A very belated Christmas get together by some of our FBEC committee. Makes a change from ‘Agenda’ time……
Tag: fbec
Gosh, so much tree work!
The ‘Crown lifting’ of trees continues in the Cemetery. It started with the Redwood Avenue and random trees. 
Contractors moved on to the removal of diseased Poplars, but now (much to the delight of the residents) the trees at the rear of properties in Broad Lane are being given the ‘lifting’ treatment. That means more light and less leaves for them all, and better maintained trees. Win, win !
Christmas Greetings to all our supporters
Gosh ! Where did 2018 go? Christmas is nearly upon us followed closely by the New Year.
We have had a very busy year holding our Heritage Open Day and then Remembrance, in this special year. Most of our time is taken up with research into the many interesting people buried in Brandwood End and trying to share their story with the wider community. Our special thanks to the relatives of several of those individuals that we highlighted, who then contacted us with additional information and precious photographs.
The Friends have also been pleased to welcome several groups to the Cemetery who have taken part in various themed walks. This year we have also received several donations and many encouraging comments via this site and our Facebook page.
Next year is a special year for the Cemetery as it is the 120th anniversary of its official opening. I am sure those of you that visit the cemetery will have noticed the new temporary roof on the chapel? This is a small step forward, so lets hope that 2019 is the year in which we manage a leap!!
10+ bags at today’s litter pick.
Five and a half of us collected over 10 bags of wind blown rubbish today in the cemetery. The December litter pick always discloses lots of rubbish hidden in normally leafy shrubbery. Still some litter in areas that are hard to reach but generally everywhere reasonably clean and tidy. Next litter pick-March 2019.
Heritage Open event 2018- We shall remember them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7O4cBK3mSs&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3yRd3PbSBXBqnU43a6PdCXyuxBmkQJO7xbLU4gyG1sodM_nTWRDvjq3qc
This is a lovely film showing a small aspect of our Heritage event this year. Doug Smith, his colleagues and three young ladies from Swanshurst Girls School brought to life some of those buried in Brandwood End who lost their lives as a result of action in WW1. Those ‘remembered’ were all real….. and died as recorded, although their words are subject to some poetic license. Our thanks, as always, to Doug and his team who never fail to produce an interesting item for our events.
Remembrance Service well attended
Over 150 people attended this years Service of Remembrance. Once again the atmosphere was enhanced by our Bugler but it was lovely to see many organisations represented, many of whom had several members there.
Our thanks to Deacon David Fairbotham, who conducts a short but thought provoking service and to the growing number of people who attend. if you would like to see a few more photographs of this event, please follow this link.
We shall remember them.
Poppy Cross Cemetery taking shape.
Every year the Friends create a Poppy Cross Cemetery near the Cross of Sacrifice. Each cross represents a War Grave in Brandwood End. Some have Commonwealth War Grave head stones- many are family graves.This week we also start placing a poppy cross on every War Grave. We shall remember them ….
Adults- do you want a bit more detailed Hedgehog information?
FBEC have now enjoyed several family Hedgehog events, delivered on our behalf by Birmingham Park Ranger Service (Jan and Dean) and the Wildlife Trust (Emma). We are coming towards the end of this enormously enjoyable project that seems to have captured the imagination of local schools and residents.
On Monday the 20th March from 7-8pm at Park House in Kings Heath Park we will be holding an adults only event, to cover some of the more technical details relating to the why the well loved Hedgehog is declining in most areas of the UK.
Places are FREE but limited, so please reserve your place via this link.
Great News- Wildlife Project funding secured.
The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery are excited to announce that we have been successful in a bid to the National Lottery (Heritage Lottery Fund) to undertake a ‘Help for Hedgehogs’ project in Brandwood End Cemetery and the surrounding area. The project will be delivered for us by The Wildlife Trust (Birmingham and Black Country) and the Ranger Service who will be offering events and workshops, over the next year, to encourage local residents to improve Hedgehog habitat and also surveying the cemetery for Hedgehog activity.
Please come along and support this event and learn why Hedgehogs are in dramatic decline and what YOU can do to increase the local population.
Some of these events will be family orientated and other will be of a more serious nature, for those of you that want to learn how to and participate in surveying for Hedgehogs. Come along to the launch and find out more!
JOIN US FOR COFFEE AND CAKE AT OUR AGM
All members are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery which is to be held on Thursday 14th April at 10.30am till 11.30am in the Conference Room at St Dunstans Church, Kingsfield Rd, Birmingham B14 7JN. As you enter from the main gate in Kingsfield Road the Conference Room is on the right. Copies of the Annual Report and the Audited Accounts will be presented and circulated to the members present. Following the meeting these will be posted on our website fbec.org.uk.
Under the rules, existing members of the Executive Committee will be offering themselves for re-election but we welcome enquiries from prospective new members. All nominees must be members of FBEC and nomination forms can be obtained from the Chairman and must be completed and submitted by 31st March 2016.
Any questions to be tabled at the AGM should be submitted in advance to the Chairman by telephone /email by 31st March 2016.-07811 393259 / friendsofbec@gmail.com
The Committee sincerely hopes that you will be able to join us for tea and cake and to learn of our successes to date and plans for the future. We work on your behalf and depend on your support.