Areas across the UK have seen significant loss of trees in recent years, not least due to the devastating impact of ash dieback and other diseases. Here in Hampshire, we are working to reverse this decline including through the adoption of an innovative Japanese technique capable of creating micro-forests in superfast time.
Named after the botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki, the method involves careful soil preparation and densely planting a range of native plant species that are beneficial to wildlife over an area usually around the size of a tennis court. Due to the dense planting and improvements to the soil, the seedlings will grow quickly, sharing nutrients and water through beneficial fungal networks on their roots.
Trees in a Miyawaki forest therefore grow up to ten times faster than trees planted in conventional manner and become home to more wildlife than non-native woodland. It’s particularly beneficial for the environment in urban and semi-urban areas where there’s a lack of space for larger woodlands and where soils are often of poorer quality. As a result, a forest ecosystem can be fast-tracked in around 20 to 30 years rather than needing centuries to mature. Wooded areas planted using this approach are also highly efficient at absorbing carbon which is great news for efforts to tackle climate change, as well as turbo-boosting an area’s biodiversity.
Hampshire’s first Miyawaki-inspired forest comprising 1300 trees was planted last year in Sheet, near Petersfield. Many of the trees planted here such as sweet chestnut and hazel have been specially chosen to create a haven for dormice whose populations are at risk, as well as nurturing other species. Specialist technology will also be installed to monitor the impact of the woodland on wildlife in the coming years. The aim is to provide a blueprint for many more mini woodlands across the county with another already planted in Hedge End. It’s all part of plans by the County Council’s Hampshire Forest Partnership to encourage communities and organisations to work together to plant one million trees by 2050, leaving a leafy legacy for generations to come.
About the author
Emily Roberts coordinates the Hampshire Forest Partnership as part of Hampshire County Council’s Countryside Service. The service looks after many of Hampshire’s major country parks and National Nature Reserves, as well as some heritage monuments, local recreational spaces, and large areas of common land. It also manages Hampshire’s 3,000 miles of public rights of way.
