The legacy of Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah lives on in a forest being created in his name
Tree planting in Burbury Park to create the Zephaniah Forest
An inspired ‘trees and poems’ legacy is being created in the heart of Birmingham to remember the city’s literary genius Benjamin Zephaniah.
The trees – a mixture of fruit trees and other species chosen for their stunning blossom or autumn foliage – were planted in Newtown‘s Burbury Park during the winter to create what will grow into The Zephaniah Forest, in memory of the nature-loving poet and writer of Trees Please, who died aged 65 in December 2023.
And this Easter weekend, 65 poems will be attached to the growing trees, all of them crafted by winners of a ‘Trees Please, Poetry Please?’ writing competition judged by Zephaniah’s youngest brother David Springer, poet, performer and filmmaker Zakariye, and Charley McDermott of charity Birmingham Tree People, which is co-ordinating the Zephaniah Forest project.
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McDermott said: “Benjamin and his family lived on Farm Street when he was a child, so we will be able to retrace steps that he has taken many years before.
“The poems will be laminated and tied to the trees, so this method of display doesn’t disturb or damage the trees.
“We hope the wonderful poets will return to replace their poems when they are worn out.
“We want to encourage the community and those involved with this project to come back, ensuring the trees are healthy, and the forest is thriving for Benjamin.”
Residents get together to plant more trees in memory of Benjamin Zephaniah at Newtown’s park
The poetry event is this weekend (Easter Saturday). Twelve fruit trees were planted on 19th December by children from three local schools at an event attended by Lord Mayor of Birmingham Cllr Ken Wood and Zephaniah’s sister Millicent (Milly) Springer.
African drummers played and poems were recited by schoolchildren, local resident John Bailey and performance poets Zakariye and Bradley Taylor.
Springer said: “I know he’s looking down thinking what a beautiful, wonderful tribute to him this is.
“From a very young age, he stopped eating meat as he thought it was cruel and he just loved nature.
“He was passionate about green, he was passionate about human beings. Benjamin never forgot his roots.”
Zakariye said Zephaniah “taught me you can be from Birmingham and a poet.”
He added: “I never got to meet Benjamin, but a lot of my work has mirrored a lot that he’s written.”
Yeabsera, who took part in the project and is in Year 8 at Holte School, said he enjoyed putting stakes in the ground and nailing them to the protective wire mesh that goes around the trees.
“With all the tools, it was really heavy but really fun to do,” he said.
Drummers accompanied the planting at Burbury Park(Image: Joshua Neicho)
Debra Gordon, committee member of Burbury Park Community Forum, said: “All of us in our own way are here to honour the memory of Benjamin Zephaniah by the fact we are able to do a wonderful thing, which is take one of his most precious memories and passions which is about nature.
“We live in an urban area where nature is very precious and squeezed in.
“We are really blessed to have not just Burbury Park, but all the other green spaces in Newtown. We really need to protect them and look after them.”
Bishop Desmond Jaddoo of Birmingham Empowerment Forum, a school contemporary of Zephaniah’s, said the aim of the Forest was about “getting our children to understand the importance of the Park and of trees”.
It should also be about residents “being involved in long-term planning and taking ownership of Burbury Park,” he said. “Let’s start pushing positivity in this area.”
Poets Zakariye and Bradley Taylor
At a final tree planting session on February 13, attended by city council Cabinet Member for the Environment Cllr Majid Mahmood, Benjamin’s widow Qian Zephaniah told attendees: “Those trees are not just roots and leaves – they are poems.
“Benjamin loved pear trees, especially when you take the pear off and it’s really soft and juicy!” she said.
“And he loved fig trees. He learned if you really want a perfect fig, it should be in the early morning, because after that all the bees and butterflies will want it.
“We should always live with the trees. We can’t have housing without trees; where are birds and other animals going without trees?”
Maria Aio, one of the competition-winning poets said: “Benjamin was so talented and such an inspiration for me as a young black poet.
“He brought so much into my life. He was all about radical authenticity.
“I really try to encapsulate the healing of nature through my poems.”
Dan Hooks, aka Alienpoet, said: “Benjamin’s legacy is great – he’s a strong political voice, he’s an anarchist, he’s a vegan, he supported all the animal charities. I’m really proud to have a poem on one of the trees.”
The Forest project came about after David Springer contacted charity Birmingham TreePeople on behalf of the Zephaniah family.
Nishkam High School students join in the planting event
Birmingham TreePeople and Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group teamed up with Burbury Park Community Forum, Birmingham Empowerment Forum and the parks department of Birmingham City Council.
In a few weeks, more than £28,000 was crowdfunded for the forest from 106 backers, with support from tree-planting charity Trees for Cities.
Separately, also on Easter Saturday, Aston Villa Foundation are hosting a ceremony for six winners of the inaugural Benjamin Zephaniah Localism Award at Villa Park, for people who have made a positive contribution to their local community and inspired others in Birmingham, in a similar spirit to Zephaniah.
A story and poem by Zephaniah called Leave the Trees Please, a plea for and celebration of nature, was posthumously published last week.
The first annual Benjamin Zephaniah Day was held at Brunel University on April 12.