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
Are you are popping in into the cemetery on Mothering Sunday? Why not call into the Lodge between 11am and 1pm as Josie will be running a FREE quick CRAFT SESSION, to decorate a star or cross that could be displayed on your loved one’s grave or taken home as a memory.
Another forward date for your diary. Please visit our events page and watch this site for more information. 2023 is a busy year for events in Brandwood End.
Bat walk
Friday May 19th
20:00pm- 22:00pm at the farm gate Bayston Road, Opp Kinsey Grove
Explore the night with Brum Bats and the Ranger Service on a Bat walk through Jasmin fields and along the canal to finish at Brandwood Pool.
All are welcome but you will need to bring a powerful torch and wear suitable outdoor clothing including sturdy footwear.
Under 18’s must be supervised
The Friends will be taking part in Heritage Open in September this year so keep the week 11-17th free.
We will be hosting Caring for God’s Acre and their Stories from the Stones on the 13th and then a Lichen specialist will be leading a walk on the 15th. Watch this site for additional events and booking instructions nearer the time.
Earlier this month the Friends of Brandwood End enjoyed working with Our Scene CIC on their latest project Bench to Bench, to promote ‘walking, laughing and sitting chatting in lovely our door settings in Brandwood. This project, which includes our neighbouring Friends at Dawberry Fields Park, is also aimed at recommending accessible walks for people with mobility issues.
The poster below invites the very people this is aimed at to come along and share their thoughts on what is needed to entice them to visit, sit and chat in these areas more often. The first meeting has taken place but Suze Carter is still keen to involve anyone with mobility issues to become involved in the designs. The next get together will be in the Lodge at a date to be arranged so watch this site and our Facebook page for more information.
The Cleaner Greener campaign week is a little while off, but in Brandwood End we started today at our scheduled quarterly litter pick. It was great to see so many familiar faces but we did welcome a few new ones today who swelled our numbers to 20 including 4 little people ! There were 23 bags collected, and yet again a lot of the litter was flower paper. This March Litter pick is always our last chance to seek out wind blown litter under shrubbery and tangled in brambles. Once everything starts to grow it is all lost till next winter. Thank you to everyone that came along. The Friends really appreciate your support.
Happy smiling faces! That’s what the outdoors does for your mental health.
Every year the Friends take part in the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. Our usual quarterly event always falls a little before the official one but we are happy to be counted as supporters.
This year we will be in the cemetery on Saturday 4th March at 10am, and welcome as many supporters as possible. This is usually our last chance to remove litter that will end up under the bushes when they bloom. We provide bags and pickers but ask you to wear stout footwear and gloves. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.
Last weekend was our last major clear up in the cemetery, led by Josie Wall and supported by the Friends. Our thanks to the volunteers that helped clear a massive pile of Holly from the graves adjacent to the Redwood Avenue. It just shows what an impact just a few volunteers can make. The pile almost hid Julia!
We will still be scheduling gardening sessions as there is so much to do, but this will be the last large scale clearance as the nesting season is now upon us and we dont want to disturb our feathered friends, so watch this page for details.