Author: Jane Edwards

If you go down to the woods today……..

…….or Thursday the 3rd of July to be precise, you may find children from Woodthorpe Junior and Infant school pond dipping and creating wild life habitats as part of their ECO week. Brandwood Pocket Park and Pool form part of the area adjacent to the cemetery and the Friends of Brandwood Pool will be helping the children with their project. Both Woodthorpe School and St Albans School frequently involve their pupils in events within the cemetery and at the pool as  both schools lie close to the cemetery.Bug hunt at pool april 2011 007

Hopefully the weather will be kind and the only water will be in the pool!

Iconic Oak ‘boughs’ out.

Brandwood End (1)Regular visitors to Brandwood End Cemetery will know that for many years a beautiful Oak tree has been a significant land mark on the main drive. They will also be aware that there has been concern over its ‘healthy and safety’ for the last couple of years and as a result it was severely cut back. It was hoped that this would reduce the weight of the upper area whilst investigations into some suspicious fungi were carried out. Sadly the results are now in….and the news is not good. We have reproduced below the statement that Bereavement Services have posted on their web site.

It is with great sadness that we have to report that the Oak Tree, a well-loved cemetery feature, is suffering from Inonotus dryadeus. This a disease which causes a white rot which attacks the lower roots and base. Unfortunately the rot has spread throughout the tree and it is therefore necessary to fell it. The removal will take place over the next few weeks.

Since we are unable to save the tree we are planning to make good use of the Oak Tree Island and will be developing a Memorial Garden to commemorate World War 1.

The Friends have spoken to the Tree Officer and Bereavement Services staff to discuss some other possible ideas suggested by our members.  The trunk area is too rotten to consider carving the remaining trunk into a feature and the spores of the fungus will have contaminated the soil and could pose a risk to any replacement tree at this spot.

However, it appears that its space will be filled by an equally impressive WW1 memorial area. We all look forward to its completion.

Local Grant success!

New Vision have managed to secure yet another small grant from Waterloo Housing Association towards the completion of the woodland pathway within Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve, started last year. Brandwood Forum also had access to a small grant which they  kindly contributed towards this project, so its all ready to go!

IMG_6165 (800x600)Last year members of the Friends of Jasmin Fields were assisted by Bournville College students under the supervision of the BCC Park Ranger Service. Hopefully the same system will happen this time.

Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve forms part of a circular walk taking in Brandwood End Cemetery and Brandwood Pool. The close proximity of these three sites  to the northern Stratford upon Avon Canal also form a wild life corridor.  Muntjac and Roe deer often move between all 3 sites and there is a healthy bat population. We suspect that they wont be using the new pathway!!

Heritage Open Event

FBEC are hoping to take part in Heritage Open Week in September this year. If all goes according to plan we hope to be able to lead a couple of informative walks around ww1 graves of interest and display some photographs and memorabilia from ww1 in the Lodge. Watch this space! As we are few in number we will probably confine our activities to one day over the weekend of 13/14 September.  If any of our members have items they feel may be of interest, and would be prepared to allow us to display them securely in the Lodge at the cemetery- please contact us via this site or e mail us at  friendsofbec@gmail.com

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/WWImontage.jpg

1st June Litter pick.

Today was our quarterly litter pick at Brandwood End Cemetery. Our apologies for not posting a reminder on the News Feed on our site but time overtook us!  There is a full list of dates posted elsewhere on this site. Luckily there was a respite from the continual rain so hopefully everyone enjoyed their task.Litter pick March 2014 (8) (800x600)

Are you searching for a grave?

If you are one of the many people searching for a grave within Brandwood End Cemetery you can normally contact Bereavement Services at Kings Norton (who hold the records) and get a more or less instant reply.

There is a minimum of 24 hour delay at the present as all the Brandwood End records of burials since the 1800’s are away from the site being ‘digitised’. This will vastly improve the service in future but means that there is a 24 hour delay in the short term- possibly till the end of May.

If you need information you need to contact Bereavement Services at least 24 hours in advance and make a request. Unfortunately this will make it difficult for anyone just turning up at the cemetery and ringing for an instant answer but this delay is unavoidable if records are to be made more accessible.

Tel: 0121 303 5583
Fax: 0121 459 8284
Email: kings.norton@birmingham.gov.uk

 

 

 

Brandwood Pool Plinth repaired.

For a while now the plinth used by families to feed the ducks at Brandwood Pool has been rotten and not really safe but we are pleased to say it is back in use again. Dean, the Ranger, helped by Wendy and her team of students from Bournville College have redesigned the base and removed all that wood and replaced it with hard core. Lots of baby moor hens, coots and ducks to feed. Keep your eyes peeled for our daily Woodpecker visitor. He likes the large Oak on the far side of the pool.  20140428_141028

 

Brandwood Pool lies adjacent to the Cemetery but walking access is via Whittington Close B14 6JW.

The Friends are always looking for help at work parties and litter picks. They can be contacted on 0121 605 4316.

Just a few reminders of why our members hold Brandwood End Cemetery so dear.

Brandwood End Easter 2012 (2) (800x600)20130811_154030

 

 

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Botanics clay day. 009 (600x800)

 

Our Terracotta Chapels and our trees. Our Angels and areas for quiet contemplation. Our wild life and birds. As a visitor, whatever reason brings you to Brandwood End Cemetery you are sure to find something to marvel at. Please consider joining the Friends. We need your support. Applications can be downloaded from this site.

Cross of Sacrifice, Brandwood End Cemetery
Cross of Sacrifice, Brandwood End Cemetery

2014 AGM

Our thanks to all those who attended our AGM at St Bedes Church. We didnt have a large turn out but those that attended all participated in informal discussions after the AGM on a range of subjects. Thanks again for taking the time to come and sharing your thoughts with us. We will be posting a copy of the our accounts, and a list of Officers, on this site following our next meeting at the start of May.