Easter fun at Sandwell Valley

Join us for a magical Easter at Sandwell Valley and meet the Easter Bunny in his burrow for an extra special family experience.

Mr E Bunny will be waiting in his burrow with his springtime helpers ready to greet families and children. We have heard he has some chocolate gifts to hand out. We also have great entertainment to keep the whole family happy along with some brilliant Easter craft activities. There is also a fabulous Easter trail to navigate.

In addition, we have plenty of food and drink available in our tearooms, from Easter cakes to marshmallow-topped luxury hot chocolates. Then don't miss the shop where we have stocked up on some lovely springtime gifts, toys and locally-sourced products.

Book your tickets now for Easter at Sandwell Valley.

Under our Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), dog owners face a £100 fine if they don't follow our Sandwell doggy rules, which are:

• Owners must carry dog poo bags
• Owners must pick up after their dog
• Dogs are not allowed in playground areas or tennis courts

Help us keep Sandwell clean and tidy by following our Walkies Dos and Don'ts. Read more about how you can help us tackle dog mess.

We also have PSPOs relating to alcohol-related nuisance and BBQs/fires in public places in Sandwell. No BBQs, campfires or fires are permitted on public land.

Read more about the PSPO orders we have in place after consulting with Sandwell people.

Have you ever wondered what your Council Tax helps to pay for? It’s not just bin collections and streetlights. You may not know that most of our budget for services (around 60%) is spent on looking after and supporting the people who need it most. The majority of the money the council spends is on key services that help us to look after and support vulnerable or disabled children and adults. Watch our video to find out about the council's financial situation and how your Council Tax changes lives.

Check out our new online hub – Find It Do It!

Find It Do It is the go-to place to find activities and clubs near you. 

Discover arts and entertainment, culture and heritage, green spaces and sports and fitness activities. You can search by town, specific location or activity to make it even easier to use.

If you have a free weekend or you're looking for a new activity or club, then look no further.

If you represent a group looking for new members, get your details added to the Find It Do It site.

There are also listings of venues for hire if you're looking for a place to hold your own activity or event.

Stay connected for less Did you know you could save money on cheaper broadband and phone packages? Broadband providers now offer social tariff products to low-income households. If you receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and others you could save money by checking if your current provider offers a social tariff. You can apply for most tariffs online or call your provider and ask to switch. To find out if you are eligible, visit the social tariff webpage.

• reposition bus stops so they’re closer together in a bus-only lane in Market Place/Birmingham Road, creating a dedicated bus link
• provide more pedestrian crossings, widen some pavements and improve loading bays for the market and shops
• create a paved public space in Market Place, near to the market, to include seats, trees and an area for pop-up outdoor events.

Read more about the revised proposals for Blackheath town centre.

Spring Sandwell Herald is out! The spring edition of the Sandwell Herald is out now. It celebrates 50 years of Sandwell with an invite for residents to share their memories that could feature on our social media channels, Celebrate Sandwell website and in the Herald this year. We cover the latest cost of living advice and details of support available, and there’s a feature on the council’s budget and how it is spent on services. There’s also information on the May elections, Voter ID requirements and postal votes. Check out advice on staying healthy and safe and some of our projects for children and young people, including the SHAPE Your Talent competition and a Royal visit to open Shireland CBSO Academy. Read an update on regeneration plans and the latest on the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, plus there’s advice for businesses, entrepreneurs and social enterprises. We also preview upcoming events this spring and celebrate inspirational stories of Sandwell people.

Next week is Food Waste Action Week

From Monday (18 March), our recycling officers will be in locations across Sandwell all week handing out useful tips and tricks for your home, shopping hacks and tasty recipes to help you make your food go further.

By reducing food waste you could save up to £60 a month, so why not pop along and say hi to the team?

Our recycling advisors will be at:

• Monday: Oldbury Library, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, B69 3DB, 10am-3pm
• Tuesday: West Bromwich Central Library, High Street, B70 8DZ, 10am-3pm
• Wednesday: Dorothy Parkes Centre, Church Road, Smethwick, B67 6EH, 10am-3pm
• Thursday: Lodge Community Centre, Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8PJ, 10am-3pm
• Friday: Brushstrokes, 253 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ, 10am-3pm

You can also check out our food waste saving tips.

Weightlifting events at Oldbury Academy tomorrow (Saturday) Excitement is building for three British Weight Lifting events at Oldbury Academy tomorrow (Saturday). Fynn aged 12 (pictured) will be among the athletes showing off their skills in the national weightlifting championship events. The day will be kick-started with the Oldbury Academy Junior Open, which will see the academy’s pupils competing for the first time. Continuing the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, spectators will get to see athletes who are expected to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Everyone is welcome to attend the event and watch the competitions. Tickets cost £2 and will be available for purchase on the door – the events are on between 10am and 6pm at Oldbury Academy in Pound Road, B68 8NE.