Author: Jane Edwards

Mad dogs and Deutsche Bank Staff go out in the midday sun!!

It certainly was hot, hot, hot when a team of Deutsche Bank staff came into Brandwood End Cemetery to help us clear shrubbery from headstones and tidy up the front of Section 10……again!

Some of this area was cleared about 6 years ago by 202 Army Reserves but I am afraid it was mostly back. Ivy is persistent !

Despite the heat we did manage to find a shady spot and 5 hours later it looked very different.  Thank you to all the staff and we hope to see many of you returning in the future.

Watch this space as there are lots of photos and we will be installing a link to the album.

Grave Gardeners in National Cemeteries Week

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery celebrate the cemetery all year round as a calm and peaceful place to visit but this week is a special week to ask everyone to remember their local cemetery and maybe pay a visit as part of NATIONAL CEMETERIES WEEK.  Cemeteries may be well kept or they may be neglected. Nationally many  will have Friends groups, some will not. Wherever they are they will be especially celebrated this week and so will all the paid and volunteer staff that work within them. 

This Sunday, the 8th June, our Grave Gardeners will be meeting by the Lodge at 11am to continue their work in Brandwood End. They meet every month and, along with corporate groups, they strive to keep Brandwood looking loved and cared for. It’s a 53 acre site so progress is sometimes slow and not evident but we assure you we are all working hard to make this space welcoming.

Have you lost or gained floral tributes?

On behalf of The Friends can we apologise in advance if you visit your family grave and find your flowers have disappeared…. Or alternatively…. you now have flowers you didn’t place BUT it’s been very windy lately.
As we ‘litter picked’ last weekend we found many bunches and individual artificial flowers strewn around the cemetery. As we have no idea where they were originally placed, rather than bin them, we place them on the nearest grave. Please remember to secure anything you leave at your family grave.
Can we remind you to avoid glass vases as the Ravens and Magpies love to try to pick them up….. And drop them. We collected a lot of smashed vases , (for safety reasons.)

Cemetery views by supports of FBEC and Cemetery lovers.

ITS NATIONAL CEMETERIES WEEK.  A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR CEMETERIES.

Here are a few photographs taken by visitors to the cemetery that show what a peaceful and inviting green space it is. These photographs cover a very small area of Brandwood End. Pop in and take a stroll. There are plenty of benches to sit and listen to the bird song or watch the wildlife. Fifteen minutes in here will nourish your body and soul……..

                                                   

         

                          

Big Brandwood Bash.

Join the Friends of Dawberry Fields Park for a great fun day where all the local community groups will come together. The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery are members of Brandwood Buzz which encourages people to visit events, sites, shops, businesses, open spaces in the Brandwood area and volunteer in the area as well. Brandwood has so much to offer . FBEC will be at this event to answer your questions and spread the word about our beautiful cemetery which offers so much peace and quiet to help restore mind and body.

 

Quarterly Litter Pick

This Sunday the 1st June we will have our early Summer LITTER PICK. Meet by the Lodge at 10am. We will be on site till 11.30am but how long you stay is up to you. Why not come along and enjoy a peaceful walk in this amazing green peaceful space.?

We provide the bags and pickers but suggest you may want to bring your own gloves.

Stout footwear and suitable outer clothing is advisable and children are welcome but under 16’s will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Nick Booth

Our hearts are heavy this afternoon as, with many other people, we pause to remember Nick Booth, who was a friend to FBEC from our inception. Nick passed away a few weeks ago in a tragic accident at home but will be remembered by many this afternoon at an event at Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens.

Nick worked with FBEC on the design of our web site and has remained, via his company Podnosh,  as the host of the site. He has been our ‘go to person’ for anything computer related and has held our hands through many technical panics over the years !

Not only was he a supporter but he was also a friend to many of us and we have shared many breakfasts and cups of coffee at less formal meetings in local cafes and tea rooms.

We will all miss you Nick. Your helpful advice and your ever ready smile.

A big thank you to all our Volunteers.

Well done to all our volunteers. In April  volunteers gave a total of 108 hours of their time to keep the cemetery looking cared for. (In many months the hours given exceed this total) Supported by Bereavements Ground Staff and BCC Grass cutting team we all work to make Brandwood End Cemetery a welcoming, safe and secure space.