Over a 100 locals gathered in Cator Park on Saturday to plant sapling trees and shrubs, creating a ‘tiny forest’.
The project has been crowdfunded by the Friends Of Cator Park organisation, which managed to raise £32,000 in just 42 days. Campaign organiser Millie Knights described this as ‘really extraordinary’.
Tiny forests are described by Earth Watch Europe as “a dense, fast-growing patch of native woodland ‘about the size of a tennis court”.
They are designed to mirror the benefits of a large forest in a smaller area, providing a home for native wildlife and a place for local people to enjoy nature.
While most tiny forests are funded by council initiatives, this is the first time that a London community has provided the finances themselves.
Bromley’s ‘Tiny Forest’ is the first to be locally funded
Project manager Grace Gale believes this is ‘an inspiring story of a community pulling together to…support local biodiversity and benefit the people of Bromley for generations to come’.
Earth Watch Europe partnered with the Friends of Cator Park last year after over 130 trees were felled in the park by someone claiming to be a local landowner.
Residents formed a human chain to block a digger from accessing the park, but much of the damage was already done. A criminal investigation resulted in a replanting order being served by Bromley Council.
The new tiny forest is planted near to where the trees used to stand and locals hope it will help regenerate the area.
The site will need continuous monitoring by trained ‘tree keepers’ in the upcoming days and weeks to ensure that the ground remains fertile and conducive for the saplings to grow.
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HeadlineBromley volunteers plant a ‘tiny forest’
Short HeadlineBromley community plant a 'tiny forest'
StandfirstResidents in Bromley have planted over 600 trees to increase biodiversity in their local park
Over a 100 locals gathered in Cator Park on Saturday to plant sapling trees and shrubs, creating a ‘tiny forest’.
The project has been crowdfunded by the Friends Of Cator Park organisation, which managed to raise £32,000 in just 42 days. Campaign organiser Millie Knights described this as ‘really extraordinary’.
Tiny forests are described by Earth Watch Europe as “a dense, fast-growing patch of native woodland ‘about the size of a tennis court”.
They are designed to mirror the benefits of a large forest in a smaller area, providing a home for native wildlife and a place for local people to enjoy nature.
While most tiny forests are funded by council initiatives, this is the first time that a London community has provided the finances themselves.
Bromley’s ‘Tiny Forest’ is the first to be locally funded
Project manager Grace Gale believes this is ‘an inspiring story of a community pulling together to…support local biodiversity and benefit the people of Bromley for generations to come’.
Earth Watch Europe partnered with the Friends of Cator Park last year after over 130 trees were felled in the park by someone claiming to be a local landowner.
Residents formed a human chain to block a digger from accessing the park, but much of the damage was already done. A criminal investigation resulted in a replanting order being served by Bromley Council.
The new tiny forest is planted near to where the trees used to stand and locals hope it will help regenerate the area.
The site will need continuous monitoring by trained ‘tree keepers’ in the upcoming days and weeks to ensure that the ground remains fertile and conducive for the saplings to grow.
