Our story
Earthwatch is the only UK partner of IVN, the organisation leading the Tiny Forest movement. 'Tiny Forests' are dense fast-growing native woodlands, based on an established forest management method developed in the 1970s by Dr Akira Miyawaki. We engage with local communities to plant, maintain and monitor their forest over time, helping reconnect people with nature and raising awareness of climate breakdown.
Environmental and social data is collected for every forest we plant as this helps us to assess the benefits they provide over time and between different forests.
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, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, providing nature-rich habitat patches to support urban wildlife – right into the heart of cities and urban spaces.
As a rule, each forest is expected to engage up to 100 volunteers on planting and monitoring days; 4-6 volunteers as a Keeper Team to care the forest; and hundreds of visitors from the wider community as well as school children, who find their Tiny Forest 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 (target over 150 by 2024).
