Sarehole was the hamlet where J.R.R. Tolkien lived during his early years and that he remembered fondly all his life.  The mill that stood nearby and that impressed itself on his imagination, inspiring the mill in Hobbiton, still stands and welcomes visitors in its own right.  There are only two working water mills in Birmingham now and Sarehole Mill is one of them.  There has been a water mill on this site for over 500 years.

It has been the dream of the many volunteers involved with the annual Middle-earth Weekend,  to recognise Tolkien's many links with Birmingham and particularly his love of Sarehole and its surroundings.   To this end the Birmingham Tolkien Group was set up, made up of fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, volunteers, city councillors and officers from Birmingham City Council. Tolkien contributed aid towards the restoration of Sarehole Mill in his lifetime, but now the mill pool is in urgent need of dredging to remove silt  and the Museum Services are preparing a capital bid. 

Meanwhile the Birmingham Tolkien Group's current project is to create a garden at the rear of Sarehole Mill, and around the pool.   Recently repairs were undertaken to the roof and rear walls of the mill together with a disabled access point leading to the first floor of the mill which has until now only been accessible via a narrow, very steep staircase.  (It still is of course).

Building on these renovations, it has been decided to create a subtle and delicate tribute by creating a Tolkien Garden, within which there will be;

The Gaffer's Vegetable Patch

Sam's Flower Garden

The Healing Herb garden

A path will lead through the tree shaded grounds past 'Old Man Willow' towards the 'Midgewater Marshes' and it is hoped to have a 'Hobbit Hole Hide' overlooking the mill pool, within the reeds of which it would be lovely to find a willow 'swan boat' moored.  Other suitable associated features will be added later.

The project is still  in its infancy and progress will depend on funding.  Some has already been forthcoming and over the winter months, therefore, prior to the Mill opening up again in April 2011, volunteers will be starting work tidying and planting the area and beginning the task of creating what we hope will be an imaginative garden that fans and non-fans will enjoy and that will be a green and peaceful oasis.