Benjamin Zephaniah, dub poet, musician, actor and activist, was a Birmingham symbol of creativity and freedom, propelling Brummies further onto the international stage with his prolific and profound poetry. Universally recognised for his unique approach to his craft – being third on the list of Britain’s favourite poets – having been offered along the way a British Honour, and the status of Birmingham Poet Laureate (both of which he turned down), Zephaniah’s death shook the foundations of the local and wider community. That’s why his youngest brother – David Springer – contacted Birmingham TreePeople on behalf of the whole family at the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, in the hope of carrying on this iconic legacy through his love of trees and nature.

Growing up in a large, loving family with seven siblings, David explained that their usual ‘stomping grounds’ were Newtown, Nechells, Aston, and some of Lozells and Handsworth. With its good number of tree-pit locations, Newtown’s Burbury Park has been identified as the ideal home for The Zephaniah Forest: a 65-strong conglomerate of poetry-tagged, community-consulted, and communally planted trees, to commemorate the life and works of Benjamin Zephaniah – 65 trees for the 65 years of Benjamin’s inspirational life.

Alongside Benjamin’s dedicated family members, Birmingham TreePeople plan to work with other prominent individuals from across the city as well as nature, community and arts groups, so we can plant this mini forest in his name, and over the years it will have the potential to grow further. By working with the communities within which these trees will be planted, we hope to ensure their long-term care and establishment, ensuring the dedicated memorial forest continues to grow and thrive for years to come.

The trees will be tagged and documented using TreePlotter software, alongside a Tree Trail to follow the newly planted trees, and with dedicated poems associated with each one. This means that we need 65 poems for the 65 trees (the first one has already been written – see the final poem)! The TreePeople want to work with the arts and poetry community to achieve this – examples of the poetry themes could be Benjamin himself, the idea of memory and how we remember, or of course Mother Nature (and all that she includes) that he so revered. Trees, flowers, and the roots!

During the next tree planting season which coincides with National Tree Week at the end of November, community planting days will be organised, as well as live poetry readings and music events. The final planting day for this project will be a private ceremony with his family members to plant the ultimate tree, to mark the one-year anniversary of Benjamin’s passing.

Birmingham TreePeople are currently in the process of fundraising for The Zephaniah Forest; our initial crowdfunding link is www.spacehive.com/grow-the-benjamin-zephaniah-forest, and we would especially welcome other organisations’ support and involvement with the community memorial project, to create a legacy forest for a legend in the heart of his home city.

Zephaniah, Man of Men

We have enough Kings and Pharaohs and

Leaders – what about a man?

A man of the people, of family and nation,

Of composition and poetry and passion –

Forget Ozymandias, King of Kings,

Withering away in a silicate wasteland,

Released from worship and remembrance,

Sands of time eroding a stone crown.

What about a man? Zephaniah,

Man of men, purveyor of dub and verse,

Creator of word, reggae, and rhyme,

Words that withstand the tests of time

That no sand can destroy, and the crown

Never slips or chips, remains intact,

For all to see, steadfast, for all of time,

Where Kings are eclipsed by the morals of Man.

– Charlotte McDermott