This photograph was taken on Saturday 20th June at the end of a most interesting and absorbing KH History Group summer field trip to Brandwood End Cemetery led by Pat Franklin (A member of FBEC) who generously gave her time to talk to the members about the history of the Cemetery and show them some of the WW1 graves and memorials that Brandwood contains.
Several members of FBEC answered our call for help as we brought the hedge in the Civilian Garden of Remembrance back in line!
Many hands make light work…….. 
Several of our members turned up, shears in hand, to help trim the hawthorn hedge that surrounds the garden.
Luckily the weather was in our favour and we managed to do a bit of weeding as well!
Our thanks to everyone who gave up their morning and I think we all agree that the Civilian Garden is looking really good at the moment.
A brief mention to the ladies that take it in turns to weed the beds and paths. Their efforts are obvious!
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…………..
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.
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.
The Great War memorial bench has now been re sited close to the new memorial (on the old Oak Tree Island). It has been joined by an interpretation lectern explaining the part that Birmingham played during the Great war.
The bench is now clear of over hanging trees and less likely to be damaged by bird droppings.
The small area of Commonwealth War Graves, recently hedged by FBEC and St Albans pupils, has been planted with Primula Vulgaris and is looking especially good.
As mentioned in the article below, the clearance of ‘self set’ trees growing on, or close to graves has now started. If you are familiar with the cemetery you can see, from the photographs below, what a difference it will make. Many graves that have been hidden for years have been exposed and the view across the section has now been opened up. This work will also mean that the tree lined avenues will now appear more defined.
If you look carefully in the photograph you will see the size of some of the felled trees that have obscured (piled to the right) both graves and views. None of the felled trees were part of the original planting.
This open view across the cemetery hasn’t been seen for many years.
Hopefully this will also mean that family members may be able to trace graves they thought were lost forever, and consider their restoration.
We are sure regular visitors to the Cemetery will have heard and seen the tree work that has been going on. A number of mature trees have had to be removed as they were either damaged or diseased and represented a risk to the public.
It is so sad to see such majestic trees felled but many of them are at least as old as the Cemetery- so 120 years and some were part of the original hedgerows in the farmers fields. Nothing lasts for ever and fungi are often a sign of a trees demise.
The Friends are keen to help with the maintenance of tree stock numbers and species in Brandwood End but any introduction of trees into the cemetery needs to be carefully planned with Bereavement Services and the local Tree Officer to maintain its original design.
A new bench has made an appearance in Brandwood End Cemetery. The Friends have no idea who provided it, but it sits near the Cross of Sacrifice on the main Drive and its design suggests a link to the Great war. 
