Author: Jane Edwards

HSBC spend a day in Brandwood End

As a small charity, the Friends depend on our supporters to help us with many of the projects we undertake. As those that follow FBEC will know, we are undertaking a long term Grave Gardening project to remove self set shrubs, Holly and Ivy from graves. We run regular volunteer sessions and members of the Friends also work in pairs on site when they can but without corporate groups to support us everything would take much more time.

                               

Today we were joined by a team from HSBC in Birmingham. They spent all day on site working hard clearing two sections B4 CE and B6CE and you can see the finished effect above right.

This was just one of 4 large piles of leaves, sticks, weeds, self set shrubs and small trees that the team removed during the course of the day. By the time we left, the whole of B4 and B6 were looking far more ‘open’ and cared for. Thank you to all the volunteers from HSBC who worked really hard but were a joy to work alongside. Here’s  to the next time !! A special thankyou to Anita for organising the HSBC side.

Tree Walk 20th July.

Join the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery as we take a stroll around this magnificent 53 acre site investigating our recently launched Tree Trail.  The Tree Trail highlights the range of trees that this Victorian Cemetery contains, over 1750 planted mainly in 1898/9.

Meet at the Lodge on the main drive at 11am prompt, Saturday 20th July.(For further information and to reserve a place, please contact us on 07811393259 or mail to friendsofbec@gmail.com)

Update on our Chairman.

Over the last couple of weeks we have had many messages via social media, e mail and at events all asking the same question. Where is your Chairman Julia?

Its been a busy couple of months for Julia, which started badly with a pretty severe stroke that has knocked her off her feet. All very unexpected.  A couple of months on and many things have changed for her so  unfortunately you will be unlikely to see her pottering around in the cemetery, which was her usual habitat but she is very hopeful that she will soon ‘pop up’ on social media again. Lots of changes for her and lots of adaptations but those of you that know Julia will also know that she is pushing onwards whenever she can.

Julia thanks everyone that has sent their good wishes (She has kept every card, and there were a lot!) and rest assured that she is still keeping up to speed with FBEC and the cemetery. Hopefully so, as we miss her amazing researching ability and networking. (That networking didn’t stop whilst she was in hospital !)

We all wish her the very best recovery possible.

Julia on the Right.

Some areas resurfaced at last

Brandwood End Cemetery has been buzzing with activity this week as some long awaited potholes have been filled. We are pleased to say that the areas around the Cross of Sacrifice and also the WW1 Memorial have had large sections re tarmaced. Looks like they had some left as some of the areas heading towards the Broad Lane gate have also been patched. It’s certainly only a small amount of what is needed but it is a start and in these cash strapped times we welcome anything! I should add that the areas repaired could have caused significant damage to pedestrians…. And vehicles so I am sure that’s why they have managed to fund the work.

Tree work continues.

Tree husbandry in Brandwood End has actually been funded this year(it isn’t every year and this will be the last we see of it for a while, I suspect!) the downside is that we will see a number of diseased trees disappearing from our beautiful landscape. They have been earmarked for some time but work has now ramped up with contractors working in the cemetery most days. Most recent losses are a very large tree near Broad Lane entrance which was diseased and a beautiful Labernum on A3FC which was pretty much hollow above waist height. Sad but necessary.

Summer Tree Walk

The Friends recently relaunched their refreshed Tree Walk leaflet and on Saturday 20th July at 11am,   Malcolm Jacques will be leading a walk around the trees highlighted.

This will be a ‘stroll’ and most of the areas will accessible to wheelchair users but we warn that the roadways are uneven. All will be welcome but can we ask that any under 16year olds be accompanied by an adult. We would suggest suitable footwear for uneven ground.

If you would like to reserve a place can we ask you to e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com,