In these unusual times we are thinking of our friends at 202 Field Hospital, as we are sure they will be in the front line and busy!!
For the last couple of years we have enjoyed working with them in the cemetery as they helped clear graves of shrubbery and place poppy crosses. We hope they all keep safe.
‘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.
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!
Please join the Friends for their first Litter Pick of 2020.
10am, meet at the Lodge. We have the bags and the pickers, but please do wear suitable footwear and clothing. Gloves are advisable.
For those who would like to know more, please read on and
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.
On Sunday 1st December we will be holding our last litter pick of 2019.
Please come along and support us. We have the litter pickers and the bags- we just need the volunteers. Meet at the Lodge on the main drive at 10am. Remember you will need stout footwear !
Lets hope the weather is dry for us this Wednesday 27th as we will be welcoming Birmingham Trees for Life and pupils from St Albans R C Primary School to plant yet another 10 trees in Brandwood End Cemetery.
Last year we sadly lost a number of large Poplar Trees from one of our boundary areas but with the help of Birmingham Trees for Life we are slowly replacing them with more suitable species.
Today’s Remembrance event was very well attended. Representatives of West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, Local Councillors, The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), the Catholic Women’s League, FBEC and members of the local Beaver Pack all laid Wreaths at the Cross of Sacrifice.
Deacon David Fairbotham gave a short thought provoking Service of Remembrance and the Wreath Laying was preceded by a Bugler and 2 minutes silence.
Everyone then processed down the main Drive to the WW1 Memorial, where further wreaths were laid.
Our thanks to everyone that attended this event. We have collected a few photographs via this link should you wish to see more.
The Army made a start on the clearance of the Holly but the baton has been taken up by the Ground Staff !
This has been such a daunting task to undertake but spurred on by the inroads that ‘202’ made on one section Tony, Alan and John have now attacked the remaining Holly setters along the main drive. The result is amazing! Watch this site for updated ‘clearance’ photographs.