Please note the hours that the Cemetery is open during the summer months. We are pleased to see that BCC have decided to keep the later evening opening, as it was very popular during Covid as it enabled people who were at work to visit graves on their way home
Just a reminder– There have been no Bereavements Services staff based in the Lodge at Brandwood End for a number of years. The red phone box opposite the lodge is no longer in operation.
Contact for ALL Cemetery offices will now be via central number 0121 216 2000 and email to bereavement.services@ birmingham.gov.uk
Lest we forget.
Just a reminder to voting members and anyone with an interest, our AGM is today at 10.30am in the cemetery Lodge at Brandwood End. (20th April 2023)
Unfortunately an emergency call out was necessary to take down a tree that was dangerously leaning against another. Well done to the Tree maintenance team who attended.
If you volunteer in your community, this thank you is for you. Come along and meet other local volunteers.
Visitors to the cemetery will be rewarded with a magnificent array of blossom at the moment. Pick a dry sunny day and enjoy!
Just a reminder that FBEC will be working with Caring for Gods Acre again on this project throughout 2023. This will be our third year. Unfortunately they had to cancel the March event due to snow and ice ! The next event will be 10th April. This is a fascinating project and a chance for you to take part in recording this information for future generations. Contact Josie to reserve a place at any, or all, of these FREE events.
This morning we were in Brandwood End, which was very busy as it was Mothering Sunday. Can we firstly remind everyone that there is a 5mph speed limit in the cemetery. Many cars were travelling well in excess of this causing a dangerous hazard as there were many pedestrians.
Secondly we were horrified to see vehicles parking on verges and churning up the grass adjacent to graves. The side drives were not designed for cars to be visiting so please do not drive on the grass to pass vehicles. Use another avenue or park on the main drive and walk ! Several people who had resisted parking on the verges were then being verbally abused by others who wanted to pass. Again. Use another avenue or park and walk.
This is a cemetery and people are visiting loved ones, please all show some respect!
The Friends know that many of you will be visiting graves on Mothering Sunday and leaving flowers. Can we appeal again to ask that, if you are not frequent visitors, you remove the wrapping paper (Especially cellophane), as when the flowers die- they rot and return to the soil over time. The paper that surrounds them, especially cellophane are silver/gold paper NEVER does. It becomes lightweight and then blows around the cemetery in the wind. If we are lucky one of our litter picking volunteers will collect it but if not it may get shredded in the blades of the sit on mowers ! Either way, it can end up making the environment unpleasant.
If you are a frequent visitor then we presume you always remove dead flowers etc but many of those that do come to Brandwood End travel a distance and may get only a few opportunities to visit. If this is you- Please consider removing any flower paper. Also try not to leave ‘Glass’ vases etc as they do get smashed by Frost, Squirrels and Ravens and last summer caused great concern as a source of fire ignition in the cemetery.
Finally can we ask that any artificial flowers are well secured, as they often suffer the same fate as the paper- which is sad as many of them are beautiful and obviously bought with love.
Thank you again in anticipation of your assistance in this matter.
FBEC Committee