Shade of the Canopy

The Final Zephaniah Forest Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 21/02/2025
Categories In Arts, Planting, Zephaniah Forest
No Comments on The Final Zephaniah Forest Planting

The Zephaniah Forest has been completed in a final planting session.

The Zephaniah Forest final tree planting with Milly, Qian, BCC, winning poets, RMC vols

In Burbury Park, Newtown, there are now 65 new trees signifying each year of a life well-lived and respected, dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah. In a final celebratory planting session, the legacy forest dedicated to Benjamin was completed by returning community members and volunteers from previous sessions, a myriad of winning poets from the Trees Please, Poetry Please? competition, Cabinet Member for the Environment Councillor Majid Mahmood, fellow Birmingham City Council representative Pat Whyte, Josh Neicho from Local Storytelling Exchange, Debra from Burbury Park Community Forum (BPCF), Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, as well as Millicent Springer (Benjamin’s sister from the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group [BZFLG]) and Qian Zephaniah (Benjamin’s loving wife).

Thank you to BCC Woodlands Team members Nick and Leon for their continual help, Matt for the logistics and refreshments (making sure we were fed and coffeed), our sponsors Trees for Cities, Veolia, BCC, Frank P Matthews, and all of the groups and individuals who donated towards the initial fundraiser. All of it amounted to this:

There are now 65 trees in The Zephaniah Forest, dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah, in what we and BZFLG, as well as BPCF and Birmingham Empowerment Forum, shall ensure will be a growing and lasting legacy for a legend in his hometown.

Refugee & Migrant Centre Zephaniah Tree Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 19/02/2025
Categories In Planting, Zephaniah Forest
No Comments on Refugee & Migrant Centre Zephaniah Tree Planting

We were joined by friends from the Refugee and Migrant Centre, on 6th February 2025, to help plant nine more trees in The Zephaniah Forest. Together we spent the morning digging holes and carefully unwrapping the trees, ready for their new home in Burbury Park. Millicent Springer, sister of Benjamin and member of the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, also joined this wonderful planting session in her brother’s honour.

We planted a mix of species, including Catalpa (Bean tree), Fagus sylvatica Purpurea (purple Beech), Tamarix Africana, Chitalpa (Desert willow) and two Cornus or Dogwood cultivars. The multi-stemmed Cornus are left without cages – to spread their branches without risking damage – whilst the taller, top heavy Chitalpa was supported with a cage and stakes. In both cases, the aim is to build strength in the trees as they resist the forces that are sometimes against them. Their roots eventually giving them greater security.

Refugee & Migrant Centre planting in The Zephaniah Forest, 13/02/25, team pictured with Matt (Ops Man) and Milly (Benjamin's sister) in Burbury Park.

Thank you to the volunteers from the Refugee & Migrant Centre, as well as Ranger Penny and the Woodland Team from sponsor Birmingham City Council, as well as our other sponsors Trees for Cities and Veolia, for making this incredible quest happen: the quest to honour Benjamin Zephaniah by planting 65 trees in The Zephaniah Forest.

Go Green Week with BCU

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 04/02/2025
Categories In Planting, UFMP

We teamed up with Birmingham City University students for Go Green Week on Friday 30th January. The keen squad joined Matt and Charley – with support from Birmingham City Council Woodlands Team’s Leon and Nick – to fulfill some of our targets towards the Urban Forest Masterplan for Birmingham. We had a wonderful few hours of tree planting with BCU Volunteering Team!

The new trees have been planted in Newtown, targeting low canopy areas of Birmingham, in order to create fairer tree equity for these neighbourhoods and their communities. This means we want to raise the amount of trees in each ward to 25% canopy cover, for the people’s fairer access to trees and their myriad of benefits.

Thank you to the students and staff from the Volunteering Team at BCU, Matt our Operations Manager for arranging and hosting the session, and the Woodlands Team at BCC, for helping us towards these fantastic goals, whilst simultaneously contributing towards Go Green Week! What a perfect way to do so, if we do say so ourselves.

BCU Go Green Week

urban forest masterplan

Zephaniah Forest Tree Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 28/01/2025
Categories In Planting, Zephaniah Forest

We’ve been planting in The Zephaniah Forest with Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group and the community again!

Zephaniah Forest Tree Planting, team photo

On 23rd January we planted more trees with Millicent, Benjamin’s sister, as well as returning volunteer Ebony, and several other amazing local people in Burbury Park for The Zephaniah Forest! Millicent bought a marker to write her family’s names on the trees some of them planted together before Christmas. The rain never stops us, and Benjamin always makes the sun shine on our group right at the end.

We were joined by Yvonne from Birmingham Open Spaces Forum as well as BCC’s Pat Whyte, and a member of Burbury Park Community Forum! Thank you to everyone who helped us, Katy for the snack table, particularly Birmingham City Council Woodlands Team member Nick and a few incredible guys from the Parks Team, as well as Penny who has helped us for several of these plantings.

Our FINAL PLANTING DAY will be 13th February 2025, 10:30am, and we want to see EVERYONE there to plant the last 9 trees dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah. Other main sponsors: Trees for Cities, Veolia

Zephaniah Forest Tree Planting, Millicent Springer

Mossy Bank Treemembrance

The Mossy Bank Treemembrance Planting on 16th January saw Angela Poultney remembering her parents, Patricia Ann and John Bryan Bower, with the ceremonial planting of a Copper Beech. The Friends of Mossy Bank’s Chair was present, Shiela, Keatley, who was a wonderful help throughout. The grandchildren blessed the tree by planting bulbs at the base, to thrive alongside the three dedicated to their grandparents. The BCC Parks Team was brilliant once again in digging the planting hole, and assisting the family respectfully. Thank you everyone who made this planting happen, including Julianne, Treemembrance Coordinator.

Handsworth Treemembrance

On 9th January 2025 in Handsworth Park, our first tree planting of the year took place, which was a wonderful commemorative occasion for the Treemembrance Programme. We were terrifically lucky with the weather; it was sunny and bright all day whilst planting in memory of Natasha Wade, who sadly passed away last February.

The day of the planting would have been her 50th birthday, and a Liriodendron Tulipifera was planted by her husband, David Wade, in her honour. Family, including one of her sons and David’s mother, and friends clustered around the tree to plant it in a great spot, next to the perimeter of the cricket ground in Handsworth Park, between a Wych Elm and a Sycamore.

David had some of her favourite music playing and read out one of her incredible poems. Afterwards the group went on to have tea in the Sons of Rest café nearby. Michael Currie, Birmingham City Council Team Leader at Handsworth Park, had set up the planting, and Rob and Sam from his team did everything else on the day to enable the Liriodendron to have its best possible planting place.

Thank you to all who made this commemorative planting possible, especially Julianne, our Trustee Coordinator for the Treemembrance Programme, who has worked tirelessly to arrange these memorial tree plantings.

Minworth Orchard

A new orchard was planted last weekend in Minworth, alongside Minworth Action Projects and Friends of Stephens Pond & Berryfields Orchard.

The crisp January morning consisted of the community coming together to plant 22 new fruit trees, opposite The Boat Inn on Old Kingsbury Road, for everyone to care for and enjoy for the foreseeable future. We planted:
• Pear
• Plum
• Mulberry
• Quince
• Heritage apples

The cold weather didn’t prevent the locals coming to help, nor were spirits low – the energy was palpable, and we would like to thank each individual of the many wonderful volunteers that came to plant these trees!

Thanks to Lawrence Weston, Trustee Coordinator for Orchards, as well as our generous sponsors The Tree Council, as well as Frank Matthews, and of course the community groups we’ve worked with to get this new Minworth orchard in the ground. Now it is time to look after it, and watch it grow.

All images belong to MAP, FoSBO & Sutton Chase Heritage & Ecology.

The new Minworth orchard in the January mist.

Family Legacy Tree Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 08/01/2025
Categories In Planting, Zephaniah Forest

The time finally came for David Springer to plant a tree in memory of his brother, Benjamin Zephaniah, with his family from the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group.

Family Legacy tree planting - left to right is Frank, David, Joyce, and Millicent.

David originally contacted us from the Family Legacy Group wanting to plant a tree in memory of Benjamin. We decided it wasn’t enough, and thus The Zephaniah Forest was born. 65 trees for the 65 years of Benjamin’s life, each paired with 65 poems chosen through a competition named after his famous Trees Please.

This was in January. In July we released the fundraiser and press release, with 106 incredible kind and generous sponsors, whose contributions have directly funded the diverse collection of trees, planting them, and caring for them in the years to come, alongside the community Benjamin grew up in in Newtown.

It was a lovely crisp morning planting six trees with Benjamin’s siblings, David, Millicent, Joyce, and her husband Frank. We were also joined by resident Ebony, 6-year-old published poet Jayce Joyce (shortlisted for Birmingham City University’s Future Writers competition, and the youngest author in the world) and his wonderful mother, as well as BCC Woodland Team assisting us in digging the holes ready to plant, and our full BTP team! Thank you to everyone who made the magic happen.

It was such a special occasion, with each of the trees being named after one of the siblings and their mother. BTP would like to thank the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group for trusting us with this beautiful commemorative project in the name of Benjamin Zephaniah, and it has been a true pleasure to be able to plant these trees in the community he once lived.

Enchanted Orchard Tree Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 06/01/2025
Categories In Orchards, Planting, Zephaniah Forest

Celebrating Benjamin Zephaniah and his love of fruit trees! 19th December we planted The Zephaniah Forest’s Orchard in Burbury Park. The Zephaniah Forest saw a momentous planting day take place on 19th December, where we teamed up with not only the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, but also Burbury Park Community Forum, Birmingham Empowerment Forum, and three local schools (Anglesey, Nishkam, and Holte), as well as the community to plant the twelve orchard trees in Burbury Park.

With live performances from incredible African Drummers, poetry readings from Bradley Taylor who has helped BTP throughout the entire poetry competition and beyond, and Zakariye one of our poetry judges, as well as the school children and residents reading too, tree decorating and wreath making, tree-lated drinks and snacks, the day was truly momentous.

The Lord Mayor even graced us with his presence! He took the time out of his day to visit the planting site and activities, to endorse the work and encourage the children. The Lord Mayor had photos with each school group, saying, “It’s wonderful to get the local youth involved in this project.”

The sun shone through the clouds the entire day, through small spurts of rain, with seagulls singing whilst Newtown resident John Bailey recited poetry about a beach, and by the end of the event a rainbow was painted starkly above our heads! Many poetic blessings from Benjamin.

It was an incredible turn out, with not only the schools but many local residents, bringing community spirit to the park in the name of Benjamin Zephaniah. Millicent, one of Benjamin’s siblings, also attended the event and had a lovely photo taken with the first two twin trees planted for Benjamin and his twin sister Velda.

The Zephaniah Forest Orchard Tree Planting. African drummers!

A huge thanks goes out to Lawrence (Trustee for Orchards), Katy (Engagement), Matt (Operations), Julianne & Steve (Trustees), Penny (Birmingham City Council Park Ranger) for helping us dig, Sonya & Debra (BBCF), Dr Bishop Desmond Jaddoo (BEF), Frank P Matthews (sponsors), Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and of course Millicent and Benjamin’s loving family and friends from BZFLG.

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.

Daisy Farm Park Tree Planting

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

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 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

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 16/12/2024
Categories In Planting, Treevents, Zephaniah Forest

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!

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

Carl Green's family at the Treemembrance planting in Bournville Park.