This first picture popped up in our ‘facebook’ memories. The second picture was taken last week, 11 years on, by our Chairman, Julia. This year is a special anniversary for this garden area…….but more of that later!
Author: Jane Edwards
The Lost Children. (A project that touched Brandwood End.)
Armed Forces Day
Today is a chance to value the work our Armed Forces do. Fighting and peace keeping, emergency aid and pushing back the frontiers of medical science. Remember as well that many of those engaged in all of the above are Reservists.
Above is a photograph of 202 Field Hospital members on one of their annual visits to the cemetery to help the Friends with removed of trees and shrubs making some military graves inaccessible. Our thought today are focused on them and their various deployments around the world.
Civilian War Dead
We have over 120 civilians buried in Brandwood End who lost their lives in bombing raids. The incident below highlights just one such raid
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Shout out for help at Jasmin Fields.
Jasmin Fields Nature reserve lies just across Broad Lane from the Cemetery and we try and support each other when we can. The Chinnbrook runs through their site and along with wetland comes Himalayan Balsam- a pretty but invasive plant.
This Sunday the 19th June at 2pm there will be a work party to help remove as much as we can. Thankfully it is easy to remove and the only kit required is stout footwear….and gloves.
Meet at the Farm gate in Bayston Avenue facing Kinsey Grove
ove.
Nesting birds are our first concern.
Its the time of year when our Civilian Garden hedge starts to look a lot like no one cares for it ! We do care for this very successful Hawthorn hedge and normally it is kept trim, but during nesting season every year DEFRA outlaw the cutting of hedges that may disturb nesting birds. Our hedge is full of small nests and ‘little brown birds’ and if you sit quietly on one of our benches you will see them scurrying in and out.
The Garden is still cared for and some of our supporters have been busy elsewhere in the garden weeding beds and paths and planting Geraniums in our Rose beds. Our thanks to all concerned.
Commonwealth War Grave area progresses.
Those of you that follow our posts will know that several months ago the Commonwealth War Graves Commission re laid new turf in a small War Grave area adjacent to the main drive. This area is home to 8 of our 352 War Graves. Why these 8 are here together no one seems to know. Bereavements are mystified and so are the CWGC. The refreshing of this area has continued with the grass now lush and the addition of new perennial flowers at the foot of each stone. Looking good.
Heritage Forum meeting.
The Friends are members of the Heritage Forum and often our meetings are at member organisation sites.
- Today we met at New Hall Mill in Sutton Coldfield. Their volunteers made us all very welcome and we were treated to a private tour of this amazing site. Watch out for their open days as it is certainly worth visiting.
So sad to see Alan go !
Alan Holmes – Brandwood End Cemetery Operative
FBEC only ever had to ask ….. whether it was – tidying the inside of the chapels July 2019 and Sept 20219 so we could finally go inside, clearing holly from special graves for us Oct 2019 or jet washing the Lodge railings May 2022 for us for the Jubilee planting and celebration. FBEC send you every good wish Alan on your retirement – Good Luck and Thank you – June 2022.
Alan, on the left below, with colleagues and Jane from FBEC after he had been clearing the interior of the chapels to allow access to the Friends to view the recently installed windows.
Stirchley baths..
Well not exactly. We had a great welcome at Stirchley History Group as we gave a talk in the former ‘baths’ building…. Now a community hub. We look forward to seeing everyone again, maybe at one of our events.
