Author: Jane Edwards

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

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.

First booking for Heritage event open.

Booking is now open for one of our September ‘Heritage Open’ Events.

Caring for God’s Acre have been working on a project, with FBEC volunteers, to record the historic monuments and inscriptions in Brandwood End Cemetery. As part of Heritage Open week they are opening this experience up to the general public on the morning of Thursday 16th September. It is both inciteful and enjoyable but, for obvious reasons, numbers will be limited, please register via this link.. 

Photographic Sessions

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.

Heritage Open event in Brandwood End.

Good evening,

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery are pleased to confirm that we will holding a number of events in the cemetery during the Heritage Open event period in mid September.

They will include

  • A Bat Walk on the 1st September,
  • A Historic Tree Walk on the afternoon of the 15th September,
  • A chance to be involved in a ‘monument recording session’ with ‘Caring for God’s Acre’ on the morning of the 16th
  • A photographic session on the afternoon of the 16th.

…….and finally ,on Sunday the 19th September between 11am and 2pm, The Friends will be around the Lodge with lots of historical information about Brandwood End and those buried there as well as self led trails and activities for younger attendees.

As we get nearer to the event we will post more information and links.

Events | Heritage Open Days

 

Planting around the Lodge.

Due to financial constraints it would appear that the area adjacent to the Lodge Ramp would remain bare this year instead of full of its usual complement of Geraniums. The friends felt that this was not acceptable as this is a welcome flash of colour as you enter the cemetery, so we decided that we would have to do something about it- at very short notice!

Our first port of call was the Cofton plant nursery where they grow all the plants for the City to use on islands, in parks….and at Chelsea ! What a marvellous place, and our thanks to them for striking a really good deal for the Friends. As you can see above, we came away with a car full.

Our next priority was to plant them as soon as we could, and my thanks go to my husband and grandson who helped me with the task. They are now all in, and well watered (Not easy, as the nearest tap is some distance away ) But looking good now!!  Not sure we can undertake this task twice a year, financially and manpower wise- so lets hope enough people complain to make the city change its mind and see the importance of these plants to everyone’s mental health when they visit cemeteries and parks. Our thanks to Cllr Leddy for popping in to offer support.