Month: August 2015

Final litter pick reminder!

Quick reminder. Come along and enjoy a stroll around our magnificent cemetery-hopefully in the sunshine- whilst collecting litter as you walk! We hold our litter picks every quarter and they offer a chance for you to observe wildlife, especially the  extensive bird population, whilst helping to keep this beautiful open space litter free.

Meet by the Lodge on the main drive- 10am on Saturday the 5th September. We advise suitable clothing , footwear and gloves,  but we will provide litter pickers and rubbish bags. Litter Pick events usually last till approx 11.30am

Litter Picks are useful, satisfying and fun.
Litter Picks are useful, satisfying and fun.

Work starts on Chapels

‘Heritage Stone Access’ began work this week to clear shrubbery and re-fix loose and fallen masonry on the chapels, in an effort to slow deterioration pending funding being available to undertake renovation work.

20150825_102629As we all know, money is tight in Birmingham City Council and therefore renovation of the chapels remains some way off.  (The majority of grant applications would demand match funding as a minimum from the site/building owners- BCC)

Bereavements Department are keen, along with the Friends, to try and keep the Chapels from deteriorating further during this lean period so have engaged a reputable company, with a good history of work on heritage buildings, to carry out various works. This includes making the building ‘pigeon proof’. (Large amounts of pigeon poo have already been professionally removed!) Shrubbery has also been sprayed with weed killers and partially removed.

20150825_102629 - CopyThose eagled eyed visitors to the cemetery will have noticed that since the pigeons have been denied access to the buildings they have taken to roosting on the tower and creating quite a mess! Whilst on site the contractors will also be re-fixing masonry that has fallen (as seen across). We all watch with interest.

VJ day remembered.

Kings Heath British Legion in Station Road, Kings Heath  are holding a family day for the local community to raise awareness of the 70th anniversary of VJ Day. They want to highlight the work the Legion does for serving and ex serving personnel. As Kings Heath is the last Memorial Hall in the West Midlands they strongly believe that this date should be marked with respect and that people need to be aware of the struggle people went though during the campaign.

They will have food, stalls and a bouncing castle on site so why not pop in with the family between 12-4pm  to show your support.

Find out more about VJ Day here.Poppy

Our 10th Anniversary.

I am sure you have gathered from our notice boards and this blog, that 2015 is the 10th year that FBEC have been active in Brandwood End. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to support a  Heritage event in the cemetery this year but instead we will have displays in Kings Heath and Druids Heath Libraries during Heritage week (from the 9th September). Why not pop in and take a look?

Dedication stone

Work parties on local sites

Our local neighbour, Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve, has two work party events in August.

On the 23rd August they are inviting you to come along and ‘ Bash Balsam’ to help control this invasive weed (10.30-1pm) and then on the 30th they have a general work day with ‘The Reapers’ cutting the wild flower meadow area. (8.30-11am). Contact the Ranger Service to book a place.

Jasmin Fields photos (3)

Future Project

The Friends are in discussions with Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust to be the linchpin of a community Hedgehog survey in Brandwood. The project would hopefully involve the training of local residents to recognise Hedgehog activity, improve habitat, encourage ‘Hedgehog friendly gardens’ and generally raise the profile and understanding of wildlife within the cemetery and beyond.

hedgehogThe Hedgehog used to be a common sight in many peoples gardens and within Brandwood End Cemetery……but when did you last see one? With help, we hope to discover if they are still thriving in this area and if not, why not- and what could residents do to encourage a growth in the numbers of this endangered species.