Before the end of the summer term, pupils from Woodthorpe Junior and Infant school joined members of the Friends to investigate our ‘Tree Walk’ as part of their ECO week. The pupils, accompanied by members of staff, collected leaves and cones and did leaf and bark rubbings.
The school hopes to be working with us again in the Autumn term on a number of small projects. Woodthorpe has a newly instated Forest School area and a keen ECO group and the children were very enthusiastic and entered into the spirit of the activity despite occasional slight drizzle.
Category: Environment
Safety First at Broad Lane entrance
As those of you who use Brandwood End Cemetery regularly will know, making an exit via the Broad Lane gate often means taking your life in your hands. As you exit the cemetery you are obscured by hedge row and then immediately on the road with no pavement.This meant that speeding traffic approaching from the right had no way of knowing you were there!
After discussions with local Councillors and Bereavements department we are pleased to say that the ‘road’ side of the gate on Broad Lane has now been marked with white lines to highlight the exit from the main gate and also the Jewish gate to road users.
Bereavements department will also be fitting a sign within the cemetery as you approach the gate to warn pedestrians of the danger. 
Thank you to our members that drew this to our attention and the Councillors and Birmingham City Council Bereavements department for supporting our request.
Hobbits and crafts!
The New Vision Community Board made its first appearance off site at the Middle Earth Weekend at the Shire Country Park (Sarehole Mill). Many people stopped to ask questions about the Brandwood End Cemetery and we hope, as a result we will see some new members to our already growing group. Please do think about joining The Friends (There is information on how to do this on our site). There is always strength in numbers and more members lead to more ideas as to how we can work with BCC to retain and improve the quality of this magical cemetery site.
Can you help keep our Cemetery clean and tidy? Yes you can, in just 90 minutes!
The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors. You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes. Litter pickers and bags are provided! Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can. All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.
We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy. If you can’t make March then these are our other dates:
Sunday 2nd June 2013
Saturday 7th September 2013
Sunday 1st December 2013
See you there?
Local children produce their drawings of Brandwood End Cemetery!
Just prior to Christmas 2012 New Vision Community Group were part of the Christmas Fayre at St Albans School. FBEC, as members of this group, ran a small competition for the pupils to draw what they saw and liked within Brandwood End Cemetery. These are the three prize winners.
This beautiful drawing of our Chapels was produced by Nancy McAndrew, who is 10 years old.
Maisey Cox, aged 9, has captured the avenues of trees that make Brandwood End cemetery so beautiful.
Our final winner is just 5! Roman Addy has managed to pack so many things into his picture. Foxes, trees, angels, grave stones, mushrooms….and even a cat he saw!
Full marks for observation.
Each of the three winners will receive a prize of some items to use for their future artistic endeavours and their efforts will be displayed on our notice boards as well as here on our site.
We would like to thank them for taking the time to enter our competition.
Adverse weather causes damage to trees.
Sadly high winds and recent snow fall contributed to one of the Corsican Pine Trees on the main drive in the Cemetery being uprooted. Luckily the tree fell away from the main drive area but did damage an adjacent Deodar Cedar as it fell removing branches from one side. Work is being undertaken to remove the trunk but as you will see from the photograph this was a very large tree.
Oak Tree Pruning
Many of you who visit the Cemetery will have noticed, with horror, the severe pruning or pollarding of the Oak on the island in the main drive. Unfortunately this has been necessary as the oak has been weakened by fungus at the base and this has resulted in a number of the lower branches becoming dangerously rotten. This tree also had a very heavy canopy and it was feared that in wet and windy weather it could be in danger of falling. To try and give it a chance of recovery the leaf bearing branches have been removed thus reducing its wind resistance and it will be watched closely by the BCC Tree Officer over the coming months. It‘s not a foregone conclusion that this tree will survive but every effort will be made to retain it. There are a number of trees on site that have also had to be treated in a similar manner but FBEC are pleased that there is some appropriate tree husbandry now happening in Brandwood End and will encourage the replacement of any trees that have to be removed.
Can you help keep our Cemetery clean and tidy? Yes you can, in just 90 minutes!
LITTER PICK: SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2013
The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors. You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes. Litter pickers and bags are provided!
Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can. All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!
We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.
We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.
See you there?
Can you give just 90 minutes to help keep the Cemetery tidy?
LITTER PICK: SUNDAY 2ND JUNE 2013
The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors. You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes. Litter pickers and bags are provided!
Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can. All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!
We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.
We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.
See you there?
Can you spare just 90 minutes to help the Friends out? Then we need you!
LITTER PICK: SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 2013
The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors. You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes. Litter pickers and bags are provided!
Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can. All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!
We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.
We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy.
See you there?