Parks and faith reflections

I have always been someone who has enjoyed parks, growing up, it was playing football with my freinds. Most recently, its the quiet walks, the nature and wildlife i see. In inner city Birmingham parks ares o previous. A few years ago, i attended a meeting to help set up freinds of highgate parks, a quiet park, by the city centre, after a few meetings it was agreed that a community festival would be great to bring people together. a few yeards ago, in the park working with the Birmingham open space forum, a charity which supports all the local freinds groups in birmingham.

Birmingham open spaces forum 20th Birthday anniversary relay celebration at Perry Hall playing feild park.

My first visit, i was raelly excited to visit the war, it was a hott day, i caught the bus and took a 15 minute walk and my first impressions where wow, this is stunning. There was cricket been played by the Birmingham cricket leage which happens every summer i was told by one of the people i spoke too, it seemed like a mini tournament, a 20/20 as they call it. This was interesting as someone from the kashmiri community, cricket is part of our heritage and it was good to see the park supprting such positive sporting initiatives.

When we think of parks, we understand them to mean large green places, with facilities for playing, however, i like the reader to think about other places, one such place is civic sqaure in Ladywood where they have adopted a green space and have a canal boat as a office and cafe, all are welcome and i go there most tuesday where i am welcomed and offering a tea and cake, no charge at all, at least for the first one, for me there is something special about just having tea and end enjoy nature. They are a charity that looks at circular economy and what community owenership looks like when the people come together and learn skills, there is a gardening club there too and all are welcome.

i want to also highlight other green parks such as highgate, which i am a member of the freinds of highgate parks, its a interesting park, with a steps and a basketball court, you do see mainly families there, its close to the city centre. With Birmingham heitage week starting from 11th setember for two weeks, there will be lots of places inclusing parks that people acn visit and learn about the history and heritage.

There is a hadith which says, Planting trees is seen as a charitable gift (Sadaqah). If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, person, or animal eats from it, the planter receives a reward. 

In reflection, I am blessed that i have the time to share whats happening in the local community to others so that they know as well as to inspire all people to feel connected to their communities and feel like they can either get involved through volunteering or just enjoy the nature aroud them. I have found that there is always something local that is happening, next time you see a park, why not see if there is a notice board and just look online you will always find something, there are family freindly activities too, with a few weeks left before school, why not enjoy the parks.