Southwark Council, Funding Circle, and The Danson Foundation have partnered with environmental charity Earthwatch Europe to establish new Tiny Forests in Peckham Rye Park & Common, which will also become part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

A Tiny Forest is a dense, fast-growing, native woodland made up of 600 trees planted in a tennis court-sized plot. They are not only an attractive location for wildlife but are great for people to enjoy as well, and can provide a range of benefits in the fight against climate change.

At Peckham Rye Park & Common, two Tiny Forests were planted next to each other but using a slightly different planting method to be able to compare how each side grows. The planting day on Wednesday 8th March was a huge success – the two Tiny Forests, or 1200 trees, were planted with the help of children from James Allen’s Girls Prep and St Mary Magdalene C Of E Primary School, as well as 125 members of the local community, with free tickets sold out a week before the event.

Tiny forests are based on an established forest management method developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki. To create new Tiny Forests, Earthwatch identifies suitable sites in locations where nature is most needed, working with partners, local councils, community groups and schools to plan, design, prepare, plant, maintain and monitor their local forest. Earthwatch has now planted over 170 Tiny Forests; with a goal to plant 500 Tiny Forests across Europe by 2030.

Grace Gale, Tiny Forest Project Coordinator at Earthwatch said: “We’re so pleased to bring another two Tiny Forests to London. We had such a great time with the children and members of the local community who helped to create these fantastic forests. Each Tiny Forest that we plant has a positive impact on its community and we’re looking forward to working with the local schools and communities to care for their new Tiny Forest. Following the planting day, we train volunteers to become Tree Keepers who help look after the forests and we invite local people to take part in Science Days to help monitor the growth and health of their Tiny Forests.”

Funding Circle helps small businesses win by providing them with access to the finance they need through its leading lending platform. Funding Circle believes that small businesses are at the centre of our communities and is proud to be co-funding the Peckham project.

Tom Parachini, Global Head of Legal and Regulatory at Funding Circle said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the fantastic work of Earthwatch and the Tiny Forest programme, and are excited to be co-funding the project to bring this tiny forest to life. [Thirty] people from Funding Circle got involved on planting day and it was thoroughly enjoyable. At Funding Circle, we are committed to do our part in addressing climate change and environmental issues. We look forward to seeing the wellbeing and engagement benefits this partnership will bring to the local community.”

Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, said: “We are happy to welcome these new Tiny Forests to Southwark. This is a fantastic way to get local communities involved in the planting of new trees as part of our biodiversity and climate emergency work, but then also continue to engage them with the site and take part activities that encourage further environmental work.”