One or two people were concerned as the ashes memorial plots had nearly all been purchased. The good news is that another area has now been developed.
Author: Jane Edwards
‘Fruit and Nut Village’ Tree plant with FBEC
Gardening Volunteers from FBEC had a fantastic morning in the sunshine with Laura and her helpers from Fruit and Nut Village. They kindly donated 5 trees,( 3 Hazels and 2 Walnuts) to kick off our 20th Anniversary Tree Planting project. Our aim is to try and plant an minimum of 15 trees in the cemetery to replace 21 lost in recent storms. The tree stock has been depleted by over 150 in the last few years due to storms, disease and general age and as most of the cemetery was planted up over 125 years ago we can expect to lose many more in the next few years. We have raised over £4000 already but need to get to £6000 to complete the project next Autumn.
If you would like to see some of our planting photographs from today then follow this link.
Tree Planting
Join our Grave Gardening team, along with Fruit and Nut Village, to plant some new trees in the cemetery. We are making a start on replacing the trees lost in last years storms. Meet opposite the Lodge at 11am on the 6th April.
FBEC Annual AGM 10th April
PLEASE JOIN THE FRIENDS AT THEIR ANNUAL AGM ON APRIL 10TH AT 10.30AM, AT ST DUNSTANS CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE END OF KINGSFIELD RD, KINGS HEATH. STAY AND CHAT OVER A CUP OF TEA AND SOME CAKE!
Operation Varsity
The 80th Anniversary of ‘Operation Varsity’ took place earlier this week. Over 3000 planes and gliders dropping troops around the Rhine area. One in five troops taking part were killed. Look it up. A forgotten battle.
Lots of our followers wanted to know more about the Glider Pilot Regiment so here are some links to their facebook site that you can access if you use facebook or their web site.
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/gprpublicgroup
You can also find more information on their web site
Fruit and Nut Village planting.
Most of you know that we lost a lot of trees in the recent storms and have started a campaign to try and slowly replace them. ‘Fruit and Nut Village’, who have been planting orchards in Druids Heath, have kindly agreed to plant some lovely nut trees in the cemetery and we will be holding a small event on April 6th at 11am. Everyone welcome. Boots and gloves advisable.
Spring has sprung?
Spring has sprung in a really unusual place. This was obviously a very determined daffodil!
Protecting our last tree planting.
Before Covid we worked with Birmingham Trees for Life to plant 15 standard size trees on the boundary with Broad Lane and Sunderton Road. A few years on these trees needed their tree ‘guards’ and stakes removing so this morning seven volunteers from our Grave Gardening group set about that task and also made a start clearing brambles around the. Our thanks to all of them for their efforts as brambles are especially unpleasant to deal with !
Grave Gardeners
The Friends are continuing with their monthly sessions to clear shrubbery from graves and also around some perimeter areas. We welcome help at each of these events and whilst we do have our own group tools we always welcome supporters bringing their own tools with them. Can we suggest that you bring your own gardening gloves, if you have them, and wear suitable footwear.
We will be meeting by the Lodge at 11am but then moving to another area of the cemetery.
Brightening up the cemetery
A few years ago the Friends were lucky to receive a donation of 3 planters as part of the ‘Brightening Brandwood’ project. They were initially stocked with wild flowers that unfortunately have now reached the end of their life. The Friends made the decision that, if we could find some sponsors for the planters, we would like to continue to keep them as a welcoming splash of colour as you enter the cemetery.
FBEC funded last year’s display of Geraniums and filled the planters with bulbs but we are pleased to say that we have found two companies and a supporter who have sponsored the planters for the year 2025/6 so they are now looking Spring bright! As soon as its warmer they will also get a lick of paint. Thank you to everyone concerned.