The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy (2) Achievements

At the local level there has been a great deal of voluntary activity and community engagement. For example, there are 10,000 visitors to the annual Middle-earth Weekend, many coming from outside the city and an increasing number from overseas. This unique event is recognised internationally and was rated as one of the country's top ten family events by The Independent.

A major international conference, Tolkien 2005 at Aston University brought 700 visitors to the city of whom 60% were from overseas. Copies of the conference proceedings were presented to the city by the Tolkien Society. The Tolkien Society also holds its committee meetings in Birmingham and the Society's Northern Hemisphere Seminar in 2010 took place in Birmingham.

While much more remains to be done, there have been many worthwhile achievements in the field of Tolkien activities in Birmingham in the initial period of the strategy, before it and in parallel with it. Amongst much else:

The Middle-earth Weekend goes from strength to strength and in 2011 held an international photographic competition. It is volunteer led with Council support.

The opening of the Sarehole Mill tea rooms. This provided a long-needed facility for visitors to the Mill and was funded by the Museum with support from Hall Green Ward.

The installation of a viewing platform for the mill pool with an interpretation board and the adjacent volunteer-led creation of a garden at the Mill drawing on the flowers and plants of Tolkien's Shire.

The production of books and publications including The Roots of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. A new visitor’s guide is complete and presentations have been given to various groups. Revisions to current literature are made as funding is identified.

Important contributions have been made by the Birmingham based theatrical group, Shire Productions, with its unique dramatic adaptations of excerpts from Tolkien’s major works including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Farmer Giles of Ham.

Archaeological investigation of Sarehole Mill Car Park has been carried out by Birmingham Archaeology under the auspices of BTG and the Museum. Flood plain studies have been conducted in the area surrounding the Mill.

Bus and walking tours of Tolkien linked sites in and around Birmingham include one-offs' with special itineraries for overseas visitors. There are regular 'Discover Tolkien' walks to Moseley Bog from Sarehole Mill guided by a member of staff.

There has been excellent representation of Birmingham at the annual Tolkien Society conferences in Oxford with very well attended papers.

The production of a definitive list of Tolkien-related sites in and around Birmingham.

Extensive research into Tolkien’s family background in Birmingham is underway.

Reconfiguration of the display areas in Sarehole Mill with refreshed content and a more coherent Tolkien area has begun.

The formation of The Shire Country Park Friends and their associated environmental and outreach activities has been of great benefit.

The development of links with organisations including the Oratory, King Edward's School, the Perrott’s Folly Company, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency.

The creation of a distinctive amphitheatre outdoor performance area, the Withywindle Arena, near to Sarehole Mill for drama performances and other community led events.

Exploration by the Birmingham Tolkien Group of the nature of and possibilities for a Tolkien Visitor Centre located at Sarehole.