Tiny Forest, Huge Benefits
Today marks the exciting launch of a Hunter-based crowd funding campaign set to raise the final funds needed to build a local Tiny Forest, a small yet complete ecosystem packed full of native plants. This ambitious project, known as the Urban Hum Tiny Forest, aims to support native pollinators, capture carbon, and reduce raising local temperatures. A 160m2 potion of private land in Cardiff Heights has been offered up by generous landowners - Anna Scobie and Kelly-Ann Lees, as the forever home of the project.
The driving force behind this eco-friendly initiative is project lead Anna Noon, from local Not-for-Profit organisation The Groundswell Collective. Anna noted “we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the community and local businesses to demonstrate ways we can actively address climate change and support native pollinators”.
“The recent outbreak of Varroa mite in our European Honeybee populations has had a devastating impact on our local beekeepers and poses a genuine threat to our future food security. The Urban Hum Tiny Forest is one positive way the community can band together and respond.”
Drawing inspiration from successful crowdfunding initiatives in the ACT, where communities have chipped in anywhere between $23,000 and $83,000, Anna noted “thanks to our existing partnerships with local businesses such as Agility Professional Tree Service, Remondis and Jemena, we’re only needing to raise an extra $2500 to bring this project to life.” The funds raised will go directly to purchasing the 550 native trees and organic materials needed to make the forest a super charged success.
“We’re using a planting method developed in the 1970 by renowned Japanese botanist, Dr Alika Miyawaki. This method includes loosening the soil and enriching it with organic material like manure and compost. We’ll also plant a diverse variety native species, densely. Dense planting creates competition amongst the plants and the ideal soil conditions means the roots establish and plants grow quickly. It’s been demonstrated globally that Miyawaki tiny forests grow 10 times faster than traditional planting methods, so instead of it taking up to 200 years to reach maturity, we can achieve the same result in 10-20 years. We’re bringing this rapid regeneration method to the Hunter because as we know it works and because increased efforts are needed if we’re going to have any chance at slowing the impacts of climate change and native species extinction rates.”
Kelly-Ann Lees, landowner and founder of the local artisan honey business Urban Hum said “following the detection of Varroa mite locally we had to close our honey business, which was heartbreaking. Our 110 European hives had to be euthanised to help contain the Varroa mite spread. By dedicating a portion of our property for a Tiny Forest, we feel like we are moving forward in a positive direction again”.
“Native pollinators play such vital role in our ecosystems, and we’re looking forward to studying and sharing more information about them with the community during our planned open days and citizen science studies.”
“This project is genuinely community powered - built for, with and by the community, and we’re excited to be a part of that.”
To learn more about how you can donate or be involved in the project visit https://crowdfunding.startsomegood.com/tinyforest
