When walking around Digbeth, or most notably the Custard Factory, you may have noticed a flock (or kit) of pigeons swooping overhead, causing you to run for shelter and protect your jacket from getting decorated with white streaks. These feathered formations are part of Project Pigeon, a pigeon-racing syndicate run and sponsored by many arts and media groups in the West Midlands.
The place the pigeons call home resides in the lock-ups on Floodgate Street, and while their colourful lofts have been a welcome abode for these homing birds, it is time to spruce things up. The Pigeon Project is calling out for you to help design a new loft that will uniquely reflect the cultures of Digbeth and Highgate, in the same way that pigeon lofts around the world reflect their culture.
Your thoughts and ideas can be shared at a number of Community Consultation Days, as well as at workshops which will be run through various organisations around the city.
The Community Consultation Days will be running on the following:
Thursday 3rd February: 7.30am-2.30pm Eastside Café, 99 Coventry Street, Digbeth
Sunday 6th February: 10am-4pm Project Pigeon’s Loft, Milk Street, Digbeth (in Boxxed’s backyard, opposite Birmingham Backpackers)
Wednesday 9th February: 2pm-6pm Project Pigeon’s Loft
Tuesday 15th February: 7pm-11pm The Spotted Dog pub, 104 Warwick Street, Digbeth
And there are workshops 2-4pm on Fridays and Saturdays from February until April:
19th February: Introduction to Pigeon Fancying
25th February: A Pigeon’s Home and Life
26th February: Day-to-day Pigeon Loft Management
4th March: Making Nest Boxes and Perches
5th March: Racing Pigeons, Birmingham Rollers and Tipplers
11th March: A Pigeon’s Diet
12th March: Veterinary Skills
18th March: Breeding
19th March: Training and Racing
2nd April: Making a Magazine about Pigeons
16th April: Come and Watch a Live Pigeon Race!
All workshops take place at Project Pigeon’s Loft.
Your entries for pigeon loft designs can be sent to: projectpigeondigbeth@gmail.com with a deadline of 6th March. Check out the website for more details on the project and updates on workshops.
Craig Bush
Area Culture Guide 