port Road or 82, 87, 89, 11 which stop a short walk away on Dudley Road. We encourage arriving by foot or public transport where possible. If arriving by car, you can park inside the gates at the Icknield Port Road entrance.

Our Monthly Supper Club takes place in the main room upstairs. There is a lift up to the Midland Sailing Club, and please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements so we can assist you.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Midland Sailing Club, Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, United Kingdom