First ‘wacky forest’ planted in heart of Plymouth

A micro-forest has been created at a Plymouth primary school in a pioneering new project that wants to give every school their own forest. 

Pupils and families at Mount Wise Community Primary School helped plant over 220 trees, including oak, willow, hawthorn, rowan and other varieties. An idea devised and led by local business, YGS Landscapes, this flagship forest marks the start of a project that it plans to replicate and roll out citywide.

Small but mighty, the school’s new micro-forest is planted in such a way that is has the potential to grow ten times faster, be 20 times more biodiverse, and can be up to 30 times better at absorbing carbon compared to more traditional ways of creating woodland, delivering huge benefits for the environment and air quality. 

The micro-forest project started almost a year ago at Mount Wise, with the school eager to breathe new life into an overgrown and unused playground area - putting out a plea for help. It came at the right time, as YGS Landscapes sought out somewhere to create Plymouth’s first micro-forest. Paths crossed and the project grew from there. Giving time and abundant energy to the initiative for free, it has been project managed throughout by pillar of the local business community, Nigel Pay.

Support has come from across the city, from volunteers providing time, labour and equipment, including members of Plymouth Albion RFC, as well as generous donations to help fund the work. Millfields Inspired, a Stonehouse based charity, backed the project as part of its Widening Horizons schools programme, which supports school aged children and is soon to be delivered in Devonport.

The school now has a newly planted forest, complete with a forest school seating and learning area, to help children study and engage with the environment. To help bring learning to life, YGS Landscapes’ MD, Steve Warren-Brown has penned a children’s book series, illustrated by local artist Steve Evans. The book series is named ‘My Wacky Forest’ and plays on the name of Dr Miyawaki, whose natural planting methodology has inspired this Plymouth project.

A successful start for a project with huge potential for local schools, communities, businesses and indeed the entire environment, there are plans afoot to scale up and branch out across the city. YGS Landscapes plans to create a programme that unites schools, volunteers and businesses seeking to offset carbon and support community projects. The goal is to give every school their own forest, either on their own land, or created in their name within public spaces.