Tiny Forests are based on the work of Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki, who pioneered a method of planting young native tree species close together to quickly regenerate forests on degraded land. Miyawaki surveyed forests near potential sites to identify the most appropriate tree species mix that would naturally occur in that area in order to create a diverse, multi-layered forest.
We chose this method for Tiny Forests as it is the perfect way to fit a bustling forest ecosystem into small urban spaces, while providing the local community and schools with all the wonderful benefits of urban trees.
How to get involved
Time:
Earthwatch will deliver 1.5 days of online training. There are then a number of steps to go through to create a Tiny Forest, typically over a 10-week period in the lead up to planting. This includes site assessment and soil surveying, tree species selection, forest design, community consultation, soil preparation and then planting (between October-March). After planting activities will be run to engage the community in maintaining and monitoring the forest.
Links