Springer said Zephaniah especially loved anything with roots. He knew how to plant and replenish the soil. Springer credits her brother’s dyslexia with helping her absorb information better and what she heard from local farmers stuck with her. By the time he was farming his own land and eating what he grew, his potatoes had become locally famous.
When Zephaniah was young, his poetry opposed apartheid, racism, fascism and bombs, but the plight of the planet was not among those themes, Springer says.
“These are poems that I know, poems about injustice around the world. But as he got older, I think he continued to explore deeper into nature and the earth and the green spaces of our community. Masu.”
After her brother passed away, Springer began thinking about how she could honor his memory through a tree. “He wanted his supporters and people who loved him to plant a tree instead of sending flowers or making a statue,” he says.
planting
On behalf of the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group family (Springer is the youngest of nine children), we contacted Birmingham Tree People, a group of volunteers who plant, protect, and promote trees in urban environments. Ta. “And, look, they had the same idea as me.”
Springer suggested using North Birmingham, where all the brothers were born, as the location. He explains that there is misinformation that Zephaniah was born in Handsworth, which was actually Aston.
The Birmingham Tree People and Zephaniah’s family are currently planning Zephaniah Wood, which will be planted at Barbury Park, a stone’s throw from where the brothers were born in Newtown. Their parents’ first home was on Farm Street, which runs parallel to the park.
“I went there recently and it’s a pretty run-down area, and for decades the council and countless city councils have ignored that part of Birmingham,” Springer explains. “I hope this will start a change in the council to focus on these types of areas with green space.”
This blueprint for how to create green space also brings communities into nature. Local people and schools will be planting trees this winter, perhaps fostering a sense of ownership and belonging to these local trees.
permanent
Sixty-five trees will be planted throughout the small park, one for each of Zephaniah’s lifetime. Each tree has a QR code with a link to a poem written specifically for the project.
Birmingham Treepeople invited Brummie poets to submit their work to be paired with the trees. They have also crowdfunded over £40,000 for the project.
“When we’re all dead and gone, Benjamin’s memory will still be here. People will be able to see his accomplishments and feel his accomplishments,” Springer said.
“I hope that nature becomes synonymous with Benjamin’s name and his work, and that his love for nature is equal. If I knew that I was engaging people with nature and engaging them in conversations about nature, I think he’ll really like it.”
The story Springer tells about his brother is one of redemption. A young miscreant who finds a place for his love of nature and poetry.
And at the end of this circle is the forest of Zephaniah, giving permanence to the poet’s legacy where it all began.
this author
Katie Dancy Downs is a freelance journalist who writes about human rights, the planet and culture. She is also the editor of: Censorship Index magazine. For more information about Zephaniah Forest, please visit the following website: tinyurl.com/zephaniah-forest.
