Miyawaki Forest Project

A Miyawaki Forest is a planting technique that can quickly establish an urban forest ecosystem.

Why plant a Miyawaki Forest?

  • improved biodiversity in urban or suburban locations
  • improved residents' wellbeing and health
  • engagement with wider environmental projects and issues
  • reduced flooding and improved air quality
  • carbon sequestration and storage from the atmosphere
  • creates a more beautiful urban landscape

Community Miyawaki Forest Project

We are supporting the creation of more of these fantastic fast growing ecosystems across North Norfolk.

Find out more

Miyawaki Forest Project in North Norfolk

North Norfolk District Council has planted Miyawaki Forests at three sites in North Norfolk:

The planting took place in the winter and early spring of 2022.

Each project site is split in two, with one half planted using the Miyawaki method and the other half planted using a typical woodland creation method. Each site is fenced where necessary to protect the trees. Regular monitoring will survey plant health, biodiversity and other indicators – including use by the local community.

This project is funded through the Government's Shared Outcomes Fund and delivered in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Defra, Natural England and the Tree Council.

Similar Miyawaki forest sites with normal planting next to them are being established in Kent, Cornwall and Chichester.

Which species are included?

A wide range of native plant species were planted to create an ecosystem rich in biodiversity. Species were selected from four groups to create layers of differing heights, with a small number of chosen species making up around 40% of the total planting.

Species include:

Shrub (smallest species) Sub-tree Tree Canopy (largest species)
Blackthorn Common hawthorn Field Maple Alder
Box Crab apple Grey Willow Aspen
Dog rose Elder Goat Willow Beech 
Dogwood  Hazel Rowan Black poplar 
Spindle Osier Willow Small-leaved Lime Downy birch
Wild privet   Whitebeam Hornbeam
    Wild cherry Pedunculate oak
      Scots pine
      Sessile oak
      Silver birch
      Sycamore

What is Miyawaki Forest?

Named after the Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki, the method involves careful soil preparation and densely planting a range of native woodland plants that are beneficial to wildlife on an area usually around the size of a tennis court.

  • Trees in a Miyawaki forest grow up to ten times faster than trees planted in conventional woodland planting schemes at around one metre per year.
  • Miyawaki forests absorb more carbon than conventional woodland schemes because they grow more quickly and are densely planted.
  • Native trees, such as those planted in a Miyawaki forest, can support significantly more wildlife than non-native species.

Watch this short video on why these tiny urban forests could be a secret weapon against climate change.

Why plant a Miyawaki Forest?

  • improved biodiversity in urban or suburban locations
  • improved residents' wellbeing and health
  • engagement with wider environmental projects and issues
  • reduced flooding and improved air quality
  • carbon sequestration and storage from the atmosphere
  • creates a more beautiful urban landscape
Miyawaki planting at Sheringham May 2022Miyawaki forest in Sheringham, three months after planting
Miyawaki planting at Sheringham October 2022Miyawaki forest in Sheringham, eight months after planting

Find out more

You can find further information about the Miyawaki method on the following websites:

The Miyawaki Method for creating forests – creating tomorrow's forests (creatingtomorrowsforests.co.uk)

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create native forests (urban-forests.com)

Tiny Forest (earthwatch.org.uk)

Get in touch

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns.

We are keen to hear from anyone in the local community who might like to get involved in looking after the new forests.

Email: TreePlantingProject@north-norfolk.gov.uk

In partnership with