Nine Deutsche Bank staff joined us for the day to do some shrubbery clearance on Section 18. The weather didn’t look too bright but everyone agreed that the temperature was just right for the hard work they were undertaking. Thanks again for Steve D, Steve E and Kay for supporting the visit. A special thank you to a Deutsche Bank staff member who treated us all to pizza for lunch.
Lots of areas cleared today and lots of photographs via this link.
Amazing collection of 20 bags today from our Litter Pickers. Well done everyone. Mainly flower paper and windblown old artificial flowers but last chance to get bits from under shrubbery.
See you all again in June.
Our thanks to the Volunteers from Brandwood Buzz – ‘Brightening Brandwood’ project. The volunteers not only constructed four planters for the cemetery but came to plant them up with The Friends. We managed to get two planters in place today and the remaining two should be completed tomorrow.
Join the Friends at the first Litter Pick of 2026.suitable clothing and footwear advisable. Everyone welcome but under 16’s need to have an adult with them.
These is a ‘No dogs’ policy in the cemetery. 
Thanks to our five gardening volunteers who concentrated on freeing the Rhododendrons on the main drive from brambles and exposing some Holly trees, Lots of shrubbery removed and now some more light available for the plants that should be there.
The crocus bulbs are now in full boom and spreading to many areas of the cemetery. A great start to the year.
Meet new friends and help your fitness by joining our Gardening Group as we work to uncover graves that have been hidden for years. We have the tools and volunteers welcome. Meet by the Lodge on the main drive. Suitable clothing and footwear advisable
Many of our followers will know that FBEC are coming to the end of their 20th year and during that time we have been undertaking a number of special projects. One of our main objectives was to raise funds to purchase 15 large standard trees to begin to replace the mature trees in the cemetery that were lost in recent storms.
On Monday the 9th February, after a lot of planning, we arrived at our ‘special’ day when several groups got together to finally plant the trees we had purchase.
Our lead planters would be 13 pupils from St Albans RC Primary School and they would be assisted by Birmingham Tree People, Deutsche Bank staff, RLB staff, Gardening Volunteers and FBEC Committee members.
Very soon they had planted seven large trees, that dwarfed many of their planters! A really good mornings work. A huge thank you to the pupils who all showed such enthusiasm and worked really hard to dig out the holes and then place the trees (With adult help) and finally backfill and stamp the soil down ready for a top dressing of chippings. Several worms were rescued during this process and relocated by pupils to safer areas!
To see more photos follow this link.
Well done to all concerned.
We have many people to thank:
The Staff and pupils of St Albans RC Primary School
Steve Flood, a City Tree Officer for helping choose the trees and their sites and facilitating their transportation across the City to Brandwood End.
Bereavement Services and Gary Humphries, a member of the ground Staff, who went above and beyond moving heavy trees, digging initial holes, delivering good quality soil and chippings for backfilling and generally helping facilitate the children’s activities.
Matt and Birmingham Tree People who helped us order the trees and supported us with their team on site, as well as sharing their tree knowledge with FBEC and the pupils.
FBEC Committee and our Gardening Volunteers, Deutsche Bank staff and RLB staff.
The Patrick Trust and all the individual contributors who helped finance the Trees.
The Friends are members of Birmingham Heritage Forum who provide a wonderful leaflet highlighting many of the Heritage sites that you can visit in Birmingham. We have included a link to their ‘flip book’ version below and a permanent link will appear in our ‘useful information’ page.
