Out of Africa - No, Shirley

Shirley, Solihull, that is. West Midlands UK.

Akamba is rather a different sort of garden centre - specialists in bamboos and palms - and a strangely African atmosphere.

It would be. It's the brainchild of Jamaican born, Olympic Speed Skater, Chris Canaan, who has already won RHS Gold medals and the BBC Gardening Award. He deals directly with artists in Kenya and has set up a charitable foundation, ACEF.

There's a metal zoo - and sculpture and art

And the most wonderful, informal and relaxing Caribbean restaurant..... recommend the Curry Goat with rice and peas and dumpling - and the Plantain fritters.

It's well worth a trip down the M42.....

We had a dramatic downpour which flooded roads (and left the V Festival car park a sea of mud) so it was strange to go round this garden centre and see the tropics, with built in puddles.
Metal animals
Monkeys anyone ?
The Shop