Sam Gamgee was a gardener.

The Middle-earth Weekend 2013

Sam Gamgee in the book ’The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien is a gardener at the start of the story. In the film, Faramir says that "Gardeners must be held in high esteem in The Shire". Well of course they are.

Tolkien was keen on gardening, spending the time between teaching and writing in tending his flowers and vegetables. His interest in the natural world started as child in Sarehole wandering along the River Cole and surroundings with his brother Hilary and learning from his mother the names of plants and trees.

To acknowledge Tolkien’s links with Sarehole, The Tolkien Society, the River Cole and Chinn Brook Conservation Group and Moseley Bog Conservation Group met together in December 2000 to discuss the possibility of creating a country park to honour J.R.R. Tolkien and his connections with Birmingham, not least his living in Wake Green Road, opposite to Sarehole Mill, an inspiration to much of his work.  This idea came to fruition and The Shire Country Park, now exists and covers the area along the River Cole from the Solihull Border, for several miles in towards the centre of Birmingham and includes the atmospheric Moseley Bog where Tolkien and his brother Hilary played as child, Sarehole Mill is at its heart. www.shirecountryparkfriends.org.uk.

It was during early discussions, that the idea of a weekend event to celebrate Tolkien's life and work was suggested. The first one in 2000 was small scale, (one tent, facepainting, craft activities. It was, however, very successful and involved several local groups volunteering entertainment, information and creative activities to an eager public.

Since then the weekend has grown considerably in size, and the number of attractions and visitors, local and national, has increased along with it. The success of the films The Lord of the Rings added to the numbers attending, but even after the three films were over, the public still came along.  Now, of course we have seen the release of the first of Peter Jackson’s films based on ‘The Hobbit with two more to follow.

The original volunteer groups have maintained their support but the event has grown from a few hundred visitors to several thousand at any one time, and includes far more activities for visitors to enjoy including guided walks around the area, re-enactment groups, medieval craftsmen and the chance to become the next Legolas with the archers. If you have read 'The Hobbit' you will understand the significance of the mini barrel race along the River Cole, taking place each afternoon at 3.00pm. Drama, music and poetry are regular features as is the ever popular Tolkien Tent and Craft Tent.

Visitors are encouraged to attend the weekend in costume and perhaps enter the costume competition.  There is a prize each day for adults and one for children.   This free event is suitable for children and families as well as fans of Tolkien's stories, in fact anyone who enjoys a festival with an 'old-fashioned' feel about it.  Booking is necessary in the Information Tent for some of the activities taking place and there may be a charge for some activities within the event, e.g. face painting but most of the activities are free.

After its renovation, Sarehole Mill is in full working order and behind the mill, Sam’s flower garden and The Gaffer’s Vegetable Patch are flourishing,together with the ivy border, and newly landscaped garden between the offices and the mill. This year the volunteer gardeners will be adding to the gardens, enlarging the fernery, and sowing a wildflower border. A miniature village of Hobbiton is being created especially for the weekend. The gardens are a lovely and surprising oasis within this area. The mill will be free to enter and visitors can enjoy the exhibition and audio visual display about Tolkien together with a mini-hobbit hunt within the mill building. The Tolkien Society will also be there as well as local history groups. Perhaps you would like to come along and share the fun or just visit the mill to enjoy the gardens and relax in the cafe or outside in the courtyard should summer decide to bestow its warmth on you.

middleearthweekend.org.uk