Words by Ed King
On Saturday 22 August, an Old School Sports Day will be held on Short Heath Playing Fields – harking back to the days when the beloved green space was used by local schools in the area.
Free to attend and take part in, and open to families from across the constituency, the event runs from 12noon to 4pm – with entrance to the playing field found on Short Heath Road.
Organised by Short Heath Fields Trust (SHFT), the family event will feature classic school sporting competitions – including an egg and spoon race, a sack race, and a three-legged race.
Sports Day Races will be held for children, where young people can take part in some friendly competition and win a prize.
There will also be soft archery, soft ball games, volleyball, a bouncy castle, and more family friendly entertainment.
Refreshments will also be available at the event, including the Short Heath Wombles Tea Tent and an ice cream van – alongside a range of stalls from local traders and crafters, such as personalised gifts and pamper hampers from local entrepreneur Leanne’s PJ Hampers.
Chair of SHFT, Steve Hughes, told Erdington Local: “These free community events at Short Heath Playing Fields give children and their families the chance to come together, have fun and make great memories.”
He added: “We hope our events can raise funds to help us keep future events free, maintain Short Heath Playing Fields and continue improving Bleak Hill Park for the whole community to enjoy.”
SHFT was formed by a group of local residents back in 2020 to fight Birmingham City Council (BCC) plans to develop a housing estate on the cherished green space, which many Erdington locals would have used for their actual school sports days many years ago.
Successful in their campaign, SHFT now have a licensing agreement in place with BCC to maintain the parkland and host community events – such as the Old School Sport Day, which is held every year.
SHFT also organises an annual Halloween event and Pumpkin Hunt on the playing fields, which attracts hundreds of ghouls and goblins from across Erdington every year.
For more on Short Heath Fields Trust visit www.shortheathfieldstrust.uk
