A unique new literary landmark is taking root in Birmingham this spring as the Zephaniah Poetree Trail prepares for its official launch in Burbury Park, Newtown. The trail, created in honour of the late poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, combines the power of poetry with the beauty of trees, and promises to be a heartfelt tribute to one of Britain’s most beloved voices.
This extraordinary community project—titled Trees Please, Poetry Please?—invited poets from across the UK to submit works inspired by Zephaniah’s life, legacy and values. The result is a forest of 65 newly planted trees, each adorned with a winning poem selected to reflect the poet’s spirit of activism, rhythm, and community.
Launch celebration in Burbury Park
On Saturday 19 April 2025, from 12pm to 3pm, the trail will be launched with a public celebration at Burbury Park. Poets, locals, and fans of Zephaniah are invited to gather at the Farm Street entrance to witness the unveiling of the Poetree Trail. The event will include live readings from the winning poets, who will personally tie their laminated poems to the trees—a temporary, non-invasive display that allows the community to maintain and refresh them over time.
Retracing Zephaniah’s childhood roots
The first tree was planted by Qian Zephaniah, and the trail leads visitors past 65 trees planted by family members, friends, poets, and local residents. The route retraces steps once taken by a young Benjamin Zephaniah himself, who lived on Farm Street during his childhood. The project’s setting adds a powerful, personal resonance to the tribute, blending the poet’s early life with his enduring cultural impact.
“This is more than a memorial—it’s a living, breathing extension of Benjamin’s poetry,” said organisers from the Burbury Park Community Forum. “These poems and trees are not just for today. They are for the next generation, and the one after that.”
A digital forest for all to explore
The trail is also being mapped digitally using TreePlotter, enabling people across the world to explore the forest, read the poems, and follow its progress online. In partnership with the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, the Poetree Trail is envisioned as an evolving space where creativity and nature come together.
Community effort and lasting impact
The project has been made possible through funding from Trees for Cities, Veolia, Birmingham City Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and the UK Government, with crowdfunding support via Spacehive.
The 65 winning poets—whose names are listed below—were chosen for their powerful, reflective, and celebratory words. Each brings a unique voice to the project, echoing Zephaniah’s lifelong dedication to justice, joy and poetic protest.
As part of the forest’s sustainability efforts, the organisers are encouraging poets and community members to return regularly, replacing weather-worn poems and helping to ensure the orchard thrives.
Benjamin Zephaniah once wrote: “We can’t bury our dreams. We must plant them.” On 19 April, in the heart of Birmingham, a forest of dreams will stand tall in his name.
Event details
What: Launch of The Zephaniah Poetree Trail
Where: Burbury Park, Newtown – Meet at the Farm Street entrance
When: Saturday 19 April 2025, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Why: To honour the life and legacy of Benjamin Zephaniah through 65 trees and poems
View the digital Poetree Trail on TreePlotter (work-in-progress):
https://uk.pg-cloud.com/BTP/?scenario=BZforest
Project partners and sponsors:
Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, Trees for Cities, Veolia, Birmingham City Council, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, West Midlands Combined Authority, UK Government, and Spacehive supporters.
Winning poets – in no particular order
Bradley Taylor, Nathan Lunt, Ryan Kenny, Jeremy Monson, Jo Essen, Maryam Chowdhury, Laura Robinson, Sajida Chowdhury, Akshay Pappala, Bhagat Singh, Kat Grant, Ian Simmonds, Dawn Abigail, Keith Bracey, David Gallivan, Maria Aio, Nafeesa Hamid, Vignesh Venkataramaiah, Sindy Stanley, Simran Sandhu, Agatha Thomas, Simon Needle, Luke B Hopson, Ebelechukwu Aniereobi, Aminah Khan, Adisa Stephen-Ezeocha, Sarah Jacobs, Chris Powell, Rob Baylis, Paarus Faith, Barrington Gordon, Alex Johl, Annie Colloby, Arran Potts, Katrina Burchell, Vivian Yates, Fergal Stephen O’Hare, Amy Fox, Jane Flint Bridgewater, Manish Popat-Szabries, Simar Hunjan, Harpreet Rooprai, Gerald Kells, Sallyanne Rock, Kevin Maier, John Nightingale, Manisha Dhesi, Heidi Downing, Robert Leach, Daniel Hooks, Phil Buckley, Bramwell Griffiths, Ella Newman, Eli Raymond, Mohan Kaur, Edward Lunt, Diya Patel, Sadia Khan, Pat de Whalley, Naroop Sidhu.