Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery https://fbec.org.uk Restoration, conservation and respectful enjoyment of Brandwood End Cemetery and Chapels Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:52:40 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.3 The end of Heritage Open Week https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/the-end-of-heritage-open-week/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/the-end-of-heritage-open-week/#respond Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:52:40 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6103 What a wonderful week the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery have enjoyed as part of Birmingham Heritage Open. From Music, to history, to art and symbolism!

Our thanks to everyone that took part in our four events. It was wonderful to introduce so many people to the cemetery who had never visited before or who often visit one area of our 53 acres and have never explored the rest. We have also had a lot of visitors from outside Birmingham this year.

Special thanks to Shelley from Leaf Creative Arts and Jodie and Rachel from Caring for Gods Acre. Their walks and our History walk proved so popular that we have had to promise to repeat similar events in the Spring.

Finally a special thank you to all our committee of the Friends who have supported these events and especially to Gill for being our photographer at all of the events.

 

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/the-end-of-heritage-open-week/feed/ 0 Symbolism of Angels. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/symbolism-of-angels/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/symbolism-of-angels/#respond Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:22:03 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6095 We had two walks/talks today under the title of ‘Symbolism of Angels’ and both of them were fully booked with 20+ attendees morning and afternoon.

Dr Josie Wall and Dr Rachel Askew kept everyone intrigued with not just symbolism but also a peep into the real stories of those remembered on the headstones. Nothing is what it seems, as we found out!!

Josie and Rachel both work for Caring for Gods Acre and they gave everyone such a wealth of information about some of our wonderful Angels as well as sharing some of their background research.

 

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/21/symbolism-of-angels/feed/ 0 Gate to Gate Walk https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/gate-to-gate-walk/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/gate-to-gate-walk/#respond Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:16:05 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6090 Another well attended walk in the cemetery. This was a chance to share some of the history of the Friends and the Cemetery with 26 members of the public in the hope that they will visit again and enjoy the rich history the cemetery hides behind its stones.

Today, in HERITAGE OPEN WEEK, the sun shone and the visitors enjoyed a gentle stroll from the main gate to the walking gate- along the main drive. Another glimpse into some of the stories in Brandwood End.

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/gate-to-gate-walk/feed/ 0 Great musical start to Heritage Open Week https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/great-musical-start-to-heritage-open-week/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/great-musical-start-to-heritage-open-week/#respond Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:02:03 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6084 The weather was dull and miserable but the music was anything but! What a great way to spend an hour in our beautiful cemetery. Thanks to  Suze and Brandwood Buzz, who organised our introduction to Shelly at Leaf Arts as part of their summer programme.

                                 

Shelly’s play list of music was superb and a group of over 20 people, with their own individual head sets, strolled  happily around the tree lined avenues remembering their youth and how important music can be to mental health.

It was a unanimous success and we can’t wait for Shelly to compile her next playlist. Thank you to everyone that attended. Heritage week, heritage music and  a beautiful heritage cemetery. What a great start to HERITAGE OPEN WEEK.

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/19/great-musical-start-to-heritage-open-week/feed/ 0 ‘Bathe in Nature’ going ahead. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/17/bathe-in-nature-going-ahead/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/17/bathe-in-nature-going-ahead/#respond Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:45:48 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6072 Today’s walk will still take place as hopefully the weather will improve. Dress appropriately.

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/17/bathe-in-nature-going-ahead/feed/ 0 Bench by Bench in Brandwood End. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/bench-by-bench-in-brandwood-end/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/bench-by-bench-in-brandwood-end/#respond Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:59:37 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6070
The Friends have several ‘walks’ that we lead but here is one, designed by one of our committee members (Tricia Windspur) , that you can follow on your own. Why not wait for a sunny day and take a stroll resting ‘BENCH BY BENCH’ to enjoy the surroundings. Every view is different and at a quiet time you may be surprised by the wildlife you may spot. 

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/bench-by-bench-in-brandwood-end/feed/ 0 HERITAGE OPEN EVENTS. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/heritage-open-events-3/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/heritage-open-events-3/#respond Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:50:02 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6068 Welcome to Heritage Open Week. Some space left tomorrow . Bathe in Nature…the 17th September at 10.30am.

Bathe in Nature.  A chance to enjoy a stroll around the cemetery whilst enjoying affirming and calming music via  headphones.  We still have a few spaces. Meet opposite the Lodge on the main drive at 10.20am ready for a 10.30am start.

The Symbolism of Angels Sunday 1.30pm.  Dr Josie Wall still has a few spaces on this fascinating talk and walk.  The morning session is fully booked.

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/16/heritage-open-events-3/feed/ 0 Volunteer hours https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/volunteer-hours/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/volunteer-hours/#respond Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:49:11 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6064 32 volunteers completed 171 hours in the cemetery in August. Several volunteers visited more than once and worked on various projects. Our heartfelt thanks for all their support.

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/volunteer-hours/feed/ 0 The ‘Howells’ work on……. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/the-howells-work-on/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/the-howells-work-on/#respond Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:39:53 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6059 Ray and Sue Howell are Friends of the cemetery and work mainly in the Civilian Garden. This week Ray took to tidying the top of the hedge, which had already grown since the BCC Maintenance Team reduced its height! Sue was equally busy trying to tidy up access to the toilet block!

]]> https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/the-howells-work-on/feed/ 0 Chapel view improved. https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/chapel-view-improved/ https://fbec.org.uk/2025/09/09/chapel-view-improved/#respond Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:33:34 +0000 https://fbec.org.uk/?p=6054 What a difference a ‘cut hedge’ can make. Next time you are in the cemetery have a look at the area inside the Chapel Fence. The hedge had become well out of control but the Grounds Maintenance team, who cut the grass, pitched in and now it is neat and tidy. Thank you .

A bit of a mess !   Now much tidier!

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