Gardening – Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Weather Affects Grave Gardeners event 27th June.

Jane Edwards — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:54:09 +0000

This Saturday the 27th June is one of the scheduled dates for our Grave Gardeners to meet on site but, as everyone will be aware, there is a heatwave at the moment.

Many of the regulars have decided not to attend for health reasons and we think this is pretty sensible but representatives of FBEC will be on the main drive by the Lodge at 11am in case anyone does turn up. (We are aware that this is as much a social gathering as a work party!)

We have decided that we will make a decision with anyone that turns up as to whether we do a short gardening session or not. Who knows what the weather may bring tomorrow?

HSBC Bank staff back to help again.

Jane Edwards — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:44:39 +0000

This is the third time we have welcomed HSBC staff to the cemetery to assist with the clearing of shrubbery from graves. Many corporate companies allow their staff one or two days a year to undertake projects in the community. FBEC are very pleased that HSBC have continued to support the Friends and look forward to seeing them on site again.

Flower tubs starting to bloom.

Jane Edwards — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:39:39 +0000

Those that follow the activities of the Friends will know that, working with Brandwood Buzz, we have been able to install extra flower tubs on the main drive and also at the entrance from Broad Lane.

Thanks to Kay, who takes charge of planting and watering the tubs, we now have a wonderful display. There are 4 large tubs and 4 small.

We do hope that they brighten your visit to the cemetery.

National ‘Make a difference day’

Jane Edwards — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:01:47 +0000

Make a Difference Day today...to celebrate volunteers and what they bring to their community.

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery would like to highlight all the volunteers that give their time in the cemetery. Yes, it helps the overall look of the cemetery but you all do so much more for each others mental health and physical wellbeing. A win win all round.

Also a shout out to those that follow our facebook site and jump to help others with queries, searching for graves etc. Well done to all of you and we hope you get as much reward from your interactions as all of the FBEC Committee do. Keep doing what you are doing.

Here are just a few of our volunteer groups but there are many more who help us in Brandwood End Cemetery:

Grave Gardeners

Corporate ‘grave clearing’ volunteers

Poppy Crossers

Tree Guardians

Headstone photographers

Data base champians

Researchers

Civilian Garden maintainers

Litter Pickers

Committee members

………. and many others who help as and when they can with whatever needs doing.

PLEASE KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND THANK YOU ALL.

Deutsche Bank Volunteers at work again.

Jane Edwards — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:18:15 +0000

Lovely weather welcomed 10 enthusiastic staff from Deutsche Bank to the cemetery to carry on with our ‘Grave shrubbery’ project.

In our 20th year we aimed to clear all the shrubbery from Section 16 and photograph all the headstones for our data base. This year we continue to extend that project to another section, B12.

Ten members of staff spent all day clearing ground level Brambles and Holly and managed to uncover several rows of previously obscured graves that hadn’t been accessible for many years. if you want to see some before and after shots then follow this link to our album.

Tree Guardians.

Jane Edwards — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:26:31 +0000

Most of our followers will know that we have been planting trees this year to replace those lost in storms and through age. Our initial planting was with Fruit and nut Village and we were able to plant a small fruit sapling tree area . We followed this in February with 15 larger standard trees, all of which were special in their own way and complimented the existing planting designed by Louden in the late 1800’s.

As warmer weather approaches we sent out a message on our facebook site to ask for Tree Guardians who would take on the watering of all of the trees for the remainder of this year and as long as they need it. Once again our supporters didnt let us down and very soon we formed a team of 8 who willingly adopted a couple of trees each to car for. Our thanks to them for offering their time to give these trees the best start in life.

Its March, and its Deutsche Bank working in the cemetery.

Jane Edwards — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:02:47 +0000

Nine Deutsche Bank staff joined us for the day to do some shrubbery clearance on Section 18. The weather didn’t look too bright but everyone agreed that the temperature was just right for the hard work they were undertaking. Thanks again for Steve D, Steve E and Kay for supporting the visit. A special thank you to a Deutsche Bank staff member who treated us all to pizza for lunch.

Lots of areas cleared today and lots of photographs via this link.

Brightening Brandwood

Jane Edwards — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:17:48 +0000

Our thanks to the Volunteers from Brandwood Buzz – ‘Brightening Brandwood’ project. The volunteers not only constructed four planters for the cemetery but came to plant them up with The Friends. We managed to get two planters in place today and the remaining two should be completed tomorrow.

Great gardening effort today.

Jane Edwards — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:17:12 +0000

Thanks to our five gardening volunteers who concentrated on freeing the Rhododendrons on the main drive from brambles and exposing some Holly trees, Lots of shrubbery removed and now some more light available for the plants that should be there.

Grave Gardening Session

Jane Edwards — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:11:17 +0000

Meet new friends and help your fitness by joining our Gardening Group as we work to uncover graves that have been hidden for years. We have the tools and volunteers welcome. Meet by the Lodge on the main drive. Suitable clothing and footwear advisable