Lifestyle Opinion

Environment Peter Shirley: Ministers' parks and open spaces tax proposal Ministers have suggested that people living near parks, and whose houses increase in value because of this, should pay extra tax to contribute to the upkeep of the parks.

Lifestyle Opinion Richard Saxton on Folding Hill's "Orchard Block" Pinot Noir 2010 Richard Saxton sampleds Folding Hill's "Orchard Block" Pinot Noir 2010.

Environment Peter Shirley looks into urban trees in Birmingham and the Black Country Birmingham and the Black Country are famous for their street trees.

Environment Owen Paterson's view of the environmental movement Former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson described parts of the environmental movement as 'the green blob'.

Environment Mixed progress for Midlands nature Progress and local successes here and there mask a continuing and worrying decline in the variety and abundance of plants, animals and birds.

Environment Precaution or Profit For a host of reasons both wild bees and domesticated honey bees continue to decline, both here and in other parts of the world.

Environment Still much to learn about the common Blackbird The Blackbird is very much a European species, although there are populations in parts of China and elsewhere in Asia.

Environment Natural England are ruffling feathers Recently it seems that the Government's nature conservation agency, Natural England, are doing the opposite of helping our beleaguered species.

Environment How the EU Elections can alter nature conservation Without European laws and regulations, weak and badly implemented as some of these are, our wildlife would be even worse off than it is.

Black Country Black Country insect miners remind us of their presence Mining bees in particular remind us of their presence throughout the spring months.

Environment The Nature of Birmingham There is still an assumption that nature is something found only in the countryside, that it is surprising to find genuine wildlife in a city.

Environment Where have all the flowers gone?Although woodland flowers currently dominate the scene later the focus is on grasslands, and there lie many problems.

Black Country Wonderful or whimsical? A Black Country garden city The Black Country's innovative garden city proposal has been entered for a £250k prize for new garden city designs put up by the Wolfson Foundation.

Lifestyle Opinion GALLERY: Monochrome fashion - it's all there in black and white Cool, clean and classic, the fashion pack love monochrome. Emma Johnson picks out easy pieces

Environment Enjoy a free concert with International Dawn Chorus Day Suddenly blossoms are filling our waysides, parks and gardens instead of incessant rain and floods.

Sandwell Taming the Tame The much-maligned Environment Agency, local authorities, civil engineers and conservation bodies have had enormous success in alleviating flooding in many parts of the country.

Black Country Ironic approach to managing open spaces A bench on a stretch of disused canal in the Black Country has been removed, apparently because people have been using it too much!

Environment Off with Offsetting Would you like to drive for up to an hour to enjoy a stroll in your 'local' green space or wildlife site?

Lifestyle Opinion Call Time On Duty!The amount of tax we pay on our wines and spirits in this country is one of those things that I'm always subconsciously aware of but never really took the time to look into.

Lifestyle Opinion Consumer advice: Call to Apple to be fair to UK parents Inadequate security measures causing children to run up huge bills

Environment Wildlife and wild weather Rain, wind and flooding are part of the natural order and plants and animals have been coping with them for millions of years.

Environment New Year, old problems for nature The natural world seems to contain a strange combination of resilience and fragility.

Fashion Beckham sets the Goldenballs standard in male grooming The 'metrosexual male' means that that men's grooming market is nearly as lucrative as that of the women's

Black Country Woodlands in the Midlands to be transformed this winter Woodlands in Birmingham and the Black Country will be transformed from dark, overgrown places into beautiful flower- and bird-filled copses and spinneys by the Wildlife Trust.

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Lifestyle Brendan Lynch won't hang up his apron after The Great British Bake Off After 10 weeks of pastries, pies and the odd soggy bottom, Birmingham's Bake Off finalist Brendan Lynch is putting his feet up.

Lifestyle A history of Birmingham's Jamaican community For 45 years, Birmingham's Vanley Burke has captured the lives of the Caribbean community in and around Handsworth and it's won him international acclaim.

Lifestyle Dyslexic deaf actor Joseph Mawle is top of his game Roz Laws discovers that being deaf and dyslexic hasn’t stopped Joseph Mawle from being a very versatile actor

Worcestershire £1,750,000 Blackmore Gardens in the village of Hanley Swan in Worcester Blackmore Gardens in Worcester is just packed with possibilities for an enterprising new owner, writes Alison Jones

Solihull £600k Substantial Solihull detached home has residence to rent Careful division has created another place to live in or let in this large Solihull property, reports Alison Jones

Birmingham Town Hall The Birmingham choir that's not very vocal about its many triumphs!Founded in the 1880s, Birmingham Choral Union is still going strong. Christopher Morley finds them in fine voices ahead a concert at St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter

Marks & Spencer M&S confirms Walsall store closure date High street retailer says it will shut up shop at The Saddlers Centre in August as part of wider reduction in portfolio of stores

CBSO Concert hall's winning friends in high places As the Opening Festival of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire continues apace, Christopher Morley talks to its principal, Julian Lloyd Webber

The Cube Birmingham New bowling to launch at The Cube this summer Boutique operator Lane7 confirms it will launch its latest venture in The Cube in August

CBSO Sir Simon Rattle’s return is a highlight of CBSO’s season Some familiar faces are coming to Symphony Hall. Christopher Morley reveals the must-see classical concerts being staged in Birmingham

Business News Fate sealed for Birmingham's House of Fraser store after creditor deal City's famous department store in Corporation Street is one of 31 across the country which have been tabled for closure

Staffordshire 200-year-old mystery of Shugborough Code 'solved'Linguistic expert believes he has solved mysterious sequence of letters on a stately home's monument in Staffordshire

What's On News Legoland Birmingham: All we know so far with attraction heading to city centre soon Already there are signs of what is to come, in the shape of a 10ft tall giraffe standing outside the future the Lego Discovery Centre in Birmingham

Regional Affairs The Timber Yard apartment plans blocked over fears it could 'threaten' Gay Village nightlife Planners fear residents will find noise from Birmingham's vibrant nightlife unbearable

News Opinion Commonwealth Games is 'a once-in-a-generation opportunity' for Birmingham Gold Coast Games organisers visited Birmingham to pass on advice and expertise as city prepares for 2022

Technology Birmingham tech firm wins €100,000 at global healthcare competition Whisk will now development new digital solutions to help people with type 2 diabetes manage the condition

Birmingham Town Hall The Birmingham choir that's not very vocal about its many triumphs!Founded in the 1880s, Birmingham Choral Union is still going strong. Christopher Morley finds them in fine voices ahead a concert at St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham Post Business Awards Birmingham Post Business Awards sponsors enjoy Belfry breakfast Sponsors of this year's business awards, which will be held on November 1 at the ICC, gathered for a networking breakfast at famous golf and hotel resort

Local News Q3 Academy Langley Find out how Q3 Academy Langley rates compared to other secondary schools in Sandwell with our school ratings

Local News Perry Beeches V - The All Through Family School Find out how Perry Beeches V - The All Through Family School rates compared to other secondary schools in Birmingham with our school ratings