Well, England certainly know how to get the nation’s heart rate going.

A 4–2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener, a few nervy moments, and just enough chaos to remind us all that following England is never meant to be relaxing. But three points is three points! Up next is Ghana on Tuesday 23rd June at 9pm.

Closer to home, there’s a big summer weekend ahead in Solihull too.

This week, we’ve got free live music taking over the town centre for Solihull Music Festival, the Continental Food Market bringing plenty of reasons to arrive hungry, Knowle celebrating 750 years with a full village day out, and some lovely community stories, including local young artists being celebrated and a Marston Green painter capturing the beauty of the places we walk past every day.

We’ve also got a new health and wellbeing service for Solihull residents, food finds in Hampton-in-Arden, and a few ideas for what to do with the kids, on a date day, or just because the sun might actually make an appearance.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

A new free health and wellbeing service has launched in Solihull, offering residents personalised support to make everyday healthy changes feel a bit more manageable.

The Healthy Active Lives service is designed to help people take practical steps towards feeling better, whether that’s eating more healthily, moving a little more, improving sleep, managing stress, or setting small goals that actually fit around real life.

Residents can refer themselves directly, or be referred by their GP, and the service includes access to a dedicated app where users can track progress and set personal goals. Some residents may also be able to access one-to-one support from trained advisers.

It’s being delivered by DDM Health as part of Solihull Council’s wider Here2Help programme, with the aim of making healthier choices easier, more realistic and more sustainable for people across the borough.

Small changes can make a big difference and sometimes the hardest bit is knowing where to start.

👉 Find out more or sign up at HealthyActiveLives.co.uk
📞 Or call 0121 517 5555

A lovely one from Marston Green this week. We heard from Julie, a local artist who paints under the name Julie Walker Art, after she shared one of her paintings of a much-loved local spot, the old railway bridge over Sheldon Brook near the airport.

Today, her work celebrates gardens, woodlands and familiar landscapes, the kind of peaceful green spaces that make you stop for a second and appreciate where we live.

Julie is now starting to paint more of the local area and is always on the lookout for beautiful spots to capture. She has work being featured in a Birmingham gallery in the next few weeks, and hopes to find a Solihull gallery to work with soon too.

We love this, local talent, local landscapes, and a reminder that sometimes the places we walk past every day are the ones worth turning into art.

👉 You can find Julie on Facebook at Julie Walker Art.

Continuing on the art theme, a lovely bit of local good news this week.

Pupils from Langley Primary and Tudor Grange Primary Academy were recently welcomed into the Civic Suite after being recognised in the Rotary Young Artist competition.

The children were invited along with their families and teachers to celebrate their creative work, receive certificates and enjoy a special moment with the Mayoral team. It’s exactly the kind of story we love, local young people being encouraged, celebrated and given the confidence to keep creating.

A big well done to all the pupils involved, and to the volunteers behind the Rotary competition for helping give Solihull’s young artists a platform to shine.

👉 Prize giving for young artists

A big moment for one of Solihull’s most special food destinations.

Grace & Savour, based at Hampton Manor in Hampton-in-Arden, has been named the highest in the West Midlands on the National Restaurant Awards Top 100, another reminder that some of the UK’s best dining is right here on our doorstep.

Set within Hampton Manor’s Victorian Walled Garden, Grace & Savour is all about immersive, thoughtful dining, with a focus on sustainable British farming, produce and seasonality.

It’s not your everyday “let’s grab a quick bite” kind of place. This is one for birthdays, anniversaries, big celebrations, or the kind of meal you plan properly and remember afterwards.

A brilliant bit of recognition for Hampton-in-Arden, and a very proud one for the local food scene.

👉 One for the special occasion list

If your ideal weekend plan involves wandering through town with something delicious in hand, this one’s for you.

The Continental Food Market is coming to Solihull town centre this weekend as part of the wider Solihull Music Festival celebrations, bringing international street food, market stalls and plenty of festival atmosphere to the High Street and Mell Square area.

It’s a good excuse to head into town, catch some free live music, browse the stalls and make lunch a little more interesting than whatever’s left in the fridge.

Expect a mix of flavours, family-friendly buzz and that proper summer weekend feeling, especially if the weather plays nicely.

Marie Curie Hospice Garden Opening — Marie Curie Hospice, Solihull
A peaceful Saturday wander for a brilliant cause. Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull is opening its gardens on Saturday 20 June, giving visitors the chance to explore the patient gardens, indoor courtyards, wildlife area, fairy garden and pond. There will also be children’s games, making it a gentle family-friendly one too.

👉 Marie Curie Hospice Garden Opening

Knowle’s 750 Celebrations — Knowle High Street
A huge village celebration, 750 years in the making. Knowle High Street will be closed to traffic on Sunday 21 June from 11am to 5pm for a day of live music, performances, street food, market stalls, community groups, family activities and local history. A proper community day out and a lovely excuse to spend Sunday in Knowle.

👉 Knowle’s 750 Celebrations

Solihull Music Festival — Solihull town centre
Free live music is taking over Solihull town centre this weekend. Running from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June, the festival brings performances to the High Street, Mell Square and venues across town, with everything from acoustic sets and choirs to silent discos, party bands and family-friendly entertainment. Add in the Continental Food Market and you’ve got a very easy weekend plan.

👉 Solihull Music Festival

Game Guru — Touchwood, Solihull
One for board game lovers, families, date nights and anyone who likes the idea of coffee with a side of competition. Game Guru is now open in Touchwood, with a board game library, collectables, artisan coffee, craft beers and food. A great rainy-day option or a fun way to do something different in town.

👉 Game Guru

In last week’s Solihull Spotlight, we pulled together a few Father’s Day ideas, local food finds and things to do around the borough.

👉 Read last week’s Father’s Day edition

Knowle Party in the Park — Knowle Park
A big summer music day is coming to Knowle Park on Saturday 27 June. Expect a full day of live music and feel-good festival energy, with names including The Wanted 2.0, Martin Kemp, Artful Dodger, Rick Parfitt Jnr, Detroit Soul Collective and more on the line-up. One to book ahead if you fancy a local festival day without heading far.

👉 Knowle Party in the Park

Solihull Dining Club — Tudor Grange Park
Digbeth Dining Club is bringing the street food party back to Solihull. Solihull Dining Club lands at Tudor Grange Park on Saturday 4 July from 12pm to 6pm, with independent food traders, bars, live music and plenty of space to sit back and make an afternoon of it. Tickets are listed at £3.50 for adults and £2 for children.

👉 Solihull Dining Club

• Bin collections: https://digital.solihull.gov.uk/BinCollectionCalendar/
• Council news + updates: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/news
• Travel disruptions (West Midlands): https://disruptions.tfwm.org.uk/

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