Author: Jane Edwards

Hedge gets ‘short back and sides’ ……again!

One of our members pointed out that the hedge surrounding the Civilian Garden of Remembrance had suddenly shot up….despite being cut well back in June so three of the Friends took the shears to the top on Saturday morning! It looks a little better now. We hope to do its final cut just before the Remembrance Day event, so it looks spick and span that day so we will be appealing for assistance nearer that time.

20150912_115049

 

Whilst on site we gave the new hedge, surrounding the adjacent War Graves, a quick cut as well but it hasn’t started to thicken up yet. We are still always looking for people who visit the cemetery and have spare time to weed under the hedge on both sites. What needs doing is fairly obvious!

20150912_120937

Heritage Open Events

We are afraid that the Friends and Brandwood End Cemetery will not be holding an event during this years Heritage Open Week as we currently lack the capacity to deliver an event to the standard of the one you may have experienced last year- but fear not! We hope to be able to participate on site next year and instead, in celebration of our 10th year as a Friends Group,IMG_8316 IMG_8317 we have installed displays in Kings Heath and Druids Heath Libraries that we hope you will enjoy.

Can we thank the staff at both libraries who have helped us in this venture and seem happy for our displays to stay in place for several weeks.

At Kings Heath Library we were able to add some historic photographs from the early 1900’s provided by the staff (from library archives.)

Local Bat Walk via Cemetery

Quick reminder….Bat Walk with ‘Brumbats’ on this Thursday evening the 10th. Starts from farm gate to Jasmin Fields on Bayston Road,ends at Brandwood Pool. 7pm for instructions and then leaving towards canal across Jasmin Fields. Wrap up warm, stout footwear- bring a torch!!
Please let Dean the Ranger know if you want to come.0121 675 0937. Under 16’s must be supervised.

2010-brumbats-logo217

Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery would like to assure all our members that we will not share their details with any other organisations.

In the last few months a number of organisations and groups have taken to the airwaves and print to reassure their members that they have not been passing their details to other organisations.  FBEC can assure you that we stick rigidly to data protection and do not share any of your information with any other groups or organisations.

Final litter pick reminder!

Quick reminder. Come along and enjoy a stroll around our magnificent cemetery-hopefully in the sunshine- whilst collecting litter as you walk! We hold our litter picks every quarter and they offer a chance for you to observe wildlife, especially the  extensive bird population, whilst helping to keep this beautiful open space litter free.

Meet by the Lodge on the main drive- 10am on Saturday the 5th September. We advise suitable clothing , footwear and gloves,  but we will provide litter pickers and rubbish bags. Litter Pick events usually last till approx 11.30am

Litter Picks are useful, satisfying and fun.
Litter Picks are useful, satisfying and fun.

Work starts on Chapels

‘Heritage Stone Access’ began work this week to clear shrubbery and re-fix loose and fallen masonry on the chapels, in an effort to slow deterioration pending funding being available to undertake renovation work.

20150825_102629As we all know, money is tight in Birmingham City Council and therefore renovation of the chapels remains some way off.  (The majority of grant applications would demand match funding as a minimum from the site/building owners- BCC)

Bereavements Department are keen, along with the Friends, to try and keep the Chapels from deteriorating further during this lean period so have engaged a reputable company, with a good history of work on heritage buildings, to carry out various works. This includes making the building ‘pigeon proof’. (Large amounts of pigeon poo have already been professionally removed!) Shrubbery has also been sprayed with weed killers and partially removed.

20150825_102629 - CopyThose eagled eyed visitors to the cemetery will have noticed that since the pigeons have been denied access to the buildings they have taken to roosting on the tower and creating quite a mess! Whilst on site the contractors will also be re-fixing masonry that has fallen (as seen across). We all watch with interest.

VJ day remembered.

Kings Heath British Legion in Station Road, Kings Heath  are holding a family day for the local community to raise awareness of the 70th anniversary of VJ Day. They want to highlight the work the Legion does for serving and ex serving personnel. As Kings Heath is the last Memorial Hall in the West Midlands they strongly believe that this date should be marked with respect and that people need to be aware of the struggle people went though during the campaign.

They will have food, stalls and a bouncing castle on site so why not pop in with the family between 12-4pm  to show your support.

Find out more about VJ Day here.Poppy

Our 10th Anniversary.

I am sure you have gathered from our notice boards and this blog, that 2015 is the 10th year that FBEC have been active in Brandwood End. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to support a  Heritage event in the cemetery this year but instead we will have displays in Kings Heath and Druids Heath Libraries during Heritage week (from the 9th September). Why not pop in and take a look?

Dedication stone

Work parties on local sites

Our local neighbour, Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve, has two work party events in August.

On the 23rd August they are inviting you to come along and ‘ Bash Balsam’ to help control this invasive weed (10.30-1pm) and then on the 30th they have a general work day with ‘The Reapers’ cutting the wild flower meadow area. (8.30-11am). Contact the Ranger Service to book a place.

Jasmin Fields photos (3)