New mini-forest hopes to one day be a big deal

Lisha Van Nieuwenhove

The name of the Fields of Uxbridge may soon need to be changed to the Fields and Mini-Forest of Uxbridge.

Last Saturday morning, 85 volunteers gathered at the Fields of Uxbridge to lend their time and efforts to the Uxbridge mini-forest project. They were implementing the first phase of the project, which was to prepare the site and soil for future planting. Volunteers put 2,800 sq. ft. of wet cardboard down on the ground to ensure that further unwanted growth was halted. They then layered 25 yards of compost on top, and 20 yards of wood chip mulch was added on top of that. This preparation enhances and amends the soil, preparing it for the 600 native trees and shrubs which will soon be planted to create the first Uxbridge mini-forest.

A large group of volunteers assembled on Saturday to implement Phase 1 of installing a mini-forest at the Fields of Uxbridge. Photo submitted by Norine Blyth

According to Green Communities Canada, one of the forerunners in the development of the idea of mini-forests, a mini-forest — also known as a micro forest or tiny forest — is “a community of native trees and shrubs planted tightly together in an urban or suburban site based on the Miyawaki method. The method emphasizes the use of dense plantings, diverse locally-native species collections, soil preparation, and multilayered design to mimic the complexity of a native forest. This dense planting technique results in taller plants in a shorter time period. “

This mini-forest project is an initiative undertaken by the Rotary Club of Uxbridge, Little Forests Durham and the Township of Uxbridge. Over time, it will hopefully transform into a thriving, dense forest ecosystem.

Norine Blyth, trails coordinator for the Township of Uxbridge, said the Township would like to thank all the volunteers from the 11U Uxbridge Grizzles baseball team, Rotarians, Little Forests Durham, Uxbridge Trails volunteers and the Uxbridge community.

“Miller Compost and UTS (Uxbridge Tree Services) made an incredible in-kind donation of compost and wood chips. Blue Heron Books and Ark Fair Trade made a substantial donation of cardboard towards the project,” said Blyth.

This project is being funded and supported by Green Communities Canada, the Greenbelt Foundation, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the Rotary Club of Uxbridge, Little Forests Durham and the Township of Uxbridge.