Turves Green facts for kids

Turves Green is an area in Birmingham, a large city in England. It's located between two other areas called West Heath and Northfield. The area of Longbridge is also very close by. There's even a main road named Turves Green that runs right through this neighborhood.

History of Turves Green

Long, long ago, in the Mediaeval times, Turves Green was a great place for animals to graze, meaning they could eat grass there. Its name, "turf green," actually meant it was "common land" – land that everyone could use. This common land was likely divided up and owned privately around the 1850s.

The land stayed as farms until Austin Village was built during World War I. This village was created for workers who were making weapons and supplies in a factory in Longbridge. After World War I and before World War II, many houses were built with gardens, especially on the West Heath side of Turves Green. These were often "council houses," built by the local government.

Turves Green Today

In the 1960s, a new neighborhood, often called a council estate, was built in Turves Green. The area around Fairfax Road has different types of homes. You can find Semi-detached houses, Terraced houses, and single-story bungalows. There are also nine tall Tower blocks, which are apartment buildings with ten floors. Some buildings have "maisonettes," which are like apartments spread over two floors. Some tenants live on the lower two floors with small gardens, while others live on the upper two floors and have balconies instead of gardens.

There's a small group of shops on Fairfax Road. These include two small supermarkets where you can buy food and other everyday items. There's also a furniture store.

Parks and Nature

A small part of Turves Green is still open land without buildings. Birmingham City Council looks after this area as a park for everyone to enjoy. In 2011, the council added a fun play area for children. It has a roundabout, swings, and an "assault course" with slides, which is like an obstacle course.

The Turves Green Brook flows through this park. This brook is a small stream that eventually joins the River Rea. Some parts of the brook are open, and some flow through culverts (underground pipes). The park has mown grass with benches, and natural woodland along the brook.

The woodland looks lovely, especially in the spring. You can see pussy willow, blackthorn, and hawthorn trees flowering one after another. After the willows finish blooming, white flowers of hemlock appear in areas the council leaves unmown. Later in the year, Himalayan balsam and bindweed flower there. You'll also notice many stinging nettles. In winter, evergreen trees and plants like ivy on deciduous trees keep the area green, along with the grass.

Near the play area, on both sides of the brook, there's a small group of trees called a spinney. These trees include oaks, larches, and other conifers. People sometimes use the woodland for walks, but the brook can be polluted and sometimes smells bad. The grassy area is nicer and used more often by residents. Closer to Longbridge, there's a basketball court. Private houses built after the war border the park in this area. Older private houses are found along Longbridge Lane, which borders the top part of the park.

Community Life

The council estate in Turves Green has a mix of people. Some residents face poverty and social exclusion, while others have better incomes. Some people were even able to buy their council houses. Those who have jobs often work as skilled or unskilled manual workers. If there are problems with Anti-social behaviour, people can report them to Birmingham City Council, who try to help. Overall, Turves Green has fewer problems with anti-social behavior compared to some other council estates.

On the road called Turves Green, there's another small shopping area. It has a Cooperative shop and a dental technician's office, among other businesses. Near these shops are more council houses, maisonettes, and flats, including more tower blocks. The road Turves Green itself mainly has private houses, some two-story private maisonettes, and some council properties. Several schools are also located on this road: Turves Green Boys' School and King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls, which are both secondary schools, and Turves Green Primary School.