Gosh! Three months have flown by and its time for our next litter pick. Why not join us, hopefully in the sunshine, as we stroll and chat around the cemetery collecting litter as we go. Meet by the Lodge on the Main drive at 10am. We provide bags and pickers but would advise you to wear suitable footwear and gloves. You can stay as long as you want…..but we are usually finished by 11.30am.
The Friends of Brandwood End have been members of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends for many years and endeavour to attend their Annual AGM’s that take place in varying areas of the UK. They have their own web site which we thought some of you may find interesting. Through them we are able to keep in touch with developments at other cemeteries around the country.
http://www.cemeteryfriends.org.uk/
The notices are posted…..the accounts are complete….the report is ready. All we need now are some members to come along and hear what we have been up to and what is on the cards for FBEC in 2015/16
FBEC has been in existence for 10 years now, and the time has come for our 2015 AGM.
We welcome everyone with an interest in Brandwood End Cemetery to our short AGM which will be held at:
St Bede’s Church (Corner of Bryndale Avenue and Doversley Road) 7.30-8pm
Thursday 16th April 2015
Come along and hear what has been happening in the last year and what is planned for 2015/16- We welcome your support.
The Friends of Brandwood End always like to promote awareness of other local sites. Billesley Common is a marvellous area of woodland and open space that lies within walking distance of the cemetery. Even if you can’t make this event we would recommend you take the walk.
Spring should be on the way when we hold our next litter pick on Saturday 7th March. Please come along and help. We have the litter pick tools and the black bags ready…..all we need are the people! We meet at the Lodge near the Woodthorpe Road entrance at 10am. Suitable footwear and gloves are advisable.
Bereavement Services have arranged with the Tree Officer for the removal of some of the ‘self set’ trees that have grown to unacceptable heights on graves. Many of these trees have damaged graves but also they often prevent access to adjacent graves. It is hoped that their removal will open up the vistas across the cemetery and restore the original planting plans. This tree removal project is a trial in one section, but if successful it will hopefully spread (over time) throughout the whole cemetery.
For some time now the calls of Green Parakeets have been heard in the cemetery but no major sightings reported. This morning I can report that a flock of over a dozen of these colourful and noisy birds flew through the cemetery. They paid a visit to the trees surrounding the nearby Brandwood Pool and then returned to the area of the main drive before heading off towards the canal!
Whilst they make a colourful sight it is to be hoped that they don’t intimidate the other birds that regularly use Brandwood End, especially the Spotted and Green Woodpeckers!
The Friends were pleased to see that the Cemetery was looking very clean, tidy and welcoming over the Christmas period. A number of local people have also commented on this and we have received similar praise on our Facebook page. Thank you Bereavement Services staff for that little bit of extra effort….it was noticed!!
The snowdrops have made their appearance again!!
Our thanks to the committee members and volunteers who turned out to help remove the Ivy from some 0f the historic graves near the Chapels last weekend. We are only able to do this at certain prescribed times each year as the Ivy provides nesting areas for some of our beautiful birds from the spring onwards. A special thank you to the volunteers from Alvechurch who gave up their time to help committee members.
Transformed……from the overgrown view on the left to the cleared area on the right!!
The sad news is that this needs to be done often and it only seems like yesterday that it was cleared before! Our thanks again for everyone’s efforts.