Tag: environment

Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress visit Jasmin Fields

Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery joined other members of New Vision at an ‘Explore Jasmin Fields’ event last Saturday.  A similar event last summer was completely drowned out so we were dismayed when we started to set up in rain and wind! The wind was so strong that one or our gazebos briefly became a kite……but the wind soon dropped and the rain cleared and by starting time we had very acceptable weather.

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We were very pleased that the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress came along to open the event and stayed most of the morning. The Ranger Service and the Friends of Jasmin Fields, supported by New Vision, had arranged a circular walk of the nature reserve, pond dipping, cake icing, badge making, bike repairs and advice on security by the Neighbourhood Policing Team. The event gave local groups, including FBEC, the opportunity to make residents more aware of their activities and to enlist members for future events. Everyone agreed to had been a real success and well worth the effort by the volunteers.

If you have an interest in any of the local groups, especially Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery, please contact us via this site and we will add you to our e mail list to be advised of anything happening in our local community group areas. We all need your support at our events and it is so good to see local people interested in any of our sites.

Hedge gets first serious cut!

Those of you that follow this blog will know that just over a year ago pupils from St Albans Catholic Primary School joined Friends and volunteers to replace an ailing hedge around the Civilian Garden of Remembrance with a new hawthorn hedge.This peaceful area had been abandoned for many years until The Friends, with lottery support, restored it to a restful place to sit and enjoy. Initially we had surrounded the area with a beech hedge but the soil, being clay and waterlogged much of the year, did not support this species, so a major plan was put in place to replace it with a more tolerant hawthorn hedge.

20130811_15403020130811_154043This hedge has thrived and grown and had begun to look unruly, despite occasional trimming, so this weekend it had its first serious ‘cut’ and we are pleased to say it looks fantastic. This will only be its second winter coming up and already it is starting to look like a well established hedge.  I think you will agree from the photo’s above that the area looks inviting and is well cared for volunteers from FBEC.

If you feel you could help us at all with this ongoing task of weeding etc please contact us via our web site. Many hands make light work and there is always something to do.

 

Safety measures completed.

Some time ago we reported the concern of members that the exit from the Broad Lane gate of the cemetery was potentially dangerous as there was no pavement and you stepped into fast moving traffic. FBEC  arranged with local Councillors to have the road marked outside both the public and the Jewish gates, to warn vehicles that there were  hidden exits within the hedge line.

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Following our request to the Cemetery Superintendent we are pleased to say that a warning sign has been placed close to the exit so all pedestrians are now aware of the danger. Our thanks go to those who drew this to our attention and also for the assistance of the local Councillor and Bereavements staff for addressing this issue

Hobbits and crafts!

The New Vision Community Board made its first appearance off site at the Middle Earth Weekend at the Shire Country Park (Sarehole Mill). Many people stopped to ask questions about the Brandwood End Cemetery and we hope, as a result we will see some new members to our already growing group. Please do think about joining The Friends (There is information on how to do this on our site). There is always strength in numbers and more members lead to more ideas as to how we can work with BCC to retain and improve the quality of this magical cemetery site.

 

Can you help keep our Cemetery clean and tidy? Yes you can, in just 90 minutes!

The Friends carry out four litter picks each year and we really need your help to keep the Cemetery tidy for family and visitors.  You don’t have to be a member just willing to help out for 90 minutes.  Litter pickers and bags are provided!  Please put the date in your diary and come along if you can.  All you need is sturdy shoes, gloves and suitable outdoor clothing!We meet at the Lodge at 10.00am and are generally finished by 11.30.

We are in need of all the help we can get to keep the Cemetery looking clean and tidy. If you can’t make March then these are our other dates:

Sunday 2nd June 2013
Saturday 7th September 2013
Sunday 1st December 2013

See you there?

Local Scouts help with June litter pick

Local Scouts help out on Litter Pick in Brandwood End Cemetery

At the most recent litter pick in June Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery were delighted to have a group of local Scouts join in and by helping us out they will be able to gain their Community Badge.

We were out in force to clear up a considerable amount of litter and filled several bags full of rubbish.  With the rain and wind it is usually flower wrappings, old plant containers and artificial flowers that become scattered around the Cemetery.

It would be lovely if people used degradable items, like flowers, so the Cemetery grounds don’t become clogged up with non-degradable grave decorations.

A day at the market!

Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery at Kings Norton Farmers Market
Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery at Kings Norton Farmers Market

Members of FBEC Committee manned a stall at the recent monthly Kings Norton Farmers Market to promote much needed membership of The Friends. 

Surrounded by scrumptious food of all descriptions it was great to meet people who were interested in Brandwood Cemetery and those that weren’t even aware of this incredibly beautiful open space.  

The weather was kind and the event really helped the Friends raise awareness of this beautiful Cemetery.

The Community comes together at Brandwood End Cemetery

Heritage Hedge Laying at Brandwood End Cemetery

The sun shone in Brandwood End Cemetery as children from St Alban’s RC Primary school set about the daunting task of planting 250 hawthorn bushes to replace a failing beech hedge surrounding The Civilian Garden of Remembrance.

The preparation work had been undertaken by the Bio diversity Champions from Quadron Services in the previous week and they returned to help the children with their digging.  Councillor Mike Leddy, parents and members of the FBEC committee helped with the supervision of the children and this was all watched over by Dean Paul, a member of the Ground staff team for Bereavement Services, who undertook much of the work himself.

The Bio diversity Champions, led by Nicola Clarke of Quadron Services, undertake many community projects on a voluntary basis throughout the city and enjoyed working with the children in Brandwood End Cemetery.

This whole event was funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund and organised by FBEC.