Category: Community

AGM and Annual Accounts

In common with many organisations FBEC will not be able to hold its AGM in April. Members will receive their invitation to renew their membership and a report from the Chairman with the latest Newsletter in the next few weeks by e mail or post.

Our Annual Accounts will be published on this web site as soon as the current situation allows, but at present we are not able to get them independently audited.

Our existing committee have agreed to stand until the 2021 AGM.

In view of the current situation it would be helpful if members could renew their subscription by standing order, which they need to set up themselves at their bank, as cheques may not be banked for some period due to restrictions. Details are on the renewal form. Please quote your surname as the reference.

Unannounced Cemetery Closure

‘Access to all cemeteries and crematoria in Birmingham will be closed to the public. This is due to an increased number of people that have been congregating at cemeteries in groups and the need to observe social distancing.’

The above statement was published on the City Council web site today. Our apologies for not advising our supporters sooner but we were not informed of this decision. We were therefore unable to post a warning and I am afraid the first we knew was when a number of posts appeared on Facebook.

This is such a shame as this is normally such a quiet place for contemplation and reflection. We would have thought this was an ideal place for people to exercise, as it is a 53 acre site and very easy to find a solitary area.

There are more details about funerals, burials and cremations on the BCC web site.

 

Grass cutting season starts in Brandwood End

Great to see the main drive has been cut and most areas now on schedule. The Cemetery is looking good !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our thanks again to the BCC grass cutting crews and also to Tony and his ground staff for trying their best, under financial constraints and the unusual conditions at this time, to keep Brandwood looking as if someone cares!

 

Trail bikes damage Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve

It is only a week or two since we mentioned our neighbouring site at Jasmin Fields. On a recent visit we were met with a number of trail bikes indiscriminately tearing up the grass.

This nature reserve is rich in wild life and now one of the main paths through the woodland has been turned into a quagmire and the area adjacent to the canal , crisscrossed by bike tracks.

The bikes appear to have travelled along the tow path from the Yardley Wood area. Lets hope they don’t become frequent visitors as they damage they do is extensive.

 

Interesting addition to a tree!!

This may look as if someone has just wedged a rake into this tree and gone off for their cup of tea…..

The truth is a little stranger. This rake was undoubtedly propped here many years ago by a member of staff but for whatever reason it was never retrieved. It is in a not often visited area of the Cemetery and over many seasons the tree grew, absorbing the rake within its growth! The wooden stale has long ago rotted away. Recently Birmingham Trees for Life published a similar item but instead of a rake it was……a bike. Check it out on their site.

 

Recent storm damage could have been worse!

Locally in Kings Heath there was a fair amount of damage caused by the recent storm, so it was with some trepidation that Ground Staff in the cemetery made their Monday morning site inspection.

Lots of small branches littering the site were removed, but the larger tree shown above will take a little more time! Luckily it is in an area away from roads and pathways but until it is removed it is difficult to see if grave stones have been damaged.

Polish War Graves remembered

Just prior to Remembrance Sunday, the Friends placed Polish flags on 2 adjacent War Graves in Brandwood End. We were especially pleased to tell members that the flags had come all the way from Poland , brought back for us by a Polish National.

You can imagine how heartened we were when we visited those graves earlier this week and found that both now had ribbons encircling them.

We would love to get in touch with the Polish community and those involved in this act of Remembrance. If anyone knows who we can contact, please can you e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com

What a wet, wet, wet Tree Planting.

Year 6 pupils from St Albans R C Primary took part in a fantastic tree plant in the Cemetery today and despite the rain….a good time was enjoyed by all. Our thanks to Birmingham Trees for Life for organising this planting event, to replace some of the aged ‘Poplars’ felled recently.

Birmingham Trees for Life had lots of assistance today as they were joined by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands- John Crabtree and his wife, who came well prepared to plant alongside the pupils.

Our local Councillor, Mike Leddy, popped along and  a gaggle of Tree Officers also made an appearance!!

Our thanks to everyone at BTFL for continuing with this tree replacement project and the Tree Officers, local Ranger Dean and BCC Woodland Team for making this all possible. Following the event everyone enjoyed a ‘warm up’ in the Lodge with drinks and biscuits.

As they made their way back to school, Ranger Dean led a short Tree Walk for pupils with lots of interesting information. Despite the miserable weather we all had a lovely morning and the cemetery now has 10 more interesting standard trees along its boundary.

Our thanks to Bereavement Services staff and the ‘Friends’ who also supported this event.