On September 23, Credit Valley Conservation’s (CVC) Greening Corporate Grounds program planted a mini forest, a first of its kind project in the Credit River Watershed.
CVC’s Greening Corporate Grounds team hosted a tree planting event at St. George’s Anglican Church in Georgetown, where a mini forest of 396 native trees and shrubs were planted. The location backs onto Silver Creek Conservation Area and the plantings will help create connectivity and a corridor for wildlife. An educational sign will be installed later this year to commemorate the project and inform visitors about the mini forest project.
“There are many benefits of mini forests,” said Deborah Kenley, Senior Coordinator of Greening Corporate Grounds for CVC. “Mini forests capture carbon quicker, generate shade which helps to cool our cities, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and reduce flood risk by absorbing rainwater.”
Popularized by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, mini forests are small, dense plantings of many different native tree and shrub species. The technique mimics natural forest conditions and encourages faster growth. The forests can reach maturity in as little as 20 years (traditional plantations can take 100 to 200 years). A minimum of 100 square metres is needed for the plantings.
Establishing new forests or growth tends to be more successful when trees are planted together to form communities. The mini forest method of planting tightly encourages the fast upward growth of trees towards the sun, while shrubs add diversity and supports healthy habitat.
This mini forest project was funded through Green Community Canada’s Living Cities Fund.
Photo:
Caption: Reverend Cheryl Barker and her son helping plant a mini forest of native trees and shrubs.
Link: https://files.cvc.ca/cvc/uploads/2023/10/IMG_0219-scaled.jpg
About Greening Corporate Grounds
Ready to learn more? CVC offers businesses and institutions a free sustainable landscaping assessment and action plan through its Greening Corporate Grounds program. Visit cvc.ca/gcg for more information or connect with us at [email protected].
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed. Our watershed is defined by the area of land where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. We inspire a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.
-30-
Media Contact
Baljit Seran
Specialist, Marketing & Communications
Credit Valley Conservation
M: 416-896-1064
Email