I'm going to make some bold statements with this place. First up it is my favourite shop in Acocks…read moreGreen. I also think it must be the best hardware store in Birmingham. Jeffries is a huge hardware business that stocks all the standard nuts and bolts plus a huge selection of outdoor planting, perfect for this time of year, and has a large gardening section at the rear of the store. Recently I was after some fence protector and after a visit to a huge DIY shop felt frazzled by the choice in products, colours and price. One trip to Jeffries and I got exactly what I needed, no fuss, a great price and I parked my car at the rear of the store to load up. I also recently discovered they do key cutting. They stock a wide selection of pet products. The beauty of this place is that they've always got what you need and know exactly what you are asking for. On the very slim chance they don't stock what you are after they know where you should go to get it. Amazing staff and service.

Need a hardware item for your garden and/ home? Take a look here as I'm sure they'll have it! There…read moreare lots of little sections in this shop like their garden hardware, animal treats and carpet sections. It was a nice little surprise when discovering each area here. In summary it's a big hardware store that sells all (or at least most) of the nuts and bolts you need for your home and they have a big garden centre. If they don't have what you want then the staff can tell you where to get it. The shop is mainly for people who want to buy anything to do with DIY for their home. I came in here in search of a few things for home and, I don't mean to offend anybody by stereotyping, as a woman in a hardware store I didn't know where to look first. The staff were friendly and polite enough however to put me in the right direction. If you need any hardware for your home and garden then it's worth giving this store a visit.

Wandering around the Ladypool Road one afternoon - as you do - I stumbled upon this place, and…read moreloved it immediately. It's a little green oasis, snug between St. Paul's Road and Ladypool Road, where the emphasis is on community, and domestic plants. What a great combination. It's also the home of the Balsall Heath Forum, I later discovered. It's quite a spacious patch of land, with greenhouses and plant displays surrounding a wide walkway where the good folk of the Forum no doubt stroll around, discussing all things Balsall Heath. It's lovely to happen upon a welcoming colourful spot like this in the middle of a built up urban area. The only reminders that you're not in Kansas anymore are the frequent CCTV warnings all over the displays. I'm not sure that Balsall Heath's hardened criminals are planning on running off with armfuls of gerberas, but at least tey know the consequences if they do...

Saifee is my local hardware store, so maybe i'm biased and yeah I love hardware stores so again…read morewhat's to fault! Key cutting services are available along with all of the other cool stuff available. Yeah you know, axes big hammers the like, so if there ever is a bath salt induced Zombie Apocalypse Mr Saifee is going to be rubbing his hands together with glee as the demand sends his profits through the roof! Saifee aint going' nowhere, Hardware Stores do a steady trade whatever the economic forecast and it's worth a gander for the charm alone.

Saifee's is a dependable hardware store. A store for the practical minded who are satisfied with…read moreleaving that leaky tap for someone else to attend to or to let that draughty window to give them another poor nights sleep. The shelves are stacked high and if you know what you want it's likely Mr Saifee will know where to look. The key cutting service here is the only one I've experienced in recent years where they have worked the first time, which casts shame on some undisclosed big names. The minnows of local hardware continue to punch well above their weight.

Uncles Homestore was the place to go to rifle through the toy aisle, a sort of local Toys R us and…read moreit turns out it's still serving the local community down on the Ladypool Rd. It's not only toys they sell here, in fact they don a great job of selling both practical and more decorative items and some that are distinctly Indian. Uncles Homestore conjures up memoris of childhood, cap guns other boy hood essentials, returning I found my interest taken by more practical items and offers many hosehold essentials.

When you're thinking of giving your home a new look, you often imagine a magnificent picture in…read moreyour head but can never find the trimmings to make this dream a reality. I knew precisely the texture of carpet I wanted for my bedroom and the colour but couldn't find it anywhere. That's until I came to Abdullah & Sons. They have the largest selection of carpets, rugs and flooring that I've ever come across under one roof. They're always busy, which goes to show just how popular they are in the trade. The only problem with range is you're spoilt for choice but I can't complain about that! It just means it takes longer but Abdullah, the owner, is understanding. He offers samples of your favourite carpets to take home. They have carpet fitters, who can usually come as soon as the following day. Or delivery is available immediately!

I love it! They have all the essentials you need to set up your home. Tools, paint, wallpaper,…read moretiles & flooring. I'm not renovating but I get grand ideas about re-tiling my kitchen every time I go in. They have a nice selection of accessories and linens too. Better quality than most of the shops nearby, if a little more pricey. It's great to have Homebase in the neighborhood, I find myself going in all the time for little odds and ends, like a new doorbell, lightbulbs, screwdriver, lampshade, etc.

Don't waste your money on a Sovereign leaf vacuum like I did. Wish I had spent the extra and got a…read moreproper leaf vacuum not this childs version, any more than 2 leaves and it blocks up, useless. I'll spend a bit more next time and get a reputable make. Only have myself to blame it seemed like a bargin at £29 and as I don't need one that often it seemed a waste to have a dear one hanging around seldom used, I know better now.

The shop-keeper rouses himself from bench-pressing weights in the mini gym that he has out back and…read moregreets me. So what exactly is hydroponics? He explains. Hydroponics is a system of growing plants via an system a called 'ebb and flood'. The plant sits in a top tray on a bed of clay pebbles and nutrient-filled water from a tray below is sucked up to later drain away to the bottom tray, and the cycle continues. This means that there is a constant flow, of water, air (and therefore oxygen), and so the grower can attain higher yields from the plant. The shop sells ebb and flow trays, nutrients, heat lamps and specialist horticultural magazines and literature. Most people starting out in hydroponics might not have a clue of how to get started and the shop-keeper is well used to this. He tells me what I'd need to get started, asks me what I'm growing and the quantity of what I'm growing. Then he sends me off with a more information so I can do some research and come back when I'm ready to buy. The most obvious application for hydroponics is the farming of cannabis plants. If you take off your blinkers though there's a world of growing that hydroponics can be applied to. Chillies, and tomatoes are some other plants that you can get high yields from. Who knows, maybe I'll start with grapes and we'll soon see Chateau Ben Shiraz on sale at craft fairs in the area soon?

OK, so I'm a bit biased, as I tend to automatically love anything green. However, Bournville Garden…read moreCentre is a particularly good haven for all things bright and beautiful that you may fancy in your garden. Personally, I would like almost everything that they stock in my garden. But this is sadly unfeasible. As well as the beautiful plant displays outside, they also have a lovely shop inside, with lots of lovely Emma Bridgewater-style gardening ornamentation as well as things for the boys like barbecues and fire pits. They also do a great Christmas tree service: they will cut and plant to your requirements as well as carrying the darn thing out to your car. The shop always looks amazing at Christmas as well, with lots of lovely hand-crafted decorations. They have their own store card as well, which is great if you're a regular. Which I am. Even if I just spend most of my time strolling around looking at plants rather than actually buying anything. Perhaps I need to get out more....

I'm a big fan of this place. As a garden centre it's a lot bigger than you'd expect, given it's…read morelocation in sleepy Bourenville. There is a large outdoor section with a huge selection of plants and shrubs and the interior boasts a whole host of goods, from the decorative to the useful. As I'm currently taming my large and unruly back garden, I'm often in here looking for dangerous chemicals! The have a 'Gardening Club' reward scheme that is free to join and actually works out as a genuine reward scheme - many is the time I've got to the counter to pay and fished out my card to receive a discount. They also post you a leaflet every month or so with a list of offers and some vouchers.