Latest news with #Dudley
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dudley crowned TV show capital of the UK
DUDLEY has been officially crowned the TV capital of the UK by a team of TV and entertainment experts – and it should not come as much of a surprise. The town beat out the likes of London and Leeds to be crowned the TV show capital of the country by The TV and entertainment experts at OLBG. The scoring experts carried out research to reveal which UK areas can be named the TV show capitals, based on factors such as the average review scores from platforms such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes for the shows filmed in the area, as well as how popular each location is amongst fans wanting to visit the local area based on search data. Using this method, Dudley scored a 9.42 out of 10 – the highest score of any area in the UK OLBG said: 'The market town of Dudley has been a popular setting for a host of TV shows over the years, including Dancing on the Edge and Peaky Blinders. Read more Hollywood A-lister spotted on Peaky Blinders movie set Crews filming Channel 5 murder mystery show on Gornal street 'Dudley scored well across the board, with the town having the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes audience score for shows filmed in the area, at 94 per cent. Jake Ashton, Senior News Editor at OLBG, added: 'TV shows have a unique way of bringing places to life, turning ordinary towns and cities into iconic settings that fans are eager to visit. 'Our report reveals the UK's top filming locations that have captured viewers' imaginations and become hotspots for TV tourists. 'The report reveals which locations offer the best mix of on-screen magic and real-world charm by looking at critic and audience ratings, Google searches, and hotel prices. 'Topping the list is Dudley, known for its starring role in Peaky Blinders, with a TV Show Tourism Score of 9.42 out of 10. The town's Black Country Living Museum attracts production crews and TV fans for its authentic representation of early 20th-century Britain. 'Larger cities like London and Manchester naturally feature the most filming locations, as they're home to plenty of TV studios and production offices. While Bradford, Keighley, and Shipley stand out as budget-friendly gems.' Hot on Dudley's heels was Dunstable in at second place, with Ellesmere Port coming in third. The rest of the top ten featured Hayes, Stirling, Northwich, Newbury, Seaham, Leeds and Bradford. As well as the beloved cult-classic TV show, Peaky Blinders, being filmed at the likes of Bumble Hole Nature Reserve and the Black Country Living Museum, more recently, filming was taking place across Dudley for the upcoming Channel 5 murder mystery show, Murder before Evensong.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Inside West Midlands' most beautiful garden hidden away behind bungalow
A dedicated pensioner has dedicated 27 years to transforming the space outside his bungalow into a breathtaking garden oasis, now considered one of Britain's most exquisite private gardens. The remarkable images reveal John Massey's garden in Dudley, on the fringes of the industrial Black Country, awash with vibrant summer hues. John, aged 76, has poured nearly three decades into his passion project, cultivating an impressive collection of 20,000 different plants, trees, and shrubs over ten acres. Read more: The truth about knife crime in West Midlands The Chelsea Flower Show four-time gold medal winner admits that maintaining the splendour of his garden throughout the year demands a commitment of eight hours daily, every day of the week. Generously, John opens his 'four seasons garden' to visitors, raising funds for charitable causes, and has recently celebrated the extraordinary achievement of generating £500,000 in donations. Esteemed within the gardening world, John's serene haven is acclaimed as one of the nation's premier private gardens. Originating as a simple lawn in 1998, the garden has flourished, showcasing native UK flora alongside more unusual varieties from Japan, South Africa, and Turkey. Kingswinford's green-fingered John remarked: "The garden hasn't really been planned, it's just evolved over 27 years." He confidently states: "We bigheadedly say we're a garden for every day of the year and that you would hopefully find something in flower every day you came. "There's hundreds and thousands of different plants, we're all plant nutters and it's a full-time job looking after it. "I usually get up at 7am and take the dogs out and I go around the garden all day from there. "Then there's the last walk at night to check for snails and slugs, that's usually 10pm until 11pm. "It really is an all-day thing. I started by the house and just moved out - and just kept going and going. I absolutely love it all." The garden, which offers picturesque views of the scenic Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal, is a true horticultural haven. Every nook is alive with striking blooms, lush greenery, an assortment of conifers and shrubs, complemented by intricately designed pots. John, with a remarkable 57 years of gardening under his belt, reveals this botanical paradise has grown so extensive that it now takes a team of four to keep it pristine. His passion was ignited by none other than Princess Greta Sturdza, the visionary Norwegian behind Le Vasterival, among France's most celebrated gardens. After being honoured with the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society, John remarked: "I was privileged to meet the late princess Greta Sturdza, a Norwegian. "We became sort of friends and she invited me over and had, in my mind, the greatest garden that I've ever seen. "She taught me how to garden. Her big thing was transparency pruning, you prune every tree, shrub and conifer so it was its own sculpture in its own right." John, a passionate gardener who took the reins of the family nursery at just 18, has no formal training in horticulture but shares a deep-rooted love for gardening passed down from his grandad. He's dedicated to maintaining a vibrant green space throughout the year, ensuring there's always something sprouting. Speaking about the nursery that neighbours his home, John remarked: "Some beds are replanted twice a year." He believes in constant renewal to keep visitors returning, saying, "If we want to keep people coming back we need change." John's approach involves a three-tier system: "We work on three layers, the big trees we raise the canopies and lift the branches." This technique allows for underplanting: "We lift the canopy of the shrubs so that we can work under that." The garden boasts an impressive collection of witch-hazels, with John's Garden featuring over 40 different varieties. Seasonal changes bring a variety of hues to the garden, with hydrangeas in summer and cornus and spindle trees in the colder months. Springtime sees an array of hellebores, bulbs, and various flowering shrubs, keeping the garden brimming with life. John explained his philosophy: "We're always trying to get happy plants, I wouldn't want to grow a plants that weren't healthy." He's selective with his plants due to the local climate: "There are certain plants we don't grow as we're a real frost pocket. We try and grow plants that are hardy in this area." The nursery is also known for its conifers and witch hazels: "We've got a wonderful selection of conifers, both dwarf and small. Then there's witch hazel, we've got 40 odd varieties." And for the autumn spectacle, he added: "We've got the grass bed and the asters which look their best in September and October. "I love it all, I do love the whole garden. We had the Danish horticulture society here the other day and they said each corner there's something different to look at. I think you should walk gardens both ways". "The garden is constantly changing, with something majoring on different groups of plants right the way through the season." John stepped away from day-to-day duties at Ashwood Nurseries next door in 2000 to focus on his passion for gardening. The site opens its gates every Saturday from February to December, welcoming nature lovers for just £8 a pop. John and his expert team have scooped more than 50 gold medals at prestigious Royal flower shows, bagging four from the renowned Chelsea Flower Show alone. Additionally, they have proudly collected four Farrer Trophies, two Williams Memorial Medals and a couple of Gardeners' World Live golds. He went on to share: "I've been in horticulture for 57 years and I'm still learning, it's one of those subjects where the more you learn, the more you realise you don't know. "A friend of mine described horticulture as the slowest form of art as it takes 20 years to reach its maturity. "We used to show a little alpine plant called Lewisia. What we tried to do is take a particular genus and try and get it to the highest possible level. "Then take on another family of plants and try and get them to that level. The beauty of plants is you don't have to be monogamous and can keep building them up." Since flinging open its doors to visitors in 2003, the garden has mushroomed over £500,000 for various charities. John confessed: "I wouldn't like to think how much I've spent on it, I wouldn't know. It's a passion, but it would be frightening." He further added, "The main thing is we've raised a lot of money for good causes in the process." And he finished by saying, "The garden is constantly changing right the way through the season, and I love it."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council tax help may face more pressure councillor warns
A Dudley Council's watchdog committee has been told a council tax help fund could face more pressure in coming years. A meeting of the authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Core Business) on June 25 was told by Dudley's Labour leader, Cllr Adam Aston, more people are likely to need help because they were unable to pay their bill. Council tax in Dudley is set for the current financial year at £2,038.57 for a band D property valued between £68,001 and £88,000. Cllr Aston said: 'There is a significant reduction for people who need help with their council tax, as more people struggle to pay their council tax, is that likely to present a problem for us going forward over the next year or two? 'I am aware there is a discretionary council tax relief fund available of £1m, it's very much a last resort for people who cannot pay their council tax 'Is that relief fund enough? Do we have the capacity to administer it if loads of people apply?' The £1m set aside for the council tax relief fund is part of the authority's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Finance officers told Cllr Aston the £1m was already part of earmarked reserves for the current financial year and the impact of the reduction scheme on council coffers is something they will monitor very closely in future years. Conservative councillor Adam Davies also had a question on council tax. He said: 'With the way the government has confirmed they will be issuing finance from central to local government, and the wide speculation they are expecting local authorities to increase council tax year on year by the maximum – is that what you allocated for the forecast in what we are looking at?' The maximum increase councils are allowed to make each year to council tax is five percent. Cllr Davies was told the maximum increase is the amount the authority's accountants applied in their forecasts for the next five years.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Armed Forces Day events across the West Midlands
"It's essential that we, as a society, remember and celebrate those that put their country before themselves and ensure that their service is never forgotten."To Gordon Munro, former soldier and vice-chairman of Staffordshire County Council, Armed Forces Day is more than just a date in the calendar."Whether people have served on the front lines, supported from home, or been the family holding the fort, we all know that military life demands a lot," he across the West Midlands are holding events this weekend to mark the occasion on Saturday. Mr Munro, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps for nine years, described the occasion as "a proper moment of recognition". Armed Forces Day is the culmination of a week of celebrations, which started on 23 is a day to show support for all members of the military, from those currently serving to veterans, cadets, and families of are some of the events happening around the region this weekend: Birmingham and Black Country Himley Hall and Park in Dudley is hosting its 16th Armed Forces Day event on 29 from 11:00 to 16:00 BST, it will include a vintage and craft market, tea for the troops, and vintage fairground Mayor of Dudley will present HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges to eligible Solihull on Saturday, a celebration is taking place at The Royal British Legion branch on Union Road from 12:00 to 18: is described as a family day with buffet food, a live singer and family entertainment. Coventry and Warwickshire The Pump Room Gardens in Leamington Spa will host a free community event on Saturday, from 11:00 to 15: offer will be live performances, military vehicles, children's activities, a tri-service competition and a fly-past from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Avro series of events on Saturday kicks off with a service of thanksgiving in Holy Trinity Church at 10:30, followed by a parade will be led by the 13th Coventry Scout Band from 11:30, heading to Broadgate, where there will be a civic salute from the presentation stage."In these times of conflict, it's a chance to show how grateful we are to all those who have served, are serving and the families that support them, and the support we receive from the armed services in the city's work for peace," said the Lord Mayor of Coventry, councillor Rachel Lancaster. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Herefordshire Armed Forces Day is taking place on Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00 at The Old Market Shopping Centre in promises exhibitions, displays and entertainment by military charities and support Worcester on Sunday will be a wheelchair basketball tournament at Worcester University from 09:00 to 19: is held by Police UK Disability Sport - its directors are all armed forces veterans and have competed in the Invictus tournament will see four teams - police, a community club and two armed forces - compete throughout the is free to attend for all armed forces families. Shropshire In Donnington, Telford, on Saturday will be an armed forces fun day, running from 09:00 to 18: on Broadoaks playing field, the event is free and includes live music, a fun fair, military vehicles and activities run by armed forces on Saturday, a group of military musicians will perform in Ellesmere."I'm thrilled that the Royal Household Division has given permission for a string quartet from the Duchess of Edinburgh's Orchestra to support Ellesmere's Armed Forces Day," said the town's mayor, councillor Liz Woodbridge."I'm particularly proud that a member of the quartet is my son."There will be musical entertainment from local schoolchildren, a flag-raising ceremony and a two-minute silence at 10: vehicles will be on display, and there will be a display at Ellesmere Library, which includes memories of the war from local afternoon will see a sold-out 1940s-style concert. Staffordshire The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire will hold events on Saturday and include live performances, vehicle displays, a veteran's village and food and will be a daily act of remembrance on both will host an event at Queen's Park, Longton, on Sunday from 12:30 to 15: will be live music, a parade, activities and a fly-past from a Dakota there will be a family event at Queen's Park, Crewe, on Saturday and events will feature military vehicles, memorabilia, army displays and a picnic in the park. Wolverhampton Wolverhampton's event is free and will be held at West Park from 12:00 to 16:00 on is a programme of entertainment throughout the day, including a military parade and on the agenda is live music, exhibitions, arts and crafts and street food. More events across the region can be found on the Armed Forces Day website. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Dudley mum 'worried' for sons ahead of welfare reform vote
A woman who has two autistic sons says she is really worried about their future after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his government would press on with a vote on welfare reforms. The government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, could change who qualifies for certain disability and sickness from Dudley, said: "I had a panic attack and ended up in hospital because of the stress and the worry of all this going on."Defending the move, Sir Keir said: "We were elected in to change that which is broken, and that's what we will do, and that's why we will press ahead with reforms." Lorraine's sons Sam and Benjamin can currently access the disability living allowance. "They've had that for a while now since they were little," their mum said."But when they turn 16 they should go onto personal independent payments."It's already virtually impossible to get, but what [the government] is going to do is squeeze the criteria for this benefit."I'm really worried when the boys come to claim it that we're not going to be able to get it and the impact that's going to have." In March, Lorraine was taken to hospital with stress after her heart rate increased to about 140bpm. She said: "I've got an irregular heartbeat and I'm on medication, and that particular day my heart beat was about 140bpm."It was absolutely ridiculous."More than 120 Labour backbenchers are said to have signed an amendment calling for the proposals to be despite this, a second reading of the bill is to be heard on 1 July in the House of Commons. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
