Tiny Pocket Forests

New York Times, August 26, 2023

Tiny pocket forests which are called Miyawaki forests are small scale densely planted native urban forests. Mature trees within 20-30 years instead of 150-200 years.  

Born and raised in the Niagara, Ontario region with family fruit farming and the love of gardening, Paula McCormick is an active member of the Victoria Master Gardener Association and is trained at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, (HCP) which is in its 20th year. Paula’s profession is as a school & youth programs coordinator, developing and delivering programs to help children and their families with plants and nature. 

She is also enrolled in the Pollinator Partnerships (PP) Pollinator Stewardship Program and with a grant from PP her project is to create a mini/tiny forest on site at HCP.  It will be an ultra-small version termed a Pocket Forest planted with native plant species.

This Canadian Geographics article on tiny forests shows a photo of a successful Miyawaki forest. 

Members of the Sooke Garden Club are invited to attend the meeting on Wednesday, April 24th at 7 p.m. at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 2191 Townsend Rd. If you would like to join, come to the meeting or email us at Sookegc@gmail.com!