The sun shone on 5 members of 96th Birmingham Scouts who joined FBEC members to collect 11 bags of litter around the cemetery on Sunday 3rd June.
Our new Chairman, Julia, kept herself busy by washing the section markers along the main drive and assisting a number of members of the public in finding family graves !
Our thanks to people who kindly donate to FBEC when they see us at work in the cemetery. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Litter Pick- Sunday 3rd June-10.00 start . Why not come along and join the Friends at their quarterly clear up in the cemetery. We will supply litter picks and bags but need you to come in stout footwear and we recommend gloves as well.
Meet at the Lodge on the main drive and hopefully enjoy a sunny stroll !
Those of you that visit the cemetery may have noticed that recently some of the driveways were hard to travel along in a vehicle, as low branches had become a hazard.
This was especially true along the avenue of Redwoods, where the trees were crowding each other out and there was reduced light. The Tree Officer has instigated a programme of removal of the lower branches (Crown lifting) throughout the cemetery and the photograph above shows what a remarkable difference can be made by more space and more light. One side of the avenue has been completed and hopefully the other side will follow soon.
NOTE- You may see a Tree Survey Officer in the Cemetery as BCC are completing their five yearly safety check of trees.
This years BOSF Conference took on a different look as the two afternoon sessions meant that members had the chance to learn more about, and take part in, different activities carried out in Parks. 
The morning session involved speakers from several organisations and also gave delegates the chance of having ‘just a minute’ to champion their own group. The venue this year was also a change from the norm and being held at The Mac in Cannon Hill made it easy for our Chairman and Secretary to attend!
Afternoon practical sessions varied from learning about the technical equipment that the Tree Officers use to determine the health/stability of a tree to learning about green wood working. Also available were workshops to help with event organisation and health and safety assessment.
BOSF Conferences offer individual Friends groups the chance to get together and network…..as well as offering a hearty lunch and cake !!
It is with regret that we have to announce the sudden passing of our deeply respected long term friend and colleague, Barrie Simpson, whom we all held in great regard.
He was such an integral member of FBEC that his loss will be very keenly felt, but he will continue to live on in our thoughts especially when working in the cemetery.
Of late we have observed Barrie’s decline, but his ability to find ways of communicating at committee meetings revealed his continuing perseverance and determination to be engaged in what he held dear. The photograph above is how we will all remember Barrie !
As this wonderful man passes from our lives to being indelibly marked on our minds and in our hearts, we are all reminded of the massive hole he leaves in FBEC.
As we litter picked today we noticed that the poppy wreaths had gone from the Cross of Sacrifice. Why and where to........?
A big thank you to all our supporters who turned out to help at our litter pick today, especially local Councillors and staff from Idverde (who came complete with a truck to remove the 27 bags of litter we collected).
After 90 minutes we had collected a surprising amount of litter, mainly from the edges of the cemetery and sadly a fair bit of it had been thrown over garden fences from adjacent houses!
If your garden backs onto Brandwood End Cemetery please DO NOT throw your disguarded Christmas trees, building waste and soiled nappies over your fence into our beautiful cemetery. It is not pleasant having to collect your waste……but collect it, we did!
Well done everyone!!
Pleased to say our litter pick that was cancelled due to snow is now back in the diary!
SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 10-11.30AM- BRANDWOOD END CEMETERY
Please join the Friends in this ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ annual Litter Pick. We will provide the pickers and the bags, but you will need stout footwear and gloves. Meet on the main drive near the Lodge. (Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult)
