Ukrainian refugees have planted 27 shrubs in Balsall Heath’s Reaside Forest Garden, one for each region of Ukraine (24 oblasts plus Kiev, Sevastopol and Crimea), to thank the community for supporting them and to promote cultural understanding.
Each shrub carries a QR code linking to its region’s corresponding Wikipedia page, encouraging people to learn more about the country and its culture.
The planting took place on Sunday and was organised by Moseley for Ukraine, a project of Moseley Community Development Trust, in collaboration with the local conservation charity Fruit and Nut Village.
It comes at an uncertain time for many Ukrainian refugees in the UK, thanks to visa concerns and questions about their right to remain here.
“Right now, we have worries and doubts about our future in the UK”, said Olga Popopva of Moseley for Ukraine. “We escaped from war and are so grateful for being here, so we wanted to say thank you to Birmingham for welcoming us, and to show how keen we are to stay an active part of life in our new home.”
Rob Tilling from Fruit and Nut Village highlighted the deeper value of this kind of collaboration:
“This is exactly what our charity was set up for: our primary function is to build community, and we feel like we’re doing that today. We’re meeting new people, people are getting to make new connections, people from Ukraine are getting to know local people in Birmingham who have lived here all their lives – it’s just speeding up that process really, where people can get to know each other.”
This project is a lovely example of how small organisations can work together for the benefit of the community. Moseley for Ukraine supports refugees with everything from housing to employment, while Fruit and Nut Village transforms urban areas by planting gardens and orchards.
By teaming up, they not only created a greener space but also strengthened connections between different communities. The Ukrainians had an opportunity to give back and make connections, and Balsall Heath gained a new, meaningful green space with a cultural link.
Partnering with like-minded organisations amplifies impact. The personal experiences of the people involved make initiatives like this resonate – and small actions add up. A few shrubs in a park may seem like a simple gesture, but they symbolise so much more – belonging, appreciation, and a future built together.
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