Tiny forests

Tiny forests and micro woodlands

Tiny forests are small areas of fast-growing, dense woodlands planted in urban areas with a mix of native tree species. They occupy no more than 200 metres squared (roughly the equivalent size of a tennis court) and contain approximately 600 trees. This type of small-scale woodland creation is based upon the established Miyawaki forest management method developed in the 1970s and has proven to be a very successful approach to accelerate forest development without the use of chemicals or fertilisers. Tiny forests can be planted in almost any shape to fit the space available and make a fantastic addition to the local urban landscape.

Creating tiny forests helps to improve access to greenspace for our community and connects more people with nature in urban spaces. They also offer a multitude of other benefits:

  • providing havens for a wide range of wildlife species, including mammals, birds, insects, plants and fungi
  • improve air, soil and water quality and reduce flood risk in urban areas
  • capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to battle the effects of climate change
  • support physical health and mental wellbeing by providing opportunities for relaxation, recreation, employment and volunteering for people of all ages
  • provide opportunities to undertake citizen science projects and outdoor based learning
  • planting in urban areas enhances the character of the local area and improves accessibility to nature
  • planting can contribute to sustainability commitments set out by schools and organisations

Working in partnership with Earthwatch, we have successfully planted over 7,800 trees across 13 new Tiny Forests, found at:

If you are a constituted organisation, such as a town or parish council, school, or community group, and are interested in planting a Tiny Forest, submit an expression of interest and a member of our team will be in touch.