Who would have thought that these wonderful ‘trees’ would attract such a wave of love. Well done to Valerie for creating something that has obviously touched peoples hearts!
The Friends and the cemetery have had a wonderful year with many more volunteers than in previous years, mainly working on our special 20th Anniversary Grave Revealing and Recording Project. Nearly every month in 2025 our volunteers contributed in excess of 120 hours between them, which is the equivalent to 3 full time additional ground staff.
The photographs below show just a few of the volunteers (community and corporate groups) that have pitched in to clear shrubs, take photographs, create data bases, litter pick, marshall events, lead walks, plant trees, liaise with schools, apply for grants, research, honour the fallen and generally keep the community involved and informed.
We can’t forget Bereavements Service staff both on the ground and in Kings Norton office. Without their co operation we would not be able to achieve as much as we do.
Seasons Greetings to you all and let’s hope that 2026 is as productive as 2025 has been.
Despite the warning of bad weather we were joined by volunteers from AVOVE in an attempt to clear a large coppice area that was covering a number of graves.
You can see the coppice that lies behind the volunteers and the outline of a number of graves hidden within the shrubbery. When the team arrived there was none of the predicted wind but the drizzle soaked through your clothes! That drizzle later became torrential rain, but the team were determined to clear the whole coppice.
As you can see by the photograph below, they totally cleared the coppice and uncovered lots of graves that had been hidden for many years.
What a wonderful afternoon we had in Brandwood End as we were joined, for another Christmas Carol Service, by the Choir of St Albans R C Primary School.
The rain stayed away and the temperature was just right to enable the choir to sing with gusto. We had some lovely traditional carols and some more modern ones- with innovative additions!
Our thanks to all the pupils and staff for starting off Christmas for everyone again this year. This is becoming an annual event!!
Come along and join us in the Civilian Garden as we listen to the Choir of St Alban’s R C Primary school as they deliver a selection of Carols for Christmas .
The venue will be signed in the cemetery. The Civilian Garden is near the Broad Land ‘walk in’ gate.
Wednesday 10th December 2pm.
Thank you to the15 supporters who turned out, in really horrid weather, to collect 17 bags of wind blown litter at our final Litter Pick of 2026.
Thank you to the ‘Foster family’ (on the left) who were supporting their daughter in her volunteering journey with us for her Duke of Edinburgh award.
Mark Wednesday the 10th December at 2pm in your diary and come and enjoy the Choir from St Albans R C Primary as they sing Carols in the Civilian Garden area of Brandwood End Cemetery.
The Civilian Garden is signed to the left off the main drive as you head towards the Broad Lane entrance (from the direction of the chapels). This will be an outdoor event so we would suggest that you dress for cold weather!
For the last few years we have welcomed St Albans and their Carols have been more and more popular, so spread the word.
Come and join the Friends at their last LITTER PICK of 2025. We will be meeting by the Lodge on the main drive at 10am this coming Sunday the 7th December and will be finishing at 11.30am
We have the litter pickers and bags. All we need is the man power!
