JOIN US FOR A WINTER TREE WALK
Trees look so different during the Winter months. Bark, twigs and buds help to identify them. Join Malcolm Jacques as he revisits some of our Summer tree walk and adds a few more trees to this wonderful Winter Tree Walk.
SUNDAY 9TH FEBRUARY. 11AM-12.15PM MEET AT THE LODGE.
Can we remind you that surfaces are uneven so please wear suitable footwear and warm clothing.
The Tree Surgeons have been working daily in the cemetery to cut up and remove trees that were felled in the latest storms. Of the 17+ trees brought down in the winds just 2 remain awaiting removal.
Progress has been slow and meticulous to avoid unnecessary damage to graves that had so far escaped damage. Considering the initial extensive visual havoc the resulting permanent damage is far less than expected.
Many of you will already know that there were many trees brought down in the recent storm. The cemetery didn’t escape unscathed and we think this is the worst time the trees have had- at least in the last 20 years.
We fear we have lost at least 10 very large trees, several large bows and many more smaller trees and shrubs. Some of the trees were deciduous and without leaves so it was fairly easy to see if there was any headstone damage. We are pleased to say that miraculously very few graves have been seriously affected but it is less easy to say what has happened under the large Conifers.
Until the trees have been removed, and that will take some time, you will not be able to get any reassurance as to the condition of memorial beneath them. As you can appreciate there are many trees down in many locations and the cemetery was shut on Sunday and early this morning to allow the inspection of the damage. We believe opening hours are now as normal but this may change as and when Tree Surgeons are operating in various areas.
It is noticeable that the main cause of the felled trees seems to be very turbulent wind in confined areas of the cemetery during the storm and the waterlogged soil after a huge amount of rain. The trees themselves generally appeared healthy. So sad as most of them were mature and part of the Grade 2 avenue plan.
We were pleased to welcome yet another Team of volunteers from Deutsche Bank to Brandwood End this week to help with our ongoing project to make every grave in the cemetery accessible. Many of the older graves have been lost for some years under Ivy, Holly or in some cases self set trees. The Friends, assisted by various Corporate groups, have been working all over the cemetery to try and make sure visitors can get to family graves.
The coppice area they were working on and how it looked afterwards, graves revealed
Sometimes this involves removing Ivy or small Holly bushes and other shrubs that have grown out of control. There are lots of self set trees, mainly conifers, growing on or between graves. Many of these have now reached significant height and width and can obscure maybe 6 or 8 graves! If possible we remove lower branches (crown lift) to allow access to graves but occasionally the tree will be removed.
Deutsche Bank have been on site on several occasions this year and we hope to welcome them again in the New Year. Follow this link to see further photos.
Bereavements and the Friends have received requests from visiting families for low hanging branches to be lifted, in Section 7, as they are making access to graves difficult.
Both Bereavements staff and ourselves had a look and agreed that something needed to be done. The Cemetery Superintendent, knowing we had a Grave Gardeners session, asked if we would be happy to tackle the problem so 4 of our team set to and removed the lower 8 feet of hanging branches. All looking good for now. Maybe further action needed in 2025?
Join the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery as we take a stroll around this magnificent 53 acre site investigating our recently launched Tree Trail. The Tree Trail highlights the range of trees that this Victorian Cemetery contains, over 1750 planted mainly in 1898/9.
Meet at the Lodge on the main drive at 11am prompt, Saturday 20th July.(For further information and to reserve a place, please contact us on 07811393259 or mail to friendsofbec@gmail.com)
Busy day again for the Tree Surgeons, but this time just removing dead wood off some of the really high Pines on the main drive. Spot the man in the cage!!
Tree husbandry in Brandwood End has actually been funded this year(it isn’t every year and this will be the last we see of it for a while, I suspect!) the downside is that we will see a number of diseased trees disappearing from our beautiful landscape. They have been earmarked for some time but work has now ramped up with contractors working in the cemetery most days. Most recent losses are a very large tree near Broad Lane entrance which was diseased and a beautiful Labernum on A3FC which was pretty much hollow above waist height. Sad but necessary.
The Friends recently relaunched their refreshed Tree Walk leaflet and on Saturday 20th July at 11am, Malcolm Jacques will be leading a walk around the trees highlighted.
This will be a ‘stroll’ and most of the areas will accessible to wheelchair users but we warn that the roadways are uneven. All will be welcome but can we ask that any under 16year olds be accompanied by an adult. We would suggest suitable footwear for uneven ground.
If you would like to reserve a place can we ask you to e mail us on friendsofbec@gmail.com,
Over the next few weeks and months you may hear the hum of chain saws and notice the felling of some mature trees in the cemetery. We are all sad to see any tree removed but they all have a limited life. That could be determined by the species of tree or by outside influences such as fungal infections, beetle infestations, disease and weather.
Most of the mature trees in Brandwood End were planted over 125 years ago and some predate that. Unfortunately- or fortunately, as a public space the trees are regularly checked by the Tree Officer to make sure that none are at risk of falling and causing damage to graves or worse still….people. The Trees Officer spoke to the Friends some time ago, as the recent survey had highlighted quite a few trees needing attention, and where possible they will be trimmed etc but some are beyond those measures and will have to be removed. This is necessary work and whilst it is sad to see trees removed we are pleased to see that they are being surveyed on a regular basis. (Those that ask about budgets, this is a Health and Safety issue and funding must always be available for that.)
Allied to this project we are discussing possible use of some of the timber removed for ECO projects and also looking a raising funding to replace those trees lost and so maintain a good tree stock for future generations.
Please take care if Tree Surgeons are working in the cemetery. Its interesting to watch but not from too close!
