Tiny Forests

Creating thriving and climate-resilient urban areas by growing dense fast-growing native woodlands on tiny plots of land.

Our story

Earthwatch is the only UK partner of IVN, the organisation leading the Tiny Forest movement. We aim to establish over 150 forests in the UK by 2023.

Δ Tiny Forests are dense fast-growing native woodlands, based on an established forest management method developed in the 1970s by Dr Akira Miyawaki.

Δ We engage with local communities to plant, maintain and monitor their forest over time. The forests reconnect people with nature and raise awareness of climate change.

Δ Environmental and social data is collected for every forest we plant, this helps us assess the benefits they provide over time and between different forests.

Environmental issues such as flooding, heat stress and loss of biodiversity are increasingly affecting urban areas.

Creating thriving and climate-resilient urban areas that support economic growth, whilst also enhancing livelihoods and wellbeing, is a considerable challenge.

Tiny Forests can play a part in facing this challenge. They bring the benefits of a forest – reconnecting people with nature and raising awareness, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing nature-rich habitat patches to support urban wildlife – right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces.

Tiny Forests can connect people with nature in their local area and support general wellbeing. They offer a place to relax, watch wildlife and an educational resource.

Each forest is expected to engage:

Δ Up to 100 volunteers on planting and monitoring days

Δ 4-6 volunteers as a Keeper Team to care the forest

Δ The wider community, visitors and school children as an inspiring place to enjoy nature.

Our advice

Get in touch with Earthwatch Europe to find out more about how you can add a Tiny Forest to your community!

600 trees planted densely in a tennis-court size plot, maximising benefits per m2 of land.

Planting method encourages accelerated forest development and uses no chemicals or fertilisers.

Low management and maintenance requirements after the first two years.

Rich biodiversity, capable of attracting over 500 animal and plant species within the first 3 years.

A nature-rich accessible green space and outdoor classroom for people to reconnect with nature.

Monitoring data gathered by citizen scientists to help understand how Tiny Forests develop, and quantify the climate benefits.

Links to business sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental, social corporate governance (ESG).

Our metrics

Number of Tiny Forests established across the UK.
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Example of a tiny forest.