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Tree Planting

The Forest of Thanks and Opportunity.

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This blog is part three of a series. Click here for part one and part two.

This week’s blog is written by Michael Williams, Project Officer at TCV Southwark. Michael is pictured here at the ‘Forest of Thanks’ plant in Parsloe Park.

On Thursday 3rd December 2020, the first 28,000 trees were planted as part of the Parsloes Park ‘Forest of Thanks’. The forest is a joint project between The Conservation Volunteers, Barking & Dagenham Council, NatWest, Thames Chase community volunteers, Wild Urban Spaces and SUGI.

Introducing the Forest of Thanks, a Miyawaki mini urban forest

The forest is the largest Miyawaki project in Europe with 32,000 trees. The ‘Forest of Thanks’ will be planted in four blocks covering a hectare of the park.

In the spring, the paths between the blocks will be sown with a mix of woodland flower and grass seeds. The creation of the rides is to increase habitat diversity.

Alongside the trees planted with the Miyawaki technique, a section of trees will be planted using the traditional method. This will allow for direct comparison of the two styles of planting, a great opportunity for Citizen Science projects.

TCV team members, partners and volunteers planting the first 28,000 trees

The Forest of Citizen Science

Citizen Science allows the public to assist in research which can greatly increase scientist’s ability to collect data. It also improves the participants understanding of scientific principles.

Part of the ‘Forest of Thanks’ project is to evaluate the Miyawaki method and compare the development of the forest with the traditionally planted block as the trees grow.

Members of the local community can be trained to help monitor the development of the ‘Forest of Thanks’. These Citizen Scientists can collect measurements on tree diameter, canopy cover, soil chemistry, and conduct bird, insects and plant surveys to assess if there is a difference in the speed of colonisation.

TCV run Citizen Science projects across the UK, like this flood monitoring citizen science group in Scotland.

The Forest of Community Spirit

Involving local people with the monitoring and study of the trees will also help the local community connect with the forest, which is a vital part of any green space’s success.

At TCV we know that when members of the local community gain greater knowledge and understanding of their local environment, they become more invested in its protection and improvement.

Another TCV Citizen Science group analysing deadwood for wildlife

Projects, such as the ‘Forest of Thanks’ also help build stronger communities by bringing people together that might not otherwise meet.

School children can get involved too, instilling an interest and care for nature, and hopefully inspiring some to take up careers in science, whether that is in the environment sector of any of the many other valuable fields.

How can we fit more trees into an urban landscape? Miyawaki is the future!

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We hear most days that in order to slow the decline in biodiversity, combat species loss and reduce the effects of climate change we need more trees, everywhere. In rural, wild and urban landscapes.

Although we certainly have to be careful so as not to disturb certain habitats which could lead to the unwitting release of stored carbon into the environment.

There’s also all the huge positive effects to people’s lives that more trees bring. People who live close to green spaces are more likely to have improved mental and physical health.

Access to green spaces can decrease a person’s blood pressure and stress levels, leading to an overall increase of wellbeing in urban communities.

If planted correctly, trees can also reduce soil erosion and regulate water flow, preventing floods and keep people safe and dry in their homes.

But how can we keep planting trees in an ever-dense urban landscape, without encroaching on land that is already species-rich or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)?

Introducing The ‘Miyawaki’ method…

This technique was pioneered by Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki. The process helps build dense, native forests and the approach is designed to encourage tree growth that is up to 10 times faster, resulting in a plantation 30 times denser than usual.

The Miyawaki Method is regarded as one of the most effective tree planting methods for creating forest cover at speed, on land that has been used for other purposes, such as agriculture or construction.

So, it is perfect for urban landscapes, parkland and with potential for brownfield sites. Good news for communities and local wildlife!

It is believed that its effectiveness is down to it being based on natural reforestation principles, using native trees whilst replicating natural forest regeneration processes.

As you can imagine, the flora and fauna close to the project is adapted to live and thrive with the vegetation they have evolved alongside for millennia, so what’s native is best for local wildlife in this instance.

To put this all into perspective, the Miyawaki method would plant circa 200 trees in an area you might now traditionally plant circa 50 trees.

It involves planting dozens of native tree and shrub species in an area that becomes maintenance-free after the first three years, providing a chemical and manmade fertiliser free forest that nurtures itself once established.

Next up in this blog series…

The Conservation Volunteers and partners are pioneering the Miyawaki approach in Europe with the biggest plant of this kind!

If you’d like to find out more about how you can get involved to support the work of The Conservation Volunteers, visit: https://www.tcv.org.uk/