Trees – Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

Seasons Greetings to all our supporters

Jane Edwards — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 21:08:44 +0000

The Friends and the cemetery have had a wonderful year with many more volunteers than in previous years, mainly working on our special 20th Anniversary Grave Revealing and Recording Project. Nearly every month in 2025 our volunteers contributed in excess of 120 hours between them, which is the equivalent to 3 full time additional ground staff.

The photographs below show just a few of the volunteers (community and corporate groups) that have pitched in to clear shrubs, take photographs, create data bases, litter pick, marshall events, lead walks, plant trees, liaise with schools, apply for grants, research, honour the fallen and generally keep the community involved and informed.

We can’t forget Bereavements Service staff both on the ground and in Kings Norton office. Without their co operation we would not be able to achieve as much as we do.

Seasons Greetings to you all and let’s hope that 2026 is as productive as 2025 has been.

Cemetery views by supports of FBEC and Cemetery lovers.

Jane Edwards — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:07:11 +0000

ITS NATIONAL CEMETERIES WEEK. A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR CEMETERIES.

Here are a few photographs taken by visitors to the cemetery that show what a peaceful and inviting green space it is. These photographs cover a very small area of Brandwood End. Pop in and take a stroll. There are plenty of benches to sit and listen to the bird song or watch the wildlife. Fifteen minutes in here will nourish your body and soul……..

‘Fruit and Nut Village’ Tree plant with FBEC

Jane Edwards — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:44:39 +0000

Gardening Volunteers from FBEC had a fantastic morning in the sunshine with Laura and her helpers from Fruit and Nut Village. They kindly donated 5 trees,( 3 Hazels and 2 Walnuts) to kick off our 20th Anniversary Tree Planting project. Our aim is to try and plant an minimum of 15 trees in the cemetery to replace 21 lost in recent storms. The tree stock has been depleted by over 150 in the last few years due to storms, disease and general age and as most of the cemetery was planted up over 125 years ago we can expect to lose many more in the next few years. We have raised over £4000 already but need to get to £6000 to complete the project next Autumn.

If you would like to see some of our planting photographs from today then follow this link.

Tree Planting

Jane Edwards — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:37:07 +0000

Join our Grave Gardening team, along with Fruit and Nut Village, to plant some new trees in the cemetery. We are making a start on replacing the trees lost in last years storms. Meet opposite the Lodge at 11am on the 6th April.

Fruit and Nut Village planting.

Jane Edwards — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:37:28 +0000

Most of you know that we lost a lot of trees in the recent storms and have started a campaign to try and slowly replace them. ‘Fruit and Nut Village’, who have been planting orchards in Druids Heath, have kindly agreed to plant some lovely nut trees in the cemetery and we will be holding a small event on April 6th at 11am. Everyone welcome. Boots and gloves advisable.

Protecting our last tree planting.

Jane Edwards — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:28:07 +0000

Before Covid we worked with Birmingham Trees for Life to plant 15 standard size trees on the boundary with Broad Lane and Sunderton Road. A few years on these trees needed their tree ‘guards’ and stakes removing so this morning seven volunteers from our Grave Gardening group set about that task and also made a start clearing brambles around the. Our thanks to all of them for their efforts as brambles are especially unpleasant to deal with !

Damp Tree Walk- but enjoyed by all.

Jane Edwards — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 18:29:30 +0000

Despite the damp and miserable weather we were joined by 23 people who all spent close to an hour and a half learning a little bit more about the trees of Brandwood End in Winter. Our thanks to Malcolm who had spent time planning and leading a great Tree Walk. Lots of interesting facts and questions and so many different trees still remaining to cover at another time.

Hopefully the next Tree Walk will be a ‘Summer’ one with better weather. Thanks again to Malcolm for all his time and effort, and to those that attended and make it all worth while.

If you enjoyed todays walk and want to help us replant some new trees for those you saw that were lost recently then watch this space for details on how you can donate/sponsor new trees.

Winter Tree Walk Reminder

Jane Edwards — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 16:21:22 +0000

Please come and support our Winter Tree Walk. Tomorrow, Sunday 9th. 11am at the Lodge. Wrap up warm and wear stout footwear. See you there?

Winter Tree Walk

Jane Edwards — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:31:32 +0000

Join the Friends of Brandwood End as we take a look at our trees in their Winter clothes. Committee member Malcolm Jacques will tell you a few different facts and help you spot which tree is which when they are not in leaf !!

Sunday 9th February 11am – 12.15pm Meet at the Lodge in Brandwood End Cemetery

Cemetery Gates Closed.

Jane Edwards — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:05:34 +0000

In line with the high winds Saturday the cemetery gates were closed for safety reasons.

Unfortunately there were a few branches and at least one tree that have been affected again by the high winds. Luckily for us the Tree Surgeons were quick to act and have spent yet another few days in Brandwood End checking and making trees as safe as they can in these unusual conditions. Saturated ground and high winds can cause havoc.

Stay safe.