- 600 new trees planted in Bourton Park, Buckingham
- Local community support new green space project at planting
Earthwatch Europe have partnered with Buckingham Town Council and Buckinghamshire Council to create a new Tiny Forest in Bourton Park, Buckingham. Members of the local community will be coming together to plant hundreds of trees on Friday 17th March.
A Tiny Forest is a dense, fast-growing, native woodland made up of 600 trees planted in a tennis court-sized plot. They are not only an attractive location for wildlife but are great for people to enjoy as well, and can provide a range of benefits in the fight against climate change.
The forest at Bourton Park, which is funded through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund secured by Buckinghamshire Council, will be the second Tiny Forest in Buckinghamshire after Princes Risborough’s forest which was planted in February this year.
Anja Schafer, Deputy Town Mayor and Chair of Buckingham Town Council’s Environment committee said:“I am delighted that Buckingham will be the second town in Buckinghamshire to plant a Tiny Forest. This small area of dense, fast-growing native trees will help absorb carbon from the air and will provide additional habitat for wildlife, improving our town’s environment.”.
Tiny forests are based on an established forest management method developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki. To create new Tiny Forests, Earthwatch identifies suitable sites in locations where nature is most needed, working with partners, local councils, community groups and schools to plan, design, prepare, plant, maintain and monitor their local forest. Earthwatch has now planted over 170 Tiny Forests; with a goal to plant 500 Tiny Forests across Europe by 2030.
Gareth Williams, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment, said: “It’s great that we’ve been able to secure the funding for this project from the Forestry Commission. Together with Earthwatch and Buckingham Town Council, we’re looking forward to creating this innovative ‘Tiny Forest’ at Bourton Park in Buckingham.
“Seeing local communities taking part in tree planting initiatives like this is truly inspiring, given that such initiatives make a significant contribution to improving the local environment.
“As well as large scale planting initiatives on land owned by Buckinghamshire Council, which will see over half a million trees planted within ten years, our wider Bucks Tree Mission also encourages residents and community groups to support smaller scale local tree planting projects like this one.”
Hannah Davidson, Tiny Forest Project Manager said: “It’s so nice to be returning to Buckinghamshire for our second Tiny Forest planting day. There are now nearly 200 Tiny Forests across the UK and each one is unique because it has been planted and cared for by the local community. We’re looking forward to coming back to Buckingham in years to come to help the community monitor and enjoy this fantastic green space.”
If you would like to join the Tiny Forest planting at Bourton Park on Friday 17th March you can sign up here: Tiny Forest Planting Day at Bourton Park, Buckingham Tickets, Fri 17 Mar 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite The planting will start at 10am and is free to attend and open to all ages.