A partnership between Tarmac Kier Joint Venture (TKJV), environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, Transport for London (TfL) and Haringey Council has seen a Tiny Forest, the size of a tennis court, planted and cared for at the New River Sports Ground in the London Borough of Haringey.
On 17 July, local schools and the community joined a discovery day, led by Earthwatch Europe, to explore the forest and its wildlife. The event enabled students and residents to learn about the project, check the health of the trees, and get hands-on with citizen science, exploring the benefits the forest brings by counting bugs, bees and butterflies.
The forest aims to create a diverse habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Open to the public, it is a space for people to learn from and enjoy. 600 trees were planted, densely packed to promote forest development without the need for chemicals or fertilisers.
After submitting the successful application for the Tiny Forest to the Local Authority Treescape Fund, with support from TKJV, Earthwatch and Haringey Council worked together to identify the best site and engage with the local community. Earthwatch, Haringey Council, TKJV and TfL planted the forest in March 2024 and have been maintaining it ever since to support tree growth and get it ready for local people to enjoy.
TKJV, who maintain TfL’s road network in the north area of London, pledged £4,000 toward the project and became involved as a way to support the community around the areas they work in.
"By contributing £4,000 toward the project and using our company volunteering days to maintain the forest, we have helped create an important, educational resource that provides opportunities for people to reconnect with nature. Our teams have enjoyed working in collaboration with our partners to bring this fantastic project to life, which will no doubt have a positive impact on the community for years to come."
John Coombes, contract director at TKJV
"This Tiny Forest shows that green spaces don’t have to be vast to make a big difference.
It’s been wonderful to have local schools and people from the wider community join us to plant and care for this Tiny Forest. Helping the trees take root and monitoring them as they flourish creates a very special connection with the forest and the wildlife that call it home.
Tree planting initiatives like Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with nature and supporting local biodiversity. We look forward to seeing this forest thrive and being enjoyed by the local community for generations to come."
Georgina Sturgeon, Project Manager at Earthwatch Europe
"Having local schoolchildren join the community in discovering and exploring this new tiny forest at New River Leisure Centre is fantastic to see and I’m looking forward to watching it flourish and grow in the years to come.
These pockets of nature will bring huge benefits to the area and it will play a pivotal role in creating a greener and healthier future for generations to come."
Cllr Mike Hakata, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport
Tiny Forests are planted in urban locations and aim to reconnect people with nature, enhance wellbeing, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and support wildlife. Tiny forests are dense, fast-growing, miniature woodlands, comprising native species which provide benefits to the environment and local wildlife and are easier to care for.
To find out more, including how to get involved, please visit New River Sports Ground (earthwatch.org.uk).