We know Brandwood End isn’t exactly a Churchyard…..but seeing as its ‘Cherish your Churchyard’ week……..I think we can cheat a little! We always need gardening help with weeding, hedge cutting, pruning and other projects etc. How about starting our own special week……. ‘ Celebrate your Cemetery’ ?
FBEC members are responsible for maintaining the flower beds in the Civilian Garden of Remembrance in Brandwood End. The flower beds in this area are overflowing with blooms……but hidden amongst them there are many weeds! The planting in this area will be refurbished in the winter but we could do with help keeping the weeds down till then. We operate a small rota but we need more members to give a couple of hours. This can be as a regular commitment or just a one off when you have some spare time. Can you contact us via this web site or e mail to friendsofbec@gmail.com
We collected this bag of weeds in a few minutes as we passed through the area.
We also have a new hedge, in close proximity to this area, that needs the weeds keeping down underneath it- until the hedge is established enough to shade them out. Please get in touch if you would be happy to spend a couple of hours enjoying this beautiful cemetery and pulling a few weeds!!
Six FBEC members enjoyed today’s sunshine as they searched for litter in the Cemetery at our quarterly ‘Litter Pick’. It was good to see that there was very little litter about, but we still managed to gather about 8 bags- mainly flower paper, from under hedges and hidden in shrubbery. Your next chance to join us will be on Saturday 5th September.
I thought today, instead of litter, I would post a few lovely photographs taken during the event.
We were a little shocked by this drastic pruning of a conifer on the main drive but it would appear that it will ultimately be dispatched, but in the mean time it still offers a home to thousands of insects and a great perch for our local Buzzard!
Some time ago the Friends received a concerned message from a member of the Jewish Community, who had observed vehicles driving across the grass and through the hedge to reach their burial area. We are pleased to say that Bereavement Services Ground Staff have blocked this route in a very ECO friendly way…………..
Gosh! Three months have flown by and its time for our next litter pick. Why not join us, hopefully in the sunshine, as we stroll and chat around the cemetery collecting litter as we go. Meet by the Lodge on the Main drive at 10am. We provide bags and pickers but would advise you to wear suitable footwear and gloves. You can stay as long as you want…..but we are usually finished by 11.30am.
The Friends of Brandwood End have been members of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends for many years and endeavour to attend their Annual AGM’s that take place in varying areas of the UK. They have their own web site which we thought some of you may find interesting. Through them we are able to keep in touch with developments at other cemeteries around the country.
https://www.cemeteryfriends.org.uk/
Can we issue a gentle reminder to all our members that the annual membership of FBEC is now due. It remains unchanged at £6 (£3 unwaged). All members should have received their renewal reminders with the AGM notification and this year there is an option to pay by annual standing order. Please contact us on our e mail friendsofbec@gmail.com for more details.
FBEC depend on our membership fees to produce our 2 newsletters each year, postage costs and to print the information we display in our Cemetery notice boards, so we do hope we can count on your continued support.
Anyone who may be considering becoming a supporter of FBEC, please refer to the information on this web site.
Remembering Canon Ernest Edward Maxwell Phair (Buried in Brandwood End) and the 1,201 passengers and crew of RMS Lusitania who drowned when it was sunk by a torpedo from the German U Boat U20 18 km due south of Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, Cork, Eire, 7th May 1915.
The notices are posted…..the accounts are complete….the report is ready. All we need now are some members to come along and hear what we have been up to and what is on the cards for FBEC in 2015/16
Following a meeting with Bereavement Services Managers we understand that efforts are being made to find funds to remove the damaging shrubbery that seems to reappear on the brickwork of the Chapels. This is always a costly operation as it requires special equipment but it is hoped that it will, yet again, improve the appearance of the building and prevent further damage whilst we wait till restoration funding becomes more readily available.
The concept of a bespoke fence to surround the chapel area, rather than the existing ‘builders fence’, is being investigated as a measure to improve the overall appearance of this area when entering the cemetery.
Bereavement Services site staff are now cutting the grass surrounding the Chapel buildings and clearing weeds on pathways.
They are also involved in removing Ivy from graves, a project FBEC hope to continue to be involved in.