Category: Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Fantastic Fungi

Despite short notice there were 18 keen attendees at our wonderful Fungi Walk led by Lukas Large. We even  have a waiting list for our next venture into the world of fungi.  The weather was with us but  unfortunately there was very little fungi, as despite the previous day’s heavy showers the ground was still very dry.

Luckily, Lukas had also bought some interesting specimens along with him so we all had a very interesting and informative couple of hours. Thank you for your time Lukas and Josie, for arranging this.

Welcome on board Josie!

Those of you that follow our Web site or Facebook site may have noticed a new contributor. Josie Wall has been appointed on a 12 month contract as Bereavement Services Activities Manager. Josie’s role covers 9 Birmingham Cemeteries and 3 Crematoria and involves supporting existing friends groups, encouraging the formation of friends groups in other cemeteries and resolving a number of issues not directly involved with ‘funerals’ but no less important to the general community.

Fbec have already enjoyed working alongside Josie as part of the ‘God’ s Acre’ project in Brandwood End and are very pleased to welcome her in her new role.

SHORT NOTICE! Fungi walk.

Some of you may remember that last year there was a wonderful fungi walk in the cemetery with Lukas Large who is the Natural Science Curator for Birmingham Museums Trust and a fungi expert. Lukas has offered us a fungi walk again this year, but as he’s very busy in fungi season, so it’s a bit short notice!

The walk will be on Saturday 1st October at 2pm.

The walk is free but we are asking people to book a place with Josie so we know how many people to expect. You can email Josie on josie.wall@jqdt.org or call her work phone on 07492 748 248 (leave a message if its off).

The walk will meet outside the lodge and will last about an hour and a half. British weather is unpredictable (and rain is good for fungi) so check the forecast and dress accordingly, and put some good sturdy shoes on as the ground may be uneven in places.

Heritage walk in Brandwood End.

A large group of over 20 people enjoyed a well researched and delivered walk today taking in the graves of interesting Balsall Heath residents.

Julia Griffin, our Chairman, and Val Hart from Balsall Heath History Society had originally designed this walk to be delivered to Society members but there was so much interest that it was repeated in full today. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine and a chance to learn more about some of those buried in Brandwood.

Civilian Garden in the spotlight.

Today we were able to tell the story of the Civilian Garden of Remembrance and those that lie within.

Many of our visitors today had no  idea that  this peaceful area of reflection existed and certainly knew nothing of those buried within.

 

With the help of Matt Felkin and his wealth of knowledge,  we were able to answer many questions about Civilian casualties and local areas that received bomb damage.

Our thanks again to everyone that helped us deliver this Heritage Event and those who took the time to visit us, especially in this strange time of public mourning.