Category: Events

Annual BOSF(Birmingham Open Spaces ) Conference

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 !!

R I P Barrie Simpson.

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.

 

Great British Spring Clean Results!!

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!!

New date for Great British Spring Clean- LITTER PICK

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)

 

 

 

URGENT NOTIFICATION- SATURDAY 3rd MARCH -LITTER PICK CANCELLED.

 We are afraid that the severe weather conditions would make it foolhardy to carry on with the litter pick planned for this Saturday 3rd March, in the Cemetery. FBEC will be rearranging, so watch this space. Such a shame as there were so many ‘Great British Spring Clean’ events scheduled around the country. We fear that the combination of snow and the wind chill factor have defeated us. Take care.

Final Reminder of our ‘Great British Clean Up’ Litter Pick.

On Saturday the 3rd March between 10 and 11.30am we will be supporting the latest Keep Britain Tidy SPRING CLEAN- LITTER PICK campaign.

              

Please come along to Brandwood End Cemetery in Woodthorpe Rd, Kings Heath and support this event. We will supply litter pickers and bags. Please wear stout shoes/boots and gloves. Meet at the Lodge on the Main Drive.

Work starting on ‘make safe’ and temp roof.

We are now seeing a small amount of work starting to move fences in and then make masonry safe. Planning permission is still pending for a temporary roof on half of the building to protect the walls from the weather etc. With Bereavement Services we hope to raise funds for some ‘interpretation’ so members of the public can follow what is happening in this area. This is not a renovation project at this time, just an effort to prevent further deterioration, pending ideas for asuccessful bid to give this building a sustainable future.

Follow this link to our photo album and thanks to our photographer!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ya8ung9oipus8mVA3

The Last Litter Pick of 2017!

Gosh, where has 2017 gone. Today saw the last scheduled Litter Pick for 2017 and hopefully by the time we ‘pick’ again in March, we may be seeing some signs of Spring in 2018! Our thanks to today’s volunteers. Here….yet again ….are some more early snowdrops we found today and also some of the fungi nestling in the leaves around the cemetery.

  

 

Final event in our year long ‘Help for Hedgehogs’ project.

On Wednesday this week we unveiled our latest addition to Brandwood End Cemetery….a lovely Interpretation Board displaying lots of information about how to ‘Help Hedgehogs’. This is the final event in our Heritage Lottery sponsored ‘Help for Hedgehogs’ project.

Lots of people to thank today…. Councillor Tristran Chatfield, who unveiled the board for us , Bereavement Service Office and Ground Staff, all our local Councillors, The Wildlife Trust (Birmingham and Black Country), The Park Ranger Service, SHED, Woodthorpe Primary School, St Albans RC Primary, Rachel (our film maker), FBEC  volunteers and finally the local community.