Category: Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

August 7, 2014

‘Roadworks’ at last!

For many months now we have been awaiting the commencement of work on the pot holes along the cemetery drives. Earlier this week our Chairwoman got really excited as, from her house, she could hear the sound of heavy plant engines so she rushed round only to find it that was a large drain cleaning machine! Disappointment…. but then the helpful driver informed me that he would be followed within a couple of days by the whole kit and caboodle. Today it all arrived and work has begun.

Take care when using any of the drives as preparation work involves removing the road surface in some areas.

FBEC and the staff at Bereavement Services have received many complaints about the appalling condition of the drives and, whilst the work carried out will be limited, this must be a step in the right direction.

July 19, 2014

‘Trimming’ in the rain!

I am pleased to report that we have been able to give the hedge surrounding the Civilian Garden of Remembrance a well needed trim today. Its great to see how well established it has become and we hope that our recent hedge around nearby War Graves will follow suit!

I am afraid heavy rain throughout this exercise meant that we had to be very quick collecting hedge cuttings and possibly missed some, so take care.

We are always looking for help maintaining this garden area and especially removing the grass/weeds that grow under the hedges. If you could help FBEC with this – please contact us at friendsofbec@gmail.com

I am sure the pupils of St Albans Primary School will be proud of their planting efforts as their hedge has helped create a private and peaceful area for quiet reflection.

July 17, 2014

Watch this space!

Yesterday the large Oak tree on ‘Oak Tree Island’ was felled and today the stump was ground out in readiness for the installation of a World War One Memorial on the site.

The tree had fallen foul of a serious fungal disease which had weakened its trunk and made it a danger. Time moves on and trees don’t last forever but we will all be sad that it has gone. A replacement tree on the same spot would not be suitable as there may be fungal spores within the soil.

Oak Tree Island has long been used as a ‘signpost’ to other areas of the cemetery from the main drive. Hopefully the memorial to be installed at this point will take on this role.

July 5, 2014

Archivist needed!

FBEC are looking for an interested member of the public to take on the volunteer role of ‘Archivist’. This will not be a very time consuming role but we feel that it is important that we keep material such as news cuttings and photographs etc in an orderly fashion for future reference.

It would require a person with access to a computer, a scanner and the internet ……and also an interest in preserving information.

If you think you can help us please contact FBEC via this web site or e mail friendsofbec@gmail.com for more information.

Jane Edwards (Chairman FBEC)

July 5, 2014

Monyhull Community Event

Lots of local residents attended the Community Event at Monyhull Church today and members of FBEC spoke to many people about the future of the chapels and the condition of the cemetery in general. It is obvious that local residents are concerned about the deteriorating condition of the chapels and are keen to know if a solution is in sight.

The Brandwood Centre, Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve, Brandwood Pool and Brandwood Forum were also represented at the event and were able to gather a few additional volunteers to help at future events on their sites.

In these times of financial constraints it is even more vital for local volunteer groups to support each other and share man power and equipment. Working together we can also spread the word about the very varied volunteering opportunities each group may have to offer.

Today’s event showed yet again what a varied and vibrant area Brandwood is !

July 3, 2014

Bugs, beasties and pond life.

Year 3 and 6 pupils and Teachers from Woodthorpe J and I school enjoyed a day long visit to Brandwood Pool to investigate the ‘bugs and beasties’ both on the land and in the water.

They were joined by members of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery and Brandwood Pool who helped supervise the pond dipping.

The pupils were fascinated by the large number of frogs that were around the area and also the larvae in the pond. Luckily the sun shone all day and they all agreed that they would love to come back for another days adventure around the pool. The visit was arranged as part of the schools ECO week and it is hoped it will give the pupils a better understanding of biodiversity and the important part even the smallest creature has to insure the future of the planet.

June 30, 2014

Iconic Oak ‘boughs’ out.

Regular visitors to Brandwood End Cemetery will know that for many years a beautiful Oak tree has been a significant land mark on the main drive. They will also be aware that there has been concern over its ‘healthy and safety’ for the last couple of years and as a result it was severely cut back. It was hoped that this would reduce the weight of the upper area whilst investigations into some suspicious fungi were carried out. Sadly the results are now in….and the news is not good. We have reproduced below the statement that Bereavement Services have posted on their web site.

It is with great sadness that we have to report that the Oak Tree, a well-loved cemetery feature, is suffering from Inonotus dryadeus. This a disease which causes a white rot which attacks the lower roots and base. Unfortunately the rot has spread throughout the tree and it is therefore necessary to fell it. The removal will take place over the next few weeks.

Since we are unable to save the tree we are planning to make good use of the Oak Tree Island and will be developing a Memorial Garden to commemorate World War 1.

The Friends have spoken to the Tree Officer and Bereavement Services staff to discuss some other possible ideas suggested by our members. The trunk area is too rotten to consider carving the remaining trunk into a feature and the spores of the fungus will have contaminated the soil and could pose a risk to any replacement tree at this spot.

However, it appears that its space will be filled by an equally impressive WW1 memorial area. We all look forward to its completion.

June 7, 2014

Local Grant success!

New Vision have managed to secure yet another small grant from Waterloo Housing Association towards the completion of the woodland pathway within Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve, started last year. Brandwood Forum also had access to a small grant which they kindly contributed towards this project, so its all ready to go!

Last year members of the Friends of Jasmin Fields were assisted by Bournville College students under the supervision of the BCC Park Ranger Service. Hopefully the same system will happen this time.

Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve forms part of a circular walk taking in Brandwood End Cemetery and Brandwood Pool. The close proximity of these three sites to the northern Stratford upon Avon Canal also form a wild life corridor. Muntjac and Roe deer often move between all 3 sites and there is a healthy bat population. We suspect that they wont be using the new pathway!!

May 7, 2014

Are you searching for a grave?

If you are one of the many people searching for a grave within Brandwood End Cemetery you can normally contact Bereavement Services at Kings Norton (who hold the records) and get a more or less instant reply.

There is a minimum of 24 hour delay at the present as all the Brandwood End records of burials since the 1800’s are away from the site being ‘digitised’. This will vastly improve the service in future but means that there is a 24 hour delay in the short term- possibly till the end of May.

If you need information you need to contact Bereavement Services at least 24 hours in advance and make a request. Unfortunately this will make it difficult for anyone just turning up at the cemetery and ringing for an instant answer but this delay is unavoidable if records are to be made more accessible.

Tel: 0121 303 5583
Fax: 0121 459 8284
Email: kings.norton@birmingham.gov.uk

March 18, 2014

Lord Mayor joins local school at Veolia sponsored event in cemetery

We wish we could say that the sun shone today as it has done for the last week- but it didn’t. That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of pupils from St Alban’s RC Primary School who came along to the cemetery to help plant hawthorn whips around a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial area. Brandwood End is home to over 300 war graves but there is only one small area where graves lie in rows on a specially maintained area of grassland. This area is now enclosed by a new hawthorn hedge.

We were pleased to welcome lots of visitors to the site as well as the pupils. Representatives of Veolia Environmental Services, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, New Vision, Bereavement Services, Quadron Contractors and local residents were joined by the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress.

Following a busy morning planting they all enjoyed refreshments and a chance to talk to the Lord Mayor about his role and his regalia.

Well done!