Contents

1. Author’s Note

2. Latest News

3. What’s On?

4. Special Offers

5. Traffic Alerts

6. Security Alerts

7. Bibliography

Author’s Note

As the weather begins to shift towards Autumnal downpours, it’s a reminder that summer is coming to an end. We’re now heading into Pumpkin Spiced Latte (a.k.a. PSL) season! ☕️ Which is my favourite feature of the season. (well, that and my girlfriend’s birthday, of course!).

September begins with a full local diary. The bank holiday brings an extra Falconry Centre display, Hagley’s historical society starts its new season, and Stourbridge has two home matches, including an FA Cup tie.

This edition also gathers the practical details that are easy to miss, from school-place deadlines and a closing planning consultation to bus savings, overnight roadworks, and current police advice. I hope it helps you plan the week.

For those with Bank Holiday weekend plans, I wish you an enjoyable break. To those returning to school and work this week, I wish you a fun, prosperous, and successful autumn term. It’ll be Christmas before you know it.

James.

Latest News

Applications for September 2027 school places open on Tuesday. Worcestershire County Council’s new Parent Portal opens on Tuesday 1 September for children starting or transferring school in September 2027. High-school applications close on 31 October 2026, while applications for primary, first, infant, junior, and middle schools close on 15 January 2027. Families without internet access can use computers and Wi-Fi at county libraries. Read the County Council admissions update.

The district’s Local Plan scoping consultation closes on Friday. Bromsgrove District Council is seeking views on the scope, vision, and priorities of the plan to 2044. This stage is not a consultation on specific development sites, and the council says comments made in earlier consultations do not need to be repeated. Responses close at 5pm on Friday 4 September. Read the council update and consultation information.

Residents can comment on two district skateparks. Bromsgrove District Council’s survey on potential improvements at Sanders Park and St Chad’s Park remains open until midnight on Monday 14 September. A drop-in session at Sanders Park runs from 3pm to 5pm on Friday 4 September, followed by one at St Chad’s Park at the same time on Tuesday 8 September. See the consultation details.

What’s On?

This week

• Bank Holiday displays at The Falconry Centre: The bank-holiday programme adds a 2:30pm flying display to the usual 1pm and 3:30pm displays, weather permitting. Check the official programme.

  • When: Monday 31 August, centre open 11am to 5pm

  • Where: The Falconry Centre, Hagley

  • Cost: Adults £8, children aged five and over £4, under-fours free, concessions £7, or family ticket for two adults and two children £21

• The Earls of Dudley: Philip Bowen opens Hagley Historical and Field Society’s new season with a talk on the Earls of Dudley. See the society programme.

  • When: Tuesday 1 September, 8pm

  • Where: St Saviour’s Church Hall, West Hagley

  • Cost: Visitors £2, including refreshments; annual membership £10

• Stourbridge v Leamington: Stourbridge hosts Leamington in the Southern League Premier Central. Check the club page for any late fixture or admission update. View the official match page.

  • When: Tuesday 1 September, 7:45pm

  • Where: War Memorial Athletic Ground, High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge

• Hagley Library Walkers Group: Meet at the library for an approximately one-hour walk around the Hagley area. Read the County Council listing.

  • When: Wednesday 2 September, 10:30am to 11:30am

  • Where: Hagley Library

  • Cost: Free

• September Paint n Sip: Coffee n Clay hosts an adults-only evening session, with a glass of fizz or a soft drink included. Read the organiser’s event details.

  • When: Thursday 3 September, 7pm to 9:30pm

  • Where: Coffee n Clay, 5 Station Road, Hagley

  • Cost: £5 per person

• International Vulture Awareness Day: Visitors can learn about vultures, their role in ecosystems, and the threats they face in the wild. The usual 1pm and 3:30pm flying displays are weather permitting. Check the Falconry Centre programme.

  • When: Saturday 5 September, centre open 11am to 5pm

  • Where: The Falconry Centre, Hagley

  • Cost: Adults £8, children aged five and over £4, under-fours free, concessions £7, or family ticket for two adults and two children £21

• Saturday board games and puzzles: Families can drop into Hagley Library for board games and puzzles. Children must be supervised by a parent or carer. Read the library event details.

  • When: Saturday 5 September, 9:30am to 12:30pm

  • Where: Hagley Library

  • Cost: Free, with no booking required

• Annual Joint Honey Show: Hagley and Stourbridge Beekeepers’ Association accepts entries before judging begins. The official record says entry is free and there are no cash prizes, but does not publish general public-viewing arrangements. Check the official show record.

  • When: Saturday 5 September, entries accepted from 8:30am to 10am

  • Where: Hagley Free Church Hall

  • Cost: Free to enter

• Stourbridge v Rushall Olympic: The Glassboys host Rushall Olympic in the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round. Advance tickets go on sale online on Wednesday 2 September. Club memberships, season tickets, flexi tickets, and passes are not valid for this fixture, so all spectators must pay. Read the club’s match and ticket notice.

  • When: Sunday 6 September, 3pm

  • Where: War Memorial Athletic Ground, High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge

  • Cost: Advance tickets are adults £13, over-65s £10, ages 13 to 17 £7, or ages six to 12 £5; each price rises by £1 on matchday

• Sunday Lunch at Hagley Golf Club: The Hawthorn Suite serves a choice of two- or three-course Sunday lunch menus. The club welcomes non-members and asks diners to reserve a table; a children’s menu is available for those aged 12 and under. See the current Sunday Lunch information.

  • When: Sunday 6 September, from noon

  • Where: Hagley Golf Club, Wassell Grove Lane, Hagley

Coming soon

• Mummy & Me Creative Parent and Baby Session: Coffee n Clay’s relaxed session for mums, dads, carers, and babies includes journalling, collage, and mindful art. Materials are included. Read the organiser’s event details.

  • When: Monday 7 September, 10am to noon

  • Where: Coffee n Clay, 5 Station Road, Hagley

  • Cost: £6 per person

• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (12): The Monday Movie Matinee at Stourbridge Town Hall has a running time of 100 minutes and a 12 certificate. Read the official film listing.

  • When: Monday 7 September, 1:30pm

  • Where: Stourbridge Town Hall

  • Cost: All tickets £4.50, plus booking fees

• An Evening with Jack the Ripper: Producer and broadcaster Steve Morgan brings his stage investigation of the Victorian London case to Halesowen. The show has an approximate running time of one hour and 40 minutes, including the interval. Read the official show listing.

  • When: Thursday 10 September, 7:30pm

  • Where: Halesowen Town Hall

  • Cost: All tickets £18, plus booking fees; age guidance 12+

• The Kilkennys: The Irish folk band’s 25 Year Celebration Tour visits Halesowen Town Hall. Read the official show listing.

  • When: Saturday 12 September, 7:30pm

  • Where: Halesowen Town Hall

  • Cost: All tickets £25, plus booking fees

• A ‘slow’ walk around Pound Green: Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Wyre Forest Local Group leads an approximately four-mile walk with ascents, descents, five stiles, two gates, and two road crossings. Paths may be muddy or slippery after rain, and dogs must be kept on a lead. Read the Trust’s walk details.

  • When: Sunday 13 September, 10am

  • Where: Meet at Hawkbatch car park on the B4194 near Pound Green Common

  • Cost: Donations to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are welcome

Special Offers

Children travel free on participating Worcestershire buses. Children aged 15 and under can travel free on participating bus services until Monday 31 August. Operator participation is voluntary, so check before travel. Children aged 11 to 15 travelling independently must ask for the “Under 16 Free Travel Offer (August 26)” ticket, and Worcestershire on Demand is included. Read the eligibility and operator conditions.

Reduced admission at Hagley Park. Until Tuesday 1 September inclusive, admission is reduced to £8.75 for adults, £4.40 for children, £21.90 for a family ticket covering either two adults and two children, or one adult and three children, and £7 for concessions and students. Under-threes enter free, while access to the café, picnic area, and patio is free. Check opening times and current prices.

Monday and Tuesday Banqueting Nights at New Delhi. The dine-in offer is £17.95 per person, or £12.95 for children under ten, and includes any starter, any main course, rice or naan, and tea or coffee. The restaurant is bring your own alcohol, with no corkage charge. Check the restaurant’s offer conditions.

Early-bird menu at East at West One. The restaurant’s set menu is available from Wednesday to Saturday until 7pm, priced at £22 for two courses or £26 for three. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available, and parking is free. View the current early-bird menu.

Traffic Alerts

Overnight M5 northbound closure between junctions 4 and 3. National Highways is closing the M5 northbound between junction 4 at Lydiate Ash and junction 3 at Quinton from 9pm to 6am through Monday 31 August. Frankley northbound services cannot be accessed during the closure, and the official page gives the signed diversion. Check the current closure notice.

Proposed overnight closure on the A456 through Hagley. A Worcestershire County Council notice proposes closing 1,695 metres of the A456 Hagley Causeway, from the Wassell Grove roundabout eastwards through the Hagley Wood roundabout to the Dudley boundary, together with the first ten metres of Hagley Wood Lane, for carriageway resurfacing. The works are anticipated to start on Tuesday 8 September and last two nights, from 8pm to 6am. Access would remain for properties with no alternative route and for works purposes. Read the published statutory notice and diversions.

Security Alerts

Hagley and Rubery policing priorities. The current local priorities cover antisocial behaviour, including illegal use of electric bikes, drug use, and youth-related crime; shoplifting and other business-related criminality; and speeding and illegal use of the road network. The antisocial-behaviour and shoplifting priorities were issued on 27 August 2026, while the road-use priority was issued on 1 July 2026. The page records patrols, engagement, enforcement, and partner work. Read the current local priorities.

Police warning after courier-fraud incidents. West Mercia Police reported several recent incidents across the force area, including two in Worcestershire. Police say genuine officers will never ask someone to make a payment, buy an item, withdraw or transfer money, or disclose bank details. If in doubt, hang up and use another phone to check the caller’s identity. Read the full police warning.

Bibliography

All sources below were checked and accessed on 29 August 2026. Duplicate links used for more than one listing appear once.

1. Worcestershire County Council, Applications for September 2027 school places open on 1 September 2026

2. Bromsgrove District Council, Councillors back next step in preparing new Local Plan

3. Bromsgrove District Council, Help shape future improvements to skateparks

4. The Falconry Centre, Visitor information and special events

5. Hagley Historical and Field Society, Programme

6. Stourbridge Football Club, Stourbridge v Leamington

7. Worcestershire County Council, Hagley Library Walkers Group

8. Coffee n Clay, September Paint n Sip

9. Worcestershire County Council, Saturday board games and puzzles

10. Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association, Annual Joint Honey Show

11. Stourbridge Football Club, FA Cup home tie with Rushall Olympic

12. Hagley Golf Club, Sunday Lunch

13. Coffee n Clay, Mummy & Me Creative Parent and Baby Session

14. Dudley Borough Halls, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

15. Dudley Borough Halls, An Evening with Jack the Ripper

16. Dudley Borough Halls, The Kilkennys

17. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, A ‘slow’ walk around Pound Green

18. Worcestershire County Council, Children travel free by bus in August

19. Hagley Park, Opening times and prices

20. New Delhi, Banqueting Nights

21. East at West One, Early-bird set menu

22. National Highways, West Midlands maintenance schemes

23. Public Notice Portal, Proposed A456 Hagley Causeway and Hagley Wood Lane closures

24. Worcestershire County Council, Roadworks and live updates

25. West Mercia Police, Hagley and Rubery local policing priorities

26. West Mercia Police, Courier-fraud warning

27. West Mercia Police, Online reporting service

Contents

1. Author’s Note

2. Latest News

3. What’s On?

4. Special Offers

5. Traffic Alerts

6. Security Alerts

7. Bibliography

Author’s Note

The last full week of August brings an unusually broad local mix. Worcestershire Open Studios is under way, Sanders Park has two free family events, and Saturday offers crafts, cricket, football, and a recycled-glass seminar. With the bank holiday following on Monday 31 August, the coming-soon list starts there.

Latest News

• Fridge and freezer disposal is temporarily suspended at county recycling centres. Worcestershire’s household recycling centres are temporarily unable to accept fridges, freezers, and other cooling appliances because of national treatment-capacity constraints. Residents are asked to retain unwanted appliances safely, use a retailer’s take-back service, or employ a licensed waste collector. Previously booked district-council collections will be honoured where possible. Read the County Council update.

• Support remains available after the Norton wildfire. Dudley Council’s recovery hub brings together information for residents directly affected by the Norton wildfire, along with official routes for donations, volunteering, and practical support. The page also carries the council’s published resident briefings. Use the official recovery hub.

• Free careers help follows GCSE results day. Careers Worcestershire is offering free support through its 16 to 24 Careers Hubs for young people considering further education, training, apprenticeships, or work after receiving GCSE results. See the County Council’s support information.

What’s On?

This week

• Suzanne Nicholl Open Studio: Painting and mixed-media work form part of Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week. The organiser publishes the attendance address and access details on the artist’s page. Check the official artist listing.

  • When: Monday 24 to Sunday 30 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm daily

  • Where: Meadowcroft studio, Worcester Road, Hagley

  • Cost: Free

• August weekday features at The Falconry Centre: Flying displays are scheduled at 1pm and 3:30pm, weather permitting. During August weekdays, the centre also schedules a 2:30pm feature, which may be a talk, a meet-a-bird session, or an additional flight. Check the visitor information and display programme.

  • When: Monday 24 to Friday 28 August, visitor centre open 11am to 5pm

  • Where: The Falconry Centre, Hagley

  • Cost: Adults £8, children aged five and over £4, under-fours free, concessions £7, or family ticket for two adults and two children £21

• Punch and Judy at Sanders Park: The district council’s Summer Fun programme brings Punch and Judy to the park. It is an outdoor, drop-in event for all ages. See the council’s Summer Fun programme.

  • When: Thursday 27 August, noon to 4pm

  • Where: Sanders Park, Bromsgrove

  • Cost: Free

• The Other Glass exhibition opens: The exhibition explores art made with recycled glass and runs until 27 February 2027. Read the exhibition listing and check current opening and admission information.

  • When: Friday 28 August, then open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30am to 4:30pm

  • Where: Stourbridge Glass Museum

  • Cost: Standard museum admission is adults £10, children aged four to 17 £5, under-fours free, or a family ticket for two adults and up to three children £25

• Chris Frost and guest artists open studio: Chris Frost’s Worcestershire Open Studios venue brings together a group of artists working across several media. The organiser publishes the full artist list, attendance address, and access details. Check the official venue listing.

  • When: Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, 10am to 4:30pm

  • Where: Lawnside, Hall Lane, Hagley

  • Cost: Free

• Saturday Story and Craft: The session is for children aged three to ten. A parent or carer must supervise throughout, and the activity may finish early if craft materials run out. Read the library event details.

  • When: Saturday 29 August, 10am to 12:30pm

  • Where: Hagley Library

  • Cost: Free, with no booking required

• The Other Glass Seminar: The seminar explores the stories, sustainability, and creative possibilities of recycled and second-life glass. It is led by Tone Ørvik, curator of The Other Glass exhibition. Read the official event details and book tickets.

  • When: Saturday 29 August, 10am to 1pm

  • Where: Stourbridge Glass Museum

  • Cost: £10

• Hagley Cricket Club Third XI v Stone: Hagley’s Third XI hosts Stone Cricket Club Worcestershire’s Second XI in Division Eight North. Check the official match centre.

  • When: Saturday 29 August, 12:30pm

  • Where: Hagley Cricket Club, Hagley

• Halesowen Town v Real Bedford: The Southern League Premier Central fixture is listed on Halesowen Town’s official schedule. Check the club page for any fixture or admission update before setting out. View the official fixtures.

  • When: Saturday 29 August, 3pm

  • Where: The Grove, Halesowen

• RJ Jazz Collective at the bandstand: The council’s Sunday bandstand series continues with RJ Jazz Collective. See the official Music in the Bandstand programme.

  • When: Sunday 30 August, 2:30pm to 4:30pm

  • Where: Jubilee Bandstand, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove

  • Cost: Free

Coming soon

• Bank Holiday displays at The Falconry Centre: The bank holiday programme adds a 2:30pm flying display to the usual 1pm and 3:30pm displays, weather permitting. Check the official bank holiday programme.

  • When: Monday 31 August, visitor centre open 11am to 5pm

  • Where: The Falconry Centre, Hagley

  • Cost: Adults £8, children aged five and over £4, under-fours free, concessions £7, or family ticket for two adults and two children £21

• The Earls of Dudley: Philip Bowen opens Hagley Historical and Field Society’s new season with a talk on the Earls of Dudley. See the society programme.

  • When: Tuesday 1 September, 8pm

  • Where: St Saviour’s Church Hall, West Hagley

  • Cost: Visitors £2, including refreshments; annual membership £10

• Stourbridge v Leamington: Stourbridge hosts Leamington in the Southern League Premier Central. Check the club listing for any fixture or admission update. View the official fixture.

  • When: Tuesday 1 September, 7:45pm

  • Where: Stourton Park, Stourbridge

• Hagley Library Walkers Group: Meet at the library for an approximately one-hour walk around the Hagley area. Read the County Council event listing.

  • When: Wednesday 2 September, 10:30am to 11:30am

  • Where: Hagley Library

  • Cost: Free

• Annual Joint Honey Show: Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association lists the Hagley and Stourbridge branch’s Annual Joint Honey Show. The live listing gives a start time but does not state public viewing arrangements, so prospective visitors and exhibitors should confirm details with the organiser. Check the official WBKA listing.

  • When: Saturday 5 September, from 8:30am

  • Where: Hagley Free Church

Special Offers

• Children travel free on participating Worcestershire buses. Children aged 15 and under can travel free on participating bus services in Worcestershire until Monday 31 August. Operator participation is voluntary, so check before travel. Children aged 11 to 15 travelling independently must ask for the “Under 16 Free Travel Offer (August 26)” ticket, and Worcestershire on Demand is included. Read the eligibility and operator conditions.

• Kids go free at Avoncroft Museum. Until Monday 31 August, one full-price adult ticket at £15 admits up to two children free. Further children aged five to 17 cost £7, under-fives are free, students pay £12, and an essential carer can enter free with proof. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holiday Monday, 10am to 4pm. Check the offer and book.

• Sunday set menu and takeaway saving at Shenapur. Shenapur’s Sunday evening three-course menu is £19.95 for adults and £16.95 for children under eight. The restaurant also advertises 10% off collection takeaways. The Sunday offer does not operate in December. Check the restaurant’s current offers.

Traffic Alerts

• Overnight M5 northbound closure between junctions 4 and 3. National Highways is closing the M5 northbound between junction 4 at Lydiate Ash and junction 3 at Quinton from 9pm to 6am each night through Monday 31 August. Frankley northbound services cannot be accessed during the closures. A signed diversion is published on the scheme page. Check the current closure notice and diversion.

• M6 southbound lane closures between junctions 6 and 5. Resurfacing works are scheduled on Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26, and Thursday 27 August, from 9pm to 6am. Three lanes will close while the hard shoulder remains open to traffic. National Highways states that no work is planned on Monday 24 or Friday 28 August. Check the maintenance schedule.

Security Alerts

• Hagley and Rubery policing priorities. The local policing team’s priorities, issued on 1 July 2026, cover antisocial behaviour, including illegal electric-bike use, drug use, and youth crime; shoplifting and wider business crime; and speeding and illegal road use. The page records patrols, engagement, enforcement, and partner work. Read the current local priorities.

• Crime-prevention event at Cofton Village Hall. The Hagley and Rubery Safer Neighbourhood Team is holding a crime-prevention event at Cofton Village Hall, Cofton Hackett, on Sunday 30 August from 10am to noon. Check the police event listing.

Bibliography

1. Worcestershire County Council, Fridge and freezer collections suspended at household recycling centres

2. Dudley Council, Norton fire resident recovery hub

3. Worcestershire County Council, GCSE results day support

4. Worcestershire Open Studios, Suzanne Nicholl

5. The Falconry Centre, Visitor information and special events

6. Bromsgrove District Council, Summer Fun at Sanders Park 2026

7. Stourbridge Glass Museum, Featured exhibitions

8. Stourbridge Glass Museum, Opening times and admission

9. Worcestershire Open Studios, Chris Frost

10. Worcestershire County Council, Saturday Story and Craft

11. Stourbridge Glass Museum, The Other Glass Seminar

12. Hagley Cricket Club, Hagley Third XI v Stone Second XI

13. Halesowen Town Football Club, Men’s First Team fixtures and results

14. Bromsgrove District Council, Music in the Bandstand

15. Hagley Historical and Field Society, Programme

16. Stourbridge Football Club, Men’s First Team fixtures and results

17. Worcestershire County Council, Hagley Library Walkers Group

18. Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association, Upcoming events

19. Worcestershire County Council, Children travel free by bus in August

20. Avoncroft Museum, Summer holidays: kids go free

21. Shenapur, Menus and offers

22. National Highways, West Midlands maintenance schemes

23. Worcestershire County Council, Roadworks and live updates

24. West Mercia Police, Hagley and Rubery local policing priorities

25. West Mercia Police, Hagley and Rubery meetings and events

26. West Mercia Police, Online reporting service

After the horrifying scenes in Stourbridge last night, I wanted to express my heartfelt sympathies and well wishes for anyone who’s been impacted, and to those who have lost homes or been injured due to the wildfires.

Stourbridge is our closest neighbour. The fires were walking distance from Hagley. We could see and smell the acrid smoke throughout the afternoon and evening. Seeing such tragedies so close to home reminds us that any one of us can be vulnerable at any given time.

The world is changing. We need to prepare ourselves for what’s to come. Community matters now more than ever.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

James.

Contents

• Author’s Note

• Latest News

• What’s On?

• Special Offers

• Traffic Alerts

• Security Alerts

• Bibliography

Author’s Note

Welcome to The Hagley Mile™ Spotlight: a practical round-up of what is happening in and around Hagley. This edition brings together a portrait demonstration, family activities, a local record-holder talk, summer sport, live music, free travel, and dates worth saving.

You will also find the road closures and current police advice most relevant to local journeys and households. Every time-sensitive item links to an organiser, council, business, league, or police source, so you can check the latest details before making plans.

Details below were checked against live sources on 9 August 2026. Events, prices, offers, and travel arrangements can change, so follow the linked source before travelling.

James.

Subscribe free for local news, events, offers, and alerts, delivered straight to your inbox.

Subscribe now

Latest News

• The Summer Reading Challenge continues at Hagley Library. The free Read to the Beat challenge runs until 12 September for children aged 4 to 11. Children who read six library books receive a medal and certificate, with interim rewards also available. Worcestershire County Council: Summer Reading Challenge

• Weekend access at Quantry Lane Household Recycling Centre is more flexible. Residents may now book up to six Saturday-to-Monday visits in a 14-day period, subject to availability. Bookings remain required from Saturday to Monday, but not from Tuesday to Friday. Worcestershire County Council: Quantry Lane update

• Worcestershire’s council structure will change in 2028. The Government has confirmed that the present seven councils will be replaced on 1 April 2028 by two unitary councils, one covering North Worcestershire, including Hagley, and one covering South Worcestershire. Bromsgrove District Council: local government reorganisation

• Two countywide online tools remain available. The Community Services Directory brings together local support, activities, volunteering, and practical services. A separate broadband checker shows current gigabit-capable availability and planned Project Gigabit upgrades by address. Community Services Directory and broadband availability checker

What’s On?

This week

1. Hagley Art Club: Hannah Broadhead portrait demonstration
   Monday 10 August, 7:30pm to 9:30pm, Hagley Community Centre. Visiting artist and former Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year contestant Hannah Broadhead will give a live portrait demonstration. Event details

2. Read to the Beat: Capybara Disco Dreams
   Wednesday 12 August, 10am to 11am, Hagley Library. Children aged 4 to 11 can hear the story and make a disco ball. Places cost £1, payable at the library, and advance booking is advised. Children must remain with a parent or carer. Event details

3. An Audience with Louis Alexander
   Wednesday 12 August, 6pm to 7pm, The Gables, Bennett Drive, Hagley. The British adventurer and Guinness World Record holder will discuss completing marathons on all seven continents and marathon-distance swims in all seven seas. The event is free, but booking is required. Event and booking details

4. Avoncroft summer fairground fun and miniature railway
   Wednesday 12 August, 10am to 4pm, Avoncroft Museum, Stoke Heath. Summer activities include a vintage fairground, trails, traditional games, crafts, windmill tours, and a miniature railway scheduled to run that day for £1 a ride. Adult admission is £15, with two free child tickets for each full-price adult ticket; other activities may cost extra. Summer programme and tickets and 2026 train timetable

5. Viking Workshop at Sanders Park
   Thursday 13 August, 10am to 4pm, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. This free outdoor family activity forms part of Bromsgrove District Council’s Summer Fun programme. Summer Fun programme

6. Hagley Free Church Prayer and Bible Study Group
   Friday 14 August, 2:30pm, Hagley Free Church, Worcester Road. The group meets regularly on Friday afternoons for prayer and an interactive Bible study. Regular activities

7. Saturday story and craft at Hagley Library
   Saturday 15 August, 10am to 12:30pm, Hagley Library. This free fortnightly session begins with a story followed by a craft activity for children aged 3 to 10. Children must remain with a parent or carer, and no booking is required. Event details

8. Hagley Cricket Club Saturday fixtures
   Saturday 15 August. Hagley’s Second XI hosts Pershore Second XI at noon, while the First XI plays Himley Second XI away at noon. The published Worcestershire County League schedule also lists the Third XI away to Halesowen Fifth XI at 12:30pm. Hagley Cricket Club and Worcestershire County League 2026 handbook

9. Music in the Bandstand: We Blow Saxes
   Sunday 16 August, 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Jubilee Bandstand, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. The outdoor concert is free. Bring a picnic or use nearby food and drink options. Bandstand programme

10. Lifecentral Hagley Sunday gathering
    Sunday 16 August, 4pm, Hagley Community Centre. The weekly gathering lasts about an hour and includes music and practical teaching, with children’s provision during the service. Service details

Coming soon

11. Steve Kaos Circus at Sanders Park
    Wednesday 19 August, 12pm to 4pm, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. A free outdoor circus activity in the council’s Summer Fun programme. Summer Fun programme

12. Orchardfest
    Friday 21 August from 7pm until late, and Saturday 22 August from 12pm to 11pm, Pools Farm, Moorgate Road, Bromsgrove. The family-friendly Primrose Hospice fundraiser features more than 15 local acts across two stages, with camping, free parking, food traders, and a licensed bar. Children and dogs are welcome. Festival details and tickets

13. A Celebration of Glass
    Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August, 10:30am to 4:30pm, across Stourbridge’s Glass Quarter. Stourbridge Glass Museum’s programme includes exhibitions, an artist talk, and live glassmaking. Its adult glass-fusing workshop on Sunday is fully booked. Museum admission is £10 for adults and free for children, with separately ticketed activities where stated. Full programme

14. Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week
    Saturday 22 to Monday 31 August, at participating studios and creative venues across Worcestershire. Entry to venues is free, but individual opening dates, times, and facilities vary, so plan visits using the organiser’s digital guide and map. Art Week planning details

15. Annual Joint Honey Show
    Saturday 5 September, Hagley Free Church Hall. The Hagley and Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and North East Worcestershire branches of Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association host the show. Entries are free and must be delivered between 8:30am and 10am, before judging begins. Show details, rules, and entry forms

Special Offers

• Free bus travel for children throughout August. Children aged 15 and under can travel free on participating services from 1 to 31 August, including Worcestershire on Demand. Participation in the national scheme is voluntary, so check the operator and route before travelling. Worcestershire County Council announcement

• Free Worcestershire bus travel for veterans and serving personnel. Eligible passengers who do not already hold a concessionary bus pass can travel free on the county’s commercial bus network and Worcestershire on Demand. Veterans need a Veteran Card, and serving personnel need military ID. Scheme details

• Two children go free at Avoncroft this summer. Until 31 August, each full-price £15 adult ticket includes admission for up to two children. Extra children aged 5 to 17 cost £7, and under-fives enter free. Some activities and rides cost extra. Avoncroft summer offer

• Shenapur, West Hagley. The restaurant advertises a Sunday evening three-course meal at £19.95 for adults and £16.95 for children under eight, plus 10% off takeaway collection orders. Shenapur offers

• Stourbridge FC family savings. Junior flexi-ticket and season-ticket prices have been reduced for 2026/27. The club also confirms free admission for all spectators at its Women’s First Team home league games this season. Membership and ticket announcement

Found this week’s round-up useful? Share this post with a friend, neighbour, or local group.

Share

Traffic Alerts

• A38 between New Road Junction and Oakalls Roundabout, Bromsgrove: weeknight closures are planned from Monday 10 to Saturday 15 August for work ahead of a traffic phase change. The council’s current summary does not state the nightly closure times and warns that dates can change. A38 improvement works update

• M5 northbound, junction 4 to junction 3: National Highways lists full overnight closures from 9pm to 6am until Monday 31 August for resurfacing. Frankley services cannot be accessed during closures. National Highways maintenance schedule

• M6 southbound, junction 6 to junction 5: full weeknight closures continue from 9pm to 6am through Friday 14 August. From 17 to 27 August, the programme changes to three closed lanes with the hard shoulder open. No work is planned on 24 August. National Highways maintenance schedule

• M42 southbound, junction 9 to junction 8: overnight weekday closures from 9pm to 6am continue through Tuesday 18 August for resurfacing. National Highways maintenance schedule

Security Alerts

• Current Hagley and Rubery police priorities: West Mercia Police lists anti-social behaviour, including illegal use of electric bikes, drug use, and youth-related crime; shoplifting and other business crime; and speeding and illegal use of the road network. Each was issued on 1 July, with police action recorded for 1 October. Local policing priorities

• Burglary advice for Hagley and Belbroughton: police linked eight burglaries reported during March and April, including entry through open first-floor windows and lock snapping. Residents are advised to close windows when out, secure rear and patio doors, consider anti-snap locks and motion-sensor CCTV, and photograph or mark valuables. West Mercia Police advice

• Motorbike theft warning: police reported a recent summer increase in thefts of smaller motorbikes in parts of Worcestershire. Advice includes layered locks, securing the frame to an immovable object, a cover, a tracker or immobiliser, CCTV, and a ground anchor for bikes stored in a garage. Motorbike security advice

• Lickey collision witness appeal: police are seeking the driver of a white Ford Fiesta after a collision at Old Birmingham Road, Twatling Road, and Monument Lane on 17 July left a motorcyclist with life-changing injuries. Anyone with relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from around 4:20pm is asked to contact the investigation team. Police appeal

Bibliography

1. Worcestershire County Council. Over 1,500 children sign up for Worcestershire’s Summer Reading Challenge.

2. Worcestershire County Council. Weekend booking restrictions eased at Quantry Lane Household Recycling Centre.

3. Bromsgrove District Council. Future of Worcestershire’s councils decided.

4. Worcestershire County Council. Discover support available in your local community.

5. Worcestershire County Council. Check gigabit broadband availability.

6. Hagley Art Club. Hannah Broadhead visiting-artist demonstration.

7. Worcestershire County Council. Read to the Beat: Capybara Disco Dreams.

8. Worcestershire County Council. Saturday story and craft at Hagley Library.

9. Cinnamon Care Collection. An Audience with Louis Alexander.

10. Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. Summer holidays and children-go-free offer.

11. Bromsgrove Society of Model Engineers and Avoncroft Museum. 2026 miniature railway timetable.

12. Bromsgrove District Council. Summer Fun at Sanders Park 2026.

13. Lifecentral Church. Lifecentral Hagley services and groups.

14. Hagley Free Church. Regular activities.

15. Hagley Cricket Club. Club website and fixtures.

16. Worcestershire County League. 2026 handbook and fixtures.

17. Bromsgrove District Council. Music in the Bandstand.

18. Primrose Hospice and Family Support Centre. Orchardfest 2026.

19. Stourbridge Glass Museum. A Celebration of Glass.

20. Worcestershire Open Studios. Art Week 2026.

21. Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association. Annual Joint Honey Show.

22. Worcestershire County Council. Children travel free by bus in August.

23. Worcestershire County Council. Free bus travel for veterans and serving personnel.

24. Shenapur. Restaurant menus and offers.

25. Stourbridge Football Club. 2026/27 memberships and season tickets.

26. Worcestershire County Council. A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme: latest works.

27. National Highways. West Midlands maintenance schemes.

28. Worcestershire County Council. Roadworks and live updates.

29. West Mercia Police. Hagley and Rubery local policing priorities.

30. West Mercia Police. Advice following burglaries in Hagley and Belbroughton.

31. West Mercia Police. Motorbike safety and security warning.

32. West Mercia Police. Witness appeal following serious collision in Lickey.

33. West Mercia Police. Online reporting service.

Contents

1. Author’s Note

2. Latest News

3. What’s On?

4. Special Offers

5. Traffic Alerts

6. Security Alerts

7. Bibliography

Author’s Note

Welcome to the first edition of The Hagley Mile™ Spotlight: a practical round-up of what’s happening in and around the village. With the summer holidays in full swing, this issue brings together family activities, free bus travel, community news, local offers, and dates worth putting in the diary.

You’ll also find roadworks and safety updates that may affect the week ahead. Every item links to its original source, so you can confirm the latest details before making plans. I hope it helps you spend less time searching and more time enjoying what Hagley and the surrounding area have to offer.

James.

Latest News

• The Summer Reading Challenge is under way at Hagley Library. More than 1,500 children had signed up countywide by 31 July. The free Read to the Beat challenge runs until 12 September for children aged 4 to 11, with medals and certificates for those who complete six books. Worcestershire County Council: Summer Reading Challenge

• A new broadband checker is available. Residents and businesses can check whether gigabit-capable broadband is available at their address and whether future Project Gigabit work is planned. The council says nearly 89% of Worcestershire premises had access by July 2026. Worcestershire County Council: broadband availability

• A countywide Community Services Directory has launched. It brings together local health and wellbeing support, activities, volunteering opportunities, groups, and practical services. Worcestershire County Council: Community Services Directory

• Small community organisations can use a free Funding Finder. The database is open to Worcestershire voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations with annual turnover below £1 million, and includes grants, guidance, and application support. Worcestershire County Council: Funding Finder

• Worcestershire’s council structure will change in 2028. The Government has confirmed that the existing seven councils will be replaced on 1 April 2028 by two unitary authorities, one for North Worcestershire, including Hagley, and one for South Worcestershire. Bromsgrove District Council: local government reorganisation

• An active-travel plan has been published for nearby Wyre Forest. The plan covers Kidderminster, Bewdley, and Stourport-on-Severn, while the same council update says public engagement on the emerging Bromsgrove walking and cycling network is due later in 2026. Worcestershire County Council: Wyre Forest LCWIP

What’s On?

This week

1. Hagley Library Walkers Group. Wednesday 5 August, 10:30am to 11:30am. Meet at Hagley Library for a free walk of roughly one hour around the village. Event details

2. Bounce and Rhyme at Hagley Library. Wednesday 5 August, 2:15pm to 2:45pm. A free singing and rhyme session for pre-school children and their carers. Advance booking is essential. Event details

3. National Travelling History Museum and Wilson Fun Fair. Wednesday 5 August, 10am to 3pm, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. Both outdoor activities are free. Summer Fun programme

4. Lifecentral Hagley stay-and-play. Thursday 6 August, 10am to 11:30am, Hagley Community Centre. For children aged 1 to 4. £5 for up to two children, then £1 for each additional child. No booking is needed. Lifecentral Hagley

5. Bromsgrove Library and Little Potters Allotment Workshop. Friday 7 August, 10am to 2pm, Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. Free outdoor holiday activity. Summer Fun programme

6. Hagley Free Church Friday activities. Friday 7 August at Hagley Free Church, 95 Worcester Road. Shoppers’ Coffee runs from 10am to 11:45am, with cake and coffee for £3. The weekly Prayer and Bible Study Group meets at 2:30pm. Weekly activities

7. Read to the Beat: The Bear and the Piano. Friday 7 August, 2:15pm to 3:15pm, Hagley Library. A music-themed paper craft for children aged 4 to 11. Places cost £1 and should be booked and paid for at the library. Event details

8. Board games and LEGO at Hagley Library. Saturday 8 August. Free family board games and puzzles run from 9:30am to 12:30pm, followed by the free all-ages LEGO Club from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. Children attending the board-games session must be accompanied by a parent or carer. Board games details and LEGO Club details

9. Stourbridge FC v Stamford AFC. Saturday 8 August, 3pm, War Memorial Athletic Ground, Amblecote. This is Stourbridge’s opening Southern League Premier Central fixture of the 2026/27 season. Official fixtures

10. Worcester Show. Sunday 9 August, 10am to 5pm, Pitchcroft, Worcester. The programme includes food and market stalls, music, competition marquees, a kids’ zone, sports, a fun dog show, and Worcester Mela. Adult admission is £2.60 in advance or £4 at the gate, and under-16s enter free. Worcester Show

Coming soon

11. Hagley Art Club: Hannah Broadhead portrait demonstration. Monday 10 August, 7:30pm to 9:30pm, Hagley Community Centre. The visiting artist and former Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year contestant will give a live demonstration. Event details

12. Hagley and Stourbridge Beekeepers: Annual Joint Honey Show. Saturday 5 September, Hagley Free Church Hall. Entries must be delivered between 8:30am and 10am, after which judging will begin. Entries are free. Event details

13. Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week. Saturday 22 to Monday 31 August, at participating venues across Worcestershire. More than 180 artists and makers at 104 venues will offer exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and work for sale. Entry is free, but individual opening days and times vary. Event and planning details

14. Bank Holiday displays at The Falconry Centre, Hagley. Monday 31 August. Flying displays are scheduled for 1pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm, weather permitting. The centre lists admission at £8 for adults, £4 for children aged 5 and over, free for under-fours, £7 concessions, and £21 for a family of four. 2026 special events

15. The Earls of Dudley, with Philip Bowen. Tuesday 1 September, 8pm, St Saviour’s Church Hall, West Hagley. Hagley Historical and Field Society welcomes visitors for £2, including refreshments. Society programme

Special Offers

• Free bus travel for children throughout August. Children aged 15 and under can travel free on participating services from 1 to 31 August, including Worcestershire on Demand. Check the operator’s conditions and the specific route before setting out, as participation in the national scheme is voluntary. Worcestershire County Council announcement

• Free Worcestershire bus travel for veterans and serving personnel. The scheme covers the county’s commercial bus network and Worcestershire on Demand for veterans and serving personnel who do not already hold a concessionary bus pass, showing a Veteran Card or military ID. Scheme details

• Badgers Sett, Hagley. The Beefeater daytime menu offers mains under £8 from Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5pm. Its £11.99 unlimited breakfast also allows two children to eat free with each paying adult. Offers are subject to the published conditions and availability. Badgers Sett offers

• Shenapur, West Hagley. The restaurant advertises a Sunday evening three-course meal at £19.95 for adults and £16.95 for children under eight, plus 10% off takeaway collection orders. Shenapur offers

• Stourbridge FC family savings. Junior flexi-ticket and season-ticket prices have been reduced for 2026/27. The club also says admission to its Women’s First Team home league matches will be free for all spectators this season. Membership and ticket announcement

Traffic Alerts

• Regents Park Road, Bromsgrove: off-peak three-way lights at Abbey Close are proposed through Friday 7 August. Overnight closures between Oakalls Roundabout and Royal Worcester Crescent are scheduled from 8pm to 6am on the nights of Friday 7, Saturday 8, and Sunday 9 August. Resident, pedestrian, and emergency access arrangements are set out by the council. A38 improvement works update

• Further Bromsgrove works are provisional: the published programme lists an overnight A38 Stoke Road closure on 14 August, off-peak three-way lights on Buntsford Drive from 17 to 19 August, and weeknight closures on Stoke Road from 25 to 31 August. These entries are marked proposed or to be confirmed, so check again before travelling. Latest works programme

• M6 southbound, junctions 6 to 5: National Highways lists full weeknight closures from 3 to 14 August, generally from 9pm to 6am, as part of resurfacing between junctions 6 and 4. This may affect evening journeys between Hagley and Birmingham. National Highways maintenance schedule

• For short-notice local changes, use the council’s roadworks and live updates page before setting out.

Security Alerts

• Current Hagley and Rubery police priorities: West Mercia Police lists anti-social behaviour, including illegal use of electric bikes, drug use, and youth-related crime, alongside shoplifting, business-related crime, speeding, and illegal road use. The priorities were issued on 1 July, with actions dated 1 October 2026. The team says it will use engagement, visible patrols, education, and enforcement. Local policing priorities

• Burglary warning for Hagley and Belbroughton: police linked eight reported burglaries from March and April, including entry through open first-floor windows and lock snapping. Residents are advised to close windows when out, secure rear and patio doors, consider anti-snap locks and motion-sensor CCTV, and photograph or mark valuables. West Mercia Police advice

• Motorbike theft warning: West Mercia Police reported a summer rise in thefts of smaller motorbikes in parts of Worcestershire. Suggested precautions include layered locks, securing the frame to an immovable object, a cover, a tracker or immobiliser, CCTV, and a ground anchor in a garage. Motorbike security advice

• Lickey collision witness appeal: police are still seeking the driver of a white Ford Fiesta after a serious collision at Old Birmingham Road, Twatling Road, and Monument Lane on 17 July. Anyone with dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from the area around 4:20pm is asked to contact the investigation team. Police appeal

Bibliography

1. Worcestershire County Council. Over 1,500 children sign up for Worcestershire’s Summer Reading Challenge.

2. Worcestershire County Council. Worcestershire residents encouraged to check gigabit broadband availability.

3. Worcestershire County Council. Discover support available in your local community.

4. Worcestershire County Council. Free Funding Finder for community organisations.

5. Bromsgrove District Council. Future of Worcestershire’s councils decided.

6. Worcestershire County Council. Wyre Forest Towns Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

7. Worcestershire County Council. Hagley Library Walkers Group.

8. Worcestershire County Council. Bounce and Rhyme at Hagley Library.

9. Bromsgrove District Council. Summer Fun at Sanders Park 2026.

10. Lifecentral Church. Lifecentral Hagley groups and activities.

11. Hagley Free Church. Regular activities.

12. Worcestershire County Council. Read to the Beat: The Bear and the Piano.

13. Worcestershire County Council. Saturday board games and puzzles at Hagley Library.

14. Worcestershire County Council. LEGO Club at Hagley Library.

15. Stourbridge Football Club. First-team fixtures and results.

16. Worcester Show. Official event website.

17. Hagley Art Club. Hannah Broadhead visiting-artist demonstration.

18. Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association. Hagley and Stourbridge branch events.

19. Visit Worcestershire. Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week 2026.

20. The Falconry Centre. Special events and bank-holiday displays.

21. Hagley Historical and Field Society. Society programme.

22. Worcestershire County Council. Children travel free by bus in August.

23. Worcestershire County Council. Free bus travel for veterans and serving personnel.

24. Beefeater. Badgers Sett, Hagley.

25. Shenapur. Restaurant menus and offers.

26. Stourbridge Football Club. 2026/27 memberships and season tickets.

27. Worcestershire County Council. A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme: latest works.

28. National Highways. West Midlands maintenance schemes.

29. Worcestershire County Council. Roadworks and live updates.

30. West Mercia Police. Hagley and Rubery local policing priorities.

31. West Mercia Police. Advice following burglaries in Hagley and Belbroughton.

32. West Mercia Police. Motorbike safety and security warning.

33. West Mercia Police. Witness appeal following serious collision in Lickey.

34. West Mercia Police. Online reporting service.