Can we remind you that if you are looking for information, whilst in the cemetery, you can always consult our notice boards which stand close to both entrances. They carry dates of regular litter picks, annual events and contact information.
Author: Jane Edwards
New Geranium display!
Our thanks to the Ground Staff from Bereavement Service Dept at BCC who, finding they had more Geraniums than they needed, deployed them in a ‘new area’ adjacent to the old lodge garden.
Keep an eye out to your right as you enter, almost opposite the entrance to their workshop area. Beautiful ! If you are wondering why they are not further out towards the path, the fear was that they might disrupt the track of the large grass cutter operating in that area meant that it was safer to inset them into the hedge area. We think they look rather lovely.
Preparing for RHS visit !
As I am sure we have mentioned before, The Friends have been accepted as entrants into Heart of England in Bloom and will get a judges visit towards the end of this month. Whilst we are not able to affect much of the horticulture or upkeep of the cemetery we feel sure that Bereavement Service staff will be supporting our efforts.
There are a few things we can do, so the hard work in those areas has begun. Our thanks to one of our committee members, Sarah, who has started washing down some of the rain/mud spattered Section Markers. What a difference a bit of ‘Fairy’ makes!!
Before….and after !!
Our thanks also to Julia who has been popping in and out weeding under hedges and Barrie- who’s shears have been working overtime! All of these jobs and many more are undertaken continually by volunteer members of FBEC and the community, and happen as if by magic…..but we are making just a little bit of extra effort for this, our first, RHS entry!!
We hope you have noticed the difference we have made over the last 11 years and we thank all those that have offered their help.
The Friends offer lots of opportunities for members to take part in projects that inspire them, be it gardening ,war graves, social history, or trees, birds and wildlife. We are always keen to involve anyone with a skill they would like to share. Please e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com.
Can we make a special appeal for someone to be responsible for keeping a digital archive of our activities. We know most of our activities are recorded on our Facebook page and within this blog but we would like to have everything kept in one place, and free time restricts the existing committee members from taking this on. Please can you help?
We will Remember them.
Today we are remembering all those soldiers who fought at the Battle of the Somme, especially those that gave their lives that first day for their country.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Appeal for Community help!!
Great news…..FBEC have been accepted as entrants into the ‘RHS Heart of England in Bloom’ in the Cemetery category but we could do with some practical help before judging , towards the end of July, just to make sure we make a good impression.
We have at least one wooden bench in our Civilian Garden of Remembrance that needs rubbing down and re-varnishing.
We have an area under a newly planted hedge surrounding a small group of War Graves that needs serious weeding…..
Some of the Section Markers on the main drive could do with a wash …..
…..and a few other small items.
All of these jobs could be done at a time to suit yourself. (Provided the cemetery is open!) If you think you can help, can you contact us by e mail on friendsofbec@gmail.com. to arrange times and dates etc Many thanks
Work on the Civilian Garden of Remembrance
FBEC have been lucky enough to receive a donation from one of our members that has enabled us to revitalise the Civilian Garden of Remembrance in the Cemetery. Our main concern was that the beds had become over full and hard to maintain and that the quality of the soil needed improvement. The work was beyond our members abilities but we were able to engage ‘Rudge and Wood’ who are based at Winterbourne Botanical Gardens to undertake this project with some of their students.
It started like this…….and is nearly complete, so it looks like this…
It should be complete by the end of the week and we hope to hold an official unveiling in the near future so watch this space. Our thanks to Darren and his team and you can see more photographs of them at work on our facebook page.
New AGM Time and Venue a success!!
Our thanks to St Dunstans RC Church in Kings Heath for allowing us to use their lovely new Conference Room for our morning AGM. The change of time to a morning, and the venue to somewhere easily accessible, not only resulted in an small increase in numbers but in some new faces (Including 2 local Councillors) and fresh ideas. Thank you all for your input, which is valued by FBEC as a fresh view always challenges existing thoughts.
We have to say that the cakes went down very well! Our thanks to the bakers of the Rai family!!
Coffee Morning and Annual AGM
Annual AGM
Those of you with an interest in Brandwood End Cemetery are cordially invited to a ‘Coffee and Cake’ morning to be held in the conference room of St Dunstans Church, Kingsfield Rd, Kings Heath. (Opposite All Saints Village Square) on the morning of Thursday 14th April at 10.30am.
We will be holding a short AGM at the start of this event, when we will present our annual accounts and report on our work in Brandwood End Cemetery.
We hope you enjoy the historic view above?
Spring in our Civilian Garden
On a visit to the Civilian Garden of Remembrance in Brandwod End today we noticed these beautifully delicate Narcissi. They truly brighten the space!
Friends of Lye and Wollescote Cemetery pay us a visit!
It was lovely to meet some of the newly formed ‘Friends of Lye and Wollescote Cemetery’ as they paid a visit to Brandwood End. They were amazed at the size and the beauty of the tree lined avenues and monuments. FBEC have been in contact with West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust as they were seeking our advice on how we had formed our ‘Friends’ group.
Dudley Council transferred Lye and Wollescote Chapels to West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, who made an Heritage Lottery application for the site to be renovated and it is now to be used as the Registry Office for the area with a resident Registrar. The Friends themselves were not involved in the funding bid or the restoration as work was more or less completed prior to their formation. We wish them luck with their group.
If you would like to see what has been achieved at their site you can follow this link .