Last litter pick of the summer and the last chance to tidy up before the Heritage Open event on the 19th! Saturday 4th September, 10am meet at the Lodge on the main drive.
Author: Jane Edwards
Great turn out for Bat Walk.
Over 50 people joined Chris and Mike from Brum Bats and Ranger Dean plus his helpers as they led a Bat Walk from Jasmin Fields to Brandwood Pool- via the cemetery. The Bat appearances were a bit few and far between this year but that didn’t dampen people’s enthusiasm. We detected a few bats along the canal corridor, a few in the cemetery but silence by Brandwood Pool. Most unusual but never mind, better luck next time. I think everyone was glad to be able to attend an event, even though it was outdoors and in bubbles!
A few places remain at this event
Summer Litter Pick date.
September’s Litter Pick is to be held on this coming Saturday, 4th September. Meet at the Lodge at 10am. This is the last litter pick before our Heritage week of events in mid months so we want to make sure that the cemetery looks spick and span. Remember stout footwear and gloves- we have the rest.
What a difference a day makes !!
Our thanks to the 7 volunteers who came along to help us get the flower bed weeds under control. Great work by Kerry, June, Julia, Kerry, Steve, Oscar and myself. We were all a little concerned that the grass appeared not to have been cut for some time, which is unusual for the grass cutting team. The hedge desperately needed cutting but (as you will see below) , within a couple of days that was resolved.
Once again staff from BPN have stepped up and cut the hawthorn hedge surrounding the Civilian Garden of Remembrance for us. Not only is it cut but the base area has been cleared of leaf litter and weeds. Fantastic job well done. This is such a well established bio diverse hedge that is always left through the summer to help nesting birds, but then represents a really heavy job when cut at the end of nesting season. It is now beyond the Friends so thanks again for the help of from Paul’s team.
HELP!
Recent rain has caused the weeds/hedge and grass to get excessively out of control in the Civilian Garden at the Broad Lane end of the main drive. We really dont want this area to look a mess, especially as we will be on show later in September for Heritage Open Week .If we don’t attack it with gusto it will soon be beyond us!
If you can help weeding, collecting and moving green stuff to the bins please come and help between 10.30 and 12noon on Sunday this weekend, the 29th. We are desperate for man power , no need for gardening expertise! We have basic tools but lack people to use them. Please bring your own gloves, as we will be sanitizing tools but gloves are difficult!!
BAT WALK
It’s time for our annual BAT WALK, in conjunction with Brum Bats and the Park Ranger Service.
The decision has been made not to ask people to register, but people will be asked to distance and remain in their bubbles. All bat detectors will be sanitized and the event will be covid safe. The wearing of masks will be optional. Please bring your own bat detector and torch if you have them.
Wednesday 1st September 19:45pm (Leaving at 8pm sharp)
Meet at the farm gate Bayston Road, Opposite Kinsey Grove
Explore the night with Brum Bats, Ranger Service and the Friends of Jasmin fields and Brandwood End Cemetery on a Bat walk through Jasmin fields and Brandwood End Cemetery culminating at Brandwood Pool. All are welcome but you will need to bring a torch and wear suitable outdoor clothing including sturdy footwear.
Under 18’s must be supervised
Stone painters, nearly time to get them completed.
Just a reminder to anyone who volunteered to produce painted stones for our Heritage event on Sunday 19th September. Please can you make sure that they are with us by the 6th September, so we can decide where they will be placed along the route.
Please contact us on friendsofbec@gmail.com and we will let you know where to leave them.
Photographic Bursary opportunity
We just spotted this opportunity to create new photographic art with the aid of a bursary (In the Birmingham Area). The whole project is tied into Parks and open spaces. If you are a budding photographer and would like to create something special locally, then follow this link for more information.
This opportunity is being promoted by Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, via their monthly newsletter but is open to all.
Did you e mail us about the Photographic Session?
We posted the announcement below and a number of you e mailed us at friendsofbec@gmail.com. I am afraid these e mails went into spam and were erased in error! Could you please e mail again. Thankyou. Spaces on this session are still available.
In September, as part of our Heritage Event Week, we would like to offer a small number of our members the chance to gain a few tips on photographic composition and subject from a professional photographer. This will not be a technical session but a hands on chance to learn a few ways to improve the photographs you take in the cemetery or elsewhere. We want to keep this group small, so if you would be interested to reserve a place please e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com
We know that many members take photographs in the cemetery and post them on our facebook site or send them to us- so if you would like to improve your photographic composition skills (using SLR, smart phone or anything in between) contact us now. The session will be on the afternoon of Thursday 16th September in the cemetery.