Shade of the Canopy

Minworth Press Release

Community Orchard Planting in Minworth, East Birmingham

Birmingham TreePeople and the Minworth Action Projects are supporting biodiversity and developing green spaces, by planting a community orchard for Minworth residents, thanks to funding from The Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund.

Branching Out provides grants ranging from £250 to £2,500 in value to community groups, schools, small registered charities, and Tree Warden Networks, seeking to establish trees, hedgerows, and orchards throughout the winter planting season.

This year, Birmingham TreePeople successfully secured grant support through the Branching Out Fund, and will be planting 25 fruit trees in the Mid-Point Park, Minworth.We are also being kindly sponsored by Frank Matthews.

Lawrence Weston, Trustee for Orchards for Birmingham TreePeople said:

We are very excited to be planting a community orchard in Minworth. This project has been in the works for several years, and we’re excited to finally realise the vision of local residents, who initially approached the council in 2022.

People are invited to join us to help plant the 25 fruit trees in Mid-point Park, at 10:30am on Saturday 11th January 2025. We will meet at the entrance on the Old Kingsbury Road, just southeast of The Boat Inn.

Now in its 18th year, Branching Out has supported hundreds of projects in communities throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, delivering new habitats for wildlife, and a green living legacy for residents and visitors to enjoy, from Cornwall to Carmarthenshire, and Fife to Fermanagh.

The Tree Council Grants Officer, Geraldine Creaven said: “Branching Out presents a fantastic opportunity for schools and community groups large and small to get their spades in the ground, and start establishing life enhancing and biodiversity boosting trees, hedgerows, and orchards in their neighbourhoods. We’re so thrilled for all our successful applicants, especially Birmingham TreePeople!”

Event Details:
10:30am Saturday 11th January 2025
Mid-Point Park, Minworth
What3Words: bigger.piano.expose
Please wear warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear.
Please bring your own gardening gloves if you have them.
Tools for planting will be provided.

Minworth Action Projects (MAP) banner

Daisy Farm Park Tree Planting

Daisy Farm Park Friends tree planting with Highters Heath Community School - the children running across the field
Daisy Farm Park Tree Planting with Highters Heath Community School

We had the pleasure of planting trees with pupils from Highters Heath Community School once again this year (they are becoming quite the enthusiastic tree-planting squad), after we had arranged with the Friends of Daisy Farm Park to have six new elms planted, replacing the old lost street colonnade.

Steve (President of FDFP) and Mac (BTP Trustee) met with the BCC Woodlands Team led by Leon, to get the planting holes ready for the children to arrive. Charley (Communications) came with the pupils and teachers, who ran with all their might across the field, to the trees waiting to be planted.

Matt (Operations) taught the children how to use the tools safely (and how not to hit one’s own hand with a hammer, a plight many have suffered), as well as digging, back-filling, and putting the gator (watering) bags on. These kids are now professional planters who can help the local community in a jiffy!

Seeing as there were six trees, it was fitting that each of the children chose their tree, and thus from this day forward will come back with their name labels and continue to look after the tree they all helped to plant.

A big thanks to the Woodland Team for helping us get the trees to Daisy Farm Park and plant them, as well as the Friends group and school for continuing to work with us, support our efforts, and plant trees.

Kings Heath Treemembrance

On Friday 29th November in Kings Heath Park, a Magnolia x loebneri Leonard Messel Treemembrance tree was planted in memory of the mother of Julia and Terry Kirby. Kings Heath Rangers Dave and Graeme planted the tree in a flower bed, where it should flourish. Julia and Terry were accompanied by close family and friends to celebrate their mother’s life, and ably assisted by Dave and Graeme from the King’s Heath Horticultural Department.

On Friday 29th November in Kings Heath Park, a Magnolia x loebneri Leonard Messel Treemembrance tree was planted in memory of the mother of Julia and Terry Kirby. Kings Heath Rangers from the Horticulture Department, Dave and Graeme, planted the tree in a flower bed, where it should flourish. Julia and Terry were accompanied by close family and friends to celebrate their mother’s life.

BCU Volunteer Network Tree Planting

BCU students from the volunteer network planting The Zephaniah Forest trees with us (not all pictured)

On 3rd December, Birmingham City University’s (BCU) Volunteer Network students joined us to celebrate one of their Honorary Doctorates, Benjamin Zephaniah, by planting several of The Zephaniah Forest’s trees with us in Burbury Park.

Benjamin Zephaniah was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from BCU, so it was wonderful to plant trees with the student volunteer network. The team were brilliant, carrying trees across the park (thanks Sam!), digging difficult holes with tough ground, and did so with smiles and perseverance.

Caitlin from Trees for Cities came along to help us, as one of our generous sponsors of this fantastic project, and her expertise and company were thoroughly enjoyed. We were only distracted slightly by the local cats and fungi, scroll through the photos to see Steve’s accidental thriller, and some rather photogenic mushies! A brilliant day all around with satisfying hard work.

Thank you to everyone who came and got stuck in, especially Matt and Carl for the logistic support. Let’s make sure these trees for Benjamin thrive.

BCU students from the volunteer network planting The Zephaniah Forest trees with us
Mushroom found whilst planting with BCU!
Charley during the BCU planting
Caitlin and a BCU student
Matt and Carl at the BCU planting

Surveying Street Trees: Thank You!

Group surveying sessions will now stop for December and January. Planning to resume from February with surveying dates on weekdays (Monday am/pm, Tuesday pm) and weekends (Saturday/Sunday) to be published in the new year. Thank you to everyone for your hard work, we have made a big dent in the number of trees surveyed so far this year – 1,885 trees. In contrast, from 2020 to 2023 we surveyed 1,427 trees. Only 1,115 trees remaining for the funded project which is due to finish at the end of March 2025. Thank you for your ongoing support!

If you wish to continue surveying during December and January by yourself or with another surveyor, I can provide a list of trees in your chosen area. Let me know if this is something you would like to do. I have been checking the data collected so far. During December and January, I will be sending emails requesting some trees to be surveyed again due to missed variables/errors etc. If you are willing to help with this, it would be appreciated.

Nina Griffiths, Trustee Coordinator for the Street Tree Survey Project

Treemembrance – Bournville

Our first planting of the year was for the Treemembrance programme in Bournville, 21st November, planting a tree with the friends, family, Friends group, and pupils of the local school, all in memory of Carl Green. It was a lovely morning after the snow had fallen in Bournville Park, where Rachel had organised with our Trustee for Treemembrance Julianne for a sorbus torminalis to be planted in memory of her precious uncle.

Woodland Team members Leon and Steve were fantastic in helping plant the tree, and after Rachel made a speech to commemorate the life of Carl, the Chair of Friends of Bournville Park, and pupils from Bournville Village Primary School, planted bulbs at the base of the newly planted tree. The tree will thrive in the years to come in vivid colours! Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Julianne and Bournville pupils at the Treemembrance planting
Bournville Village Primary School children, hands, Treemembrance
Julianne, Treemembrance, Bournville
Carl Green's family at the Treemembrance planting in Bournville Park.

Ebony Hikers Tree Planting

On the weekend that Tree Week began, we started planting The Zephaniah Forest in Burbury Park, with Qian Zephaniah planting the first tree for her husband, and Ebony Hikers joined us on the second day to celebrate the life and legacy of this iconic Brummie.

Despite Storm Burt being forewarned, he once again didn’t stop us from getting trees in the ground, and this incredible group of volunteers stuck into tree planting semi-mature trees like they had done it all their lives.

We were also joined by Naya, one of our urban forest volunteers and PhD student at University of Birmingham. Thank you to Penny and Steve from the Park Rangers from Birmingham City Council who helped us, as well as the Ebony Hikers for joining us and having a magnificent afternoon.

Thank you so much for being a part of this, and we all agreed we cannot wait to see The Zephaniah Forest flourish in the years to come.

Ebony Hikers, The Zephaniah Forest, Tree Week 2024

We were honoured to plant trees in The Zephaniah Forest at Burbury Park during National Tree Week! Despite the cold and wet weather, our spirits were high, and the energy was contagious. A huge thank you to the team at Birmingham TreePeople for this incredible opportunity to honour Benjamin Zephaniah’s legacy and support future generations through tree planting. Let’s keep planting for a greener tomorrow!

The Zephaniah Forest’s First Tree for Tree Week

THE ZEPHANIAH FOREST

The Zephaniah Forest - Qian and the first tree

Qian Zephaniah, her close friends and family planted the first tree (Milky Way tree from China), and subsequent four trees, in The Zephaniah Forest – the 65 strong legacy mini-forest being planted in Burbury Park, in memory of her husband Benjamin Zephaniah, this winter.

Today marks the first day of National Tree Week 2024, that’s why this magnificent group of people, with Benjamin’s loving wife, joined us during Storm Burt this morning. The rain and wind didn’t stop us, with Qian recording the journey of the trees being planted, and the story behind how the forest came to be, as part of an upcoming documentary.

NATIONAL TREE WEEK 2024

Velda's daughter with Velda's tree in The Zephaniah Forest

The pair of trees planted at the entrance to Farm Street, where Benjamin grew up with his family, will forever symbolise him and his sister Velda – whose daughter attended with Qian – who also regrettably passed away this year. We hope that these trees can bring a small sense of peace to the family at this difficult time.

We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the incredible backers of our fundraising campaign, and our corporate sponsors, Trees for Cities, Birmingham City Council, Veolia UK, Frank P Matthews, and everyone else who has contributed to this wonderful commemorative forest.

The Zephaniah Forest - first trees with Qian Zephaniah and friends

BTP will be planting throughout the season with groups, sponsors, and of course the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, and these dates will be released soon!

Thank you to everyone who has made this happen, the Rangers Penny and Simon, and especially to Qian and her friends for their tenacious spirits and hard work – don’t forget, send us your poems by the 1st December to be paired with the trees!

Pests and Diseases Training

Pests and diseases free monthly training with Tonia in Handsworth Park - a clay face in the tree from Halloween

Free monthly urban forest volunteer training covered pests and diseases this month, in Handsworth Park with Tonia Clark. This wonderful morning session in the park, Saturday 16th November, saw the volunteers learning the risks to trees that come with illness and creepy crawlies, just like us humans. Fungi is ever-present, but what is that pattern in the bark?

Thank you to the volunteers who attended and to Tonia for the interesting session, we hope to see you all there at the next training on 21st December, for a special Christmas workshop!

Pests and diseases podcast

Trees for Tree Week!

Our trees for National Tree Week and beyond arrived at the Bromford depot on Tuesday 12th November, where our keen BTP team was bright and early to receive the trees!

Plenty of hard work done to unload and organise over 130 semi-mature trees. Through our various city-wide projects, we will be planting all over Birmingham: Newtown, The Zephaniah Forest, Alum Rock, Sheldon, Handsworth, Kings Heath, Highters Heath, Holder’s Wood, and more.

Julianne checking the trees for tree week inventory lists

We sorted through the trees to make sure our inventory lists match (they never do), and we sorted them into planting groups depending on their locations.

sign up with us and become an urban forest volunteer to plant some trees with us!
Mac, Charley, Julianne, Dee, Nina, Matt - collecting the trees for tree week DONE!

Our first tree planted this year will be for the Treemembrance programme, run by Julianne Statham, who has been working hard with the sponsors to ensure their memorial and commemorative trees are planted.

We will be planting The Zephaniah Forest during Tree Week and beyond, with Benjamin’s loved ones and volunteer groups over Birmingham, as well as the inclusion of an orchard for Benjamin’s love of fruit trees. We look forward to putting these trees in the ground, just as we did last year, and will every year!

Burbury Park Poetree Walk

Burbury Park Poetree Walk: Zakariye, Bradley, Julianne, Nathan, Charley

Julianne leading the Burbury Park tree walk during the poetree session

An afternoon in Burbury Park! The poetree walk and workshop on 9th November was a lovely couple of hours, filled with creativity and history. Julianne Statham’s fantastic tree walk, coupled with the myths and legends and tie these trees to present-day beliefs, and being in a space where Benjamin Zephaniah grew up was truly inspiring.

Bradley and Zakariye were once again incredible hosts under the gazebo, for a poetry session with prompts and the ideas we bought back with us from the walk. David Springer, Benjamin’s brother, was kind enough to stop by, writing and reading an amazing poem with a personal touch during the workshop, and the Chair of Burbury Park Community Forum, Sonya, who did just the same with her anecdotes and local knowledge.

The leaning planes, the writing on the beech tree, the poorly sycamore surviving despite the odds – the poetry in nature is something Benjamin Zephaniah saw every day, and BTP can’t wait to give back to his community with this legacy forest in Newtown.

Don’t forget to send your poems to us via email or use our form on the website! The Trees Please, Poetry Please? competition ends midnight 1st December. We want to thank, with all our hearts, the people who made this happen, and especially those who attended the event!

Julianne leading the Burbury Park tree walk during the poetree session
BZ team members: Zakariye, Bradley, Julianne, in Burbury Park for the poetree walk
Sonya reading her poetree in Burbury Park, Chair of the Burbury Park Community Forum.
David Springer reading his poem for the poetree session - brother of Benjamin Zephaniah.
Bradley and his big stick

Community Environment Fund 2024 Award: Street Tree Project

Tonia receiving the Community Environment Fund 2024 award.
West Midlands Combined Authority have bestowed on BTP a Community Environment Fund 2024 Award, to celebrate the work we have done during the ongoing Street Tree Survey project! Tonia Clark, BTP Chair, is pictured here with the Deputy Mayor Councillor Sharon Thompson receiving the award on behalf of BTP and its incredible surveying team. The award is made from reclaimed materials, and the wood is cherry. Massive congratulations to Nina, Dee, and all the volunteer surveyors. Straight back to data collecting for the team…

Perry Barr Street Trees

The BTP Street Tree surveying team were out taking tree data in Perry Barr, 17th November, and once again had a great time doing so! Thank you to Jeevan, Valerie, Meena and Sam for another successful surveying session with Nina, Trustee for Street Trees. They surveyed 17 trees with 5 positive interactions with the residents, which is exactly what we like to see.

On the other hand, this damaged Tilia is unfortunately something the surveyors have come across several times recently, especially considering the 3 trees we had that were sawn at the base. We would like to change these minds, and bring everyone together under the appreciation of trees, nature, and the world around us!

The leftover spider plushie in the tree gave the surveyors a giggle, but this shows us how people use trees, and always have done since humans began… We lived high amongst the trees! So, if you’d like to join them for your love of nature, please let us know or sign up here.

Writing Workshop

Poets Bradley Taylor (who has been working closely with us promoting the poetry competition) and Zakariye (our external judge representing the poetry community) ran a joint Zephaniah Forest Writing Workshop, on 30th October, at Cherry Reds’ in Birmingham City Centre.

It was a truly wonderful session, with one attendee coming from Manchester, as well as a young boy who blew everyone away with the poem he had just written from the prompt session – the entire room was speechless!

The group discussed various writing techniques that Benjamin Zephaniah uses, especially focusing on speech elements and repetition, creating mantras and memorable wording that lingers. The creative writers wrote their own poems based on these features, and another attendee read their poetry aloud to people for the very first time.

A huge thanks to Bradley and Zakariye for running this incredible workshop, and we look forward to reading the submissions that can be sent to us here. Competition deadline: Midnight, 1st December 2024.

Charley taking a selfie with the group at the writing workshop
Zakariye and Bradley for the writing workshop

Here is a poem submitted to Trees Please, Poetry Please? by Alex Johl, who is a part of the University of Birmingham’s Race Equality Network, and an admirer of Benjamin Zephaniah:

Ordained by God? I’m chosen by the People.
King of the Brummies.
Weighed down by your crown. I hold my head free.
Chest out, shoulders back.
Defiant. Disruptor. Dreadlocked meditator.
They can take the knee. I’ll stand.
Metal on the shoulder and chest won’t keep me in line.
Silence me?
I’ll be louder than ever.
Watch this.

Big Green Sunday!

We had a great time at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)’s Big Green Sunday at the Big Green Weekender! Catching up with Retrofit Balsall Heath, Fruit & Nut Village, Better Streets for Birmingham, City of Nature at Birmingham City Council, Marineau Gardens, Moseley Hive, and many more wonderful community groups.

MAC's Big Green Weekender, Big Green Sunday, Family Day, The Zephaniah Forest

We were of course spreading the word of The Zephaniah Forest and its poetry competition. We spoke to many lovely families for Family Day, teaching tree ring counting, encouraging new urban forest volunteers, and preaching for the trees. Thank you to the MAC for having us once again, and we are already looking forward to next year!

Mac and Simon chatting at the MAC's Big Green Weekender, Big Green Sunday, promoting The Zephaniah Forest.
Charley at the MAC's Big Green Sunday promoting The Zephaniah Forest