Tiny Forest Tree Keepers
Community engagement initiatives at Tiny Forests in the United Kingdom
5 Step guide
Read the guide to start your own Tiny Forest Tree Keepers
5 Step guide
Read the guide to start your own Tiny Forest Tree Keepers
Create a community group interested in citizen science
Find like-minded people who want to enjoy nature in cities! We recommend a maximum of 20 people per group.
Choose an engagement initiative
Possible acitivities include, but are not limited to:
- Tree maintenance (e.g. weeding, watering) This is particularly important for emergency periods and summer draughts)!
- Citizen science activities
- Community picnics
- Nature connectedness activities, e.g. yoga or mindfulness practices)
Once your group is connected with Earthwatch Europe, we will work with your local community to find the most suitable engagement activity, centred on citizen science.
Schedule a date
Pick a date for your first activity which works for all the members of your group, allowing enough time for event planning and preparation.
Event preparation
Event preparation - get all the necessary resources and materials for the event
Get ready for your event! You might want to maximise publicity and encourage people to come with flyers, food, and games. Depending on the activity, Earthwatch can help in providing resources, e.g. science kits for monitoring activities.
Run the community engagement/citizen science activity at the local Tiny Forest
The big day! Enjoy your chosen activity in the Tiny Forest.
About Tiny Forest Tree Keepers
""Thank you for creating such a detailed project with activities suitable for all ages and abilities to engage with. The tree planting day was very well organised and educational. The science days and training sessions engaged everyone and provided opportunities for children to try citizen science data collection that they may never have had the opportunity to try before and use equipment such as callipers transferring skills taught in school. Being involved in the project has engaged the whole school. Pupils ask to help with watering and weeding during their lunch break. They enjoy spending time in the Tiny Forest looking at the butterflies and other insects as well as the effects of the changing seasons. We are looking forward to continuing collecting data and sharing photos of our Tiny Forest in the years ahead.""
Great for
- A community group keen to engage in citizen science activities at their local Tiny Forest
- A school interested in engagement activities for students and teachers
- A community group keen on nature connectedness activities e.g. yoga or mindfulness.
- Volunteer groups who could help with maintenance activities
Time
Approx. 3 hours to set up your group; thereafter the Tiny Forest initiatives you decide on can take as long or as short as you like! Earthwatch would work with the community to find the most suitable engagement activity, centred on citizen science. Earthwatch would help organise the event, provide citizen science training and use the data gathered in our annual reports.
Resource checklist
- A Tiny Forest located nearby to you
- A group of environmental enthusiasts (up to 20 people)
- An interest in citizen science and/or connecting with nature
- Science/maintenance kits (these will be provided by Earthwatch if needed)
- Creativity in how you'll spark local engagement with your forest