Today, I had the pleasure of working with MIYA forest e.V. to create a Tiny Forest in Erkner, near Berlin. While MIYA forest e.V. had planned and prepared the planting in advance, I helped with the actual execution today.
Among the participants was Wohnungsgesellschaft Erkner mbH, which not only financed the planting but also actively supported it with its own staff. Coffee and cake provided the necessary refreshments. I was also particularly pleased by the participation of two groups from a local kindergarten: Many of the children already had their own experiences with planting trees and were able to actively apply and expand on those experiences today.
Working together, we planted about 20 different, mostly native tree and shrub species over an area of approximately 250 m² using the Miyawaki method in an astonishingly short amount of time. The dense planting of diverse, site-appropriate woody plants mimics natural forest regeneration. This is intended to promote rapid growth and, through natural selection, favor the development of particularly resilient plants.
This creates a diverse, near-natural forest on a relatively small area that can develop largely on its own. In the long term, the goal is to create a dense habitat that improves the local microclimate and air quality while providing a variety of habitats for native wildlife.
Besides the planting event itself, what was particularly important to me was the exchange with the organization and the opportunity for future collaborations. I would like to help spread the concept of Tiny Forests to southern Germany as well and initiate further projects there.
I hope this encounter has fallen on fertile ground — and that something great will grow from it!
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