oaks
F om
iny aco ns
inspi ing s o ies o communi y
ac ion o he UK’s u ban o es
omigh y
Ac oss he UK, communi ies a e coming oge he o
ca e o , p o ec and expand ou u ban o es s. This
bookle celeb a es hose e o s, sha ing hope ul
s o ies o g ass oo s ac ion, p ac ical models ha
migh be eplica ed and use ul links o help you ge
in ol ed o s a you own ini ia i e.
Whe he you’ e a ee en husias , a communi y
o ganise o simply someone who enjoys g een
spaces, his bookle is o you. I ’s designed o inspi e
and in o m anyone cu ious abou how u ban ees can
b ing people oge he , imp o e ou neighbou hoods
and help na u e in ou owns and ci ies o h i e.
oaks
F om
“ iny aco ns
o migh y
”
...is mo e han jus a saying:
i ’s a powe ul eminde
ha seemingly small
ac ions can become
ans o ma i e.
32
This bookle b ings oge he eigh s o ies om
ac oss he UK o show wha ’s possible. You’ll ind
examples o success ul p ojec s, models o lea n
om, and links o o ganisa ions ha can suppo
you. We hope ha wha e e pa o he jou ney
you’ e on, hese s o ies will ge you hinking abou
aking ac ion whe e you li e and pe haps inspi e
you o g ow you own migh y oaks.
NHS Fo es 26
The O cha d P ojec 30
Tiny Fo es s 34
Na ional ne wo ks
Bi mingham T eePeople 6
F ui and Nu Village 10
Mo e T ees BANES 14
S ee T ees o Li ing 18
U ban Fo es 22
Place-based ini ia i es
U ban ees no only look beau i ul: hey clean he ai we b ea he, help manage
ainwa e , mode a e empe a u e and humidi y and suppo a wide ange o animals,
plan s and ungi. They o e ood, shel e and sa e pa hways o wildli e o mo e and
h i e. Indeed, esea ch shows ha ha ing mo e ee co e – especially ees which a e
abo e wo me es – makes a big di e ence in suppo ing u ban biodi e si y.
T ees ma e a g ea deal o people. They help o shade s ee s, il e pollu an s, educe
noise and e en imp o e men al heal h. T ees can b ing neighbou s oge he , o e places o
play and elax and make communi ies eel mo e connec ed o na u e and each o he . Many
people eel passiona ely abou ees in hei local a ea, especially ma u e ees which o m
a quie , s eady backd op o people’s li es o e long pe iods o ime.
Un o una ely, no all a eas ha e equal access o he joys and bene i s o ees. Some
pa s o he UK ha e e y ew ees and a eas ha ha e he highes le els o dep i a ion
a e o en hose wi h he lowes ee canopy co e . This imbalance is bo h un ai and
a missed oppo uni y. T ees can help communi ies adap o clima e change, imp o e
heal h and suppo wildli e, bu only i hey’ e plan ed and ca ed o in he igh places.
Tha ’s why he e’s a g owing mo emen o inc ease ee co e in u ban a eas, especially
in he neighbou hoods and communi ies whe e i ’s needed mos . Na ional and local
go e nmen s a e se ing a ge s and unding p ojec s o suppo ee plan ing and ca e.
The ans o ma i e powe o communi y ac ion
Ac oss he UK, he e is a long his o y o local people aking ca e o ees and g een spaces h ough
olun a y communi y ac ion. Today, wi h g ea e awa eness o he biodi e si y and clima e c ises,
mo e and mo e people a e joining in – om plan ing s ee ees and c ea ing communi y o cha ds
o p o ec ing exis ing ees and campaigning o be e g een space policies, communi ies a e
making a eal di e ence. Some a e wo king wi h councils and cha i ies, while o he s a e ac ing
independen ly. Each o hese indi idual e o s may be small, bu oge he hey’ e helping o g ow
g eene , ai e owns and ci ies.
Quick guide
o wha ’s inside
Why a e u ban
ees impo an ?
54
Bi mingham
T eePeople
Bi mingham.
Plan and es ablish new ees in he ci y, ad oca e o all ees ac oss Bi mingham and
wo k di ec ly wi h communi ies o g ea e access o ees and he bene i s hey b ing.
Bi mingham T eePeople g ew ou o he T ee Wa den Ne wo k, se up by T ee O ice s
a Bi mingham Ci y Council in 2016. As he numbe o olun ee s inc eased, hey
g adually es ablished a small independen cha i y, now called Bi mingham T eePeople.
The i s o mal mee ing o he Boa d o T us ees was in 2020. F om i s o igins,
Bi mingham T eePeople has always been passiona e abou ca ing o ees di ec ly wi h
communi ies, ensu ing ha he bene i s o ees a e sha ed.
76
Loca ion
Vision
Tiny aco n
Powe ed by olun ee s o he i s ou yea s, he o ganisa ion won a la ge g an om
he Na ional Lo e y in 2024, which enabled i o begin employing paid s a , including
a Communi y Lead. G adually, Bi mingham T eePeople has g own in o a leading
educa ion, p o ec ion, and plan ing o ganisa ion ha supplemen s he wo k o he
ci y’s T ee O ice s, whose ocus is audi ing, elling, and main enance.
Pu ing down oo s
Bi mingham T eePeople is now ecognised ac oss he ci y as a key o ganisa ion
suppo ing u ban ees o lou ish. S aying ue o i s o ganisa ional oo s, Bi mingham
T eePeople con inues o ha e a la ge eam o U ban Fo es Volun ee s who look a e
newly plan ed and well-es ablished ees on s ee s and in pa ks. The o ganisa ion
egula ly uns an acc edi ed A bo icul u e Le el 2 cou se and o he ee qua e ly
aining sessions, suppo ing he knowledge and p ac ice o olun ee s. Wi h he
quali ica ion, olun ee s can become ‘specialis s’ wi hin he p ojec , con ibu ing
o mo e echnical aspec s o ee plan ing and main enance, and some imes e en
bene i ing om paid oppo uni ies o deli e aining o skill-sha ing wo kshops.
Bi mingham T eePeople also o e s a ange o ac i i ies o communi y membe s, om
ee ca e (plan ing, p uning, mulching, and ending o ee nu se ies) o cul u al e en s
and ee app ecia ion ( ee iden i ica ion walks, a s and c a s, poe y eadings, ee
ails, s ee ee su eying and an annual ee es i al). The p ojec uses T eePlo e o
ga he and sha e in o ma ion abou ees ac oss he ci y o unde s and he bene i s o
he u ban o es . They addi ionally un ci izen science p ojec s, including moni o ing
he success o newly plan ed s ee ees. This helps make be e e idence-based
decisions abou which ees a e plan ed whe e and can be used in con e sa ions wi h
local people du ing he co-design o ee plan ing and managemen plans.
Migh y oak
We collec da a abou ee clima e esilience, aes he ics, and exis ing di e si y and
dis ibu ion o ees in he ci y and b ing ha in o ma ion o communi ies o help
hem be meaning ully in ol ed in choosing he igh ees o hei neighbou hoods.”
I hink i ’s impo an o acknowledge he wo k ha ’s al eady going on in a eas. Like
I said, he e a e always connec ions be ween people and ees. And I hink some imes
councils don’ acknowledge ha and hink ha people don’ ca e abou ees.”
“
“
Since 2024, unde he di ec ion o hei Communi y Lead, Bi mingham T eePeople
has been pionee ing a ela i ely new app oach which b ings communi y o ganising,
a s-based p ac ices and u ban ee ca e oge he o inc ease access o ees and he
bene i s hey b ing. The e a e h ee in e connec ed a eas o wo k:
Holis ic communi y engagemen
The p ojec employs a Communi y Lead, who uses a communi y o ganising and
a s-based app oach o connec people, lis en o hei pe spec i es, map exis ing
communi y asse s, ampli y local solu ions and ally communi ies oge he o make
change happen.
Valuing di e se connec ions o and ca e o ees
The Communi y Lead akes ime o unde s and how di e en communi y membe s
al eady show ca e o and eel a sense o connec ion wi h u ban ees. Ca e comes
in many o ms: om p ac ical asks like wa e ing, plan ing and weeding, o mo e
emo ional and in angible o ms o ca e, such as no icing and app ecia ing ees. People
a e also connec ed o ees h ough implici cul u al alues, s o ies and olk ales,
c ea i e a s and spi i ual p ac ices. Bi mingham T eePeople has ound ha aking his
holis ic app oach – which app ecia es and builds on he mul i ace ed ela ionships
be ween people and na u e – helps o ins il us in he p ojec and encou ages no ions
o s ewa dship owa ds u ban ees.
Inclusi e decision making
T adi ionally, decisions abou u ban ee plan ing ha e been de e mined by ecological
and en i onmen al da a and in o med by he a ailabili y o council unding and o he
esou ces. Bi mingham T eePeople’s app oach, by con as , includes communi y
membe s in he design and decision-making p ocesses. The eam collec s da a abou
ees in di e en pa s o he ci y – eco ding ee di e si y, dis ibu ion, clima e
esilience, ai quali y, cul u al and social alues, and aes he ics. They hen p esen his
da a o communi ies in an accessible o ma and encou age meaning ul in ol emen in
choosing and managing he igh ees o each neighbou hood.
Toge he , hese app oaches ensu e ha Bi mingham T eePeople gene a e a deep
unde s anding o local pe spec i es, alues, and p io i ies, and ea hese as equally
signi ican sou ces o in o ma ion o e idence-based decision-making.
A model we can lea n om
Find ou mo e abou Bi mingham T eePeople
Websi e: bi mingham eepeople.o g.uk
Ins ag am: ins ag am.com/bi mingham eepeople
Facebook: acebook.com/Bi mingham-T ee-People
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/bi mingham eepeople
You ube: you ube.com/@bi mingham eepeople7284
You can lea n mo e abou he Bi mingham T eePeople communi y engagemen model
by eading his case s udy and he Na u e Towns and Ci ies Na u e Make s spo ligh .
Inclusi e
decision
making
Holis ic
communi y
engagemen
Valuing di e se
connec ions
o and ca e
o ees
98
F ui &
Nu Village
Bi mingham – Balsall Hea h, D uids Hea h and S i chley and o he Bi mingham
neighbou hoods on an ad-hoc basis.
Nu u ing communi ies who g ow and a e su ounded by abundan , pe ennial ood.
F ui & Nu Village was s a ed in 2017 by ‘F iends o ’ g oups and o he local en husias s.
I began wi h an idea o cul i a e edible eescapes in u ban a eas, enabling
communi ies o g ow small ood o es s and enjoy locally p oduced ood. In u n, his
would b ing bene i s o people’s heal h, wellbeing, sense o place and communi y, ai
quali y, shady g een spaces, iendship, biodi e si y, and die . A i s , he g oup we e
looking a e a ound 30 ees, bu soon he ini ia i e was ecognised as mee ing local
communi y needs and om he e i quickly g ew.
Loca ion
Vision
Tiny aco n
Wi h he help o Na ional Lo e y unding, F ui & Nu Village was ully es ablished in
2018 and om 2019 onwa ds, he p ojec s a ed plan ing la ge numbe s o ees.
When he Co id-19 pandemic s uck in 2020, F ui & Nu Village ecognised he need o
mo e connec ion and communi y suppo . In some places, hey s a ed unning egula
sessions. They also used his ime o o malise hei o ganisa ional s uc u es, o icially
es ablishing as a CIO, so ha by he ime lockdown li ed hey could sp ing back
in o ac ion.
Pu ing down oo s
Now ully embedded in Bi mingham’s neighbou hoods, F ui & Nu Village b ings
people oge he o plan and ca e o o es ga dens, o cha ds and o he edible
landscapes wi hin public g een spaces ha a e accessible o di e en communi ies.
They ocus on cul i a ing ees and o he plan s which supply edible ood yea on yea .
F ui & Nu Village uns egula ac i i ies a o e 80 si es in Bi mingham. These include
wo kshops on o cha d ca e and plan p opaga ion; weekly o es ga den ca e sessions;
and egula communi y e en s, like ee plan ing days. Anyone can ge in ol ed in he
cul i a ion o hese delicious oodscapes and enjoy he yummy c ops!
As a communi y- ocused p ojec , F ui & Nu Village do
h ee main hings:
1) Raise awa eness abou u ban ees
2) C ea e communi y and iendship
3) P oduce an edible landscape o ee- o-ha es ood
Toge he , hese ac ions enhance local biodi e si y, inc ease shade, make pa ks and
neighbou hoods mo e p e y, and in ol e local people in decisions abou he g een
places whe e hey li e, wo k and play.
Migh y oak
1110
I ’s no ha un ealis ic o imagine we migh ha e a million apples
coming o ou ui ees in a ew yea s’ ime. I you could collec
all o hose, ha ’d be a esou ce wo h ha ing. So, in i e yea s,
i would be g ea o ha ness he alue o his a bi mo e and ge
he ui o people who need i h ough wo king wi h o he ood
edis ibu ion o ganisa ions.”
“
F ui & Nu Village’s unique model is hei ocus on g owing edible ees and plan s in
u ban places wi h nea by communi ies. Th ee c ucial elemen s o hei o es ga den
model a e desc ibed below:
G owing o es ga dens o long- e m ood p oduc ion
F ui & Nu Village’s edible landscapes a e plan ed in such a way ha , once es ablished,
he plan s will con inue o p oduce ood o a long ime wi hou he need o u he
plan ing. These o es ga dens a e made up o di e en laye s, which include ui and
nu ees, ui bushes, pe ennial ege ables, he bs, edible lowe s, g ound co e plan s,
and ines. The illus a ion below depic s he laye s ha his p ojec seeks o cul i a e in
hei edible landscapes.
Building pa ne ships wi h land manage s and landowne s
Since F ui & Nu Village does no own he land i cul i a es, i s success depends on
s ong pa ne ships wi h land managemen o ganisa ions. The mos impo an pa ne s
a e o en local au ho i ies, as hey can b oke access o public spaces which a e mo e
isible and accessible o he whole communi y, meaning mo e people a e able o
bene i om and ge in ol ed in he p ojec . F ui & Nu Village also wo k wi h smalle
land manage s and owne s, like places o wo ship and communi y cen es. These
collabo a ions suppo communi y cohesion and nu u e a s ong sense o place.
Wo king wi h communi ies o ca e o he o es ga dens
Regula ca e and main enance o o es ga dens is impo an . Tasks like p uning,
selec i e weeding, wa e ing, keeping access pa hs idy, digging ou compos , mo ing
woodchip, and o cou se ha es ing all play a pa , and hei na u e and in ensi y a y
h oughou he seasons. To do his wo k, F ui & Nu Village wo ks wi h membe s o
he local communi y, o e s ele an aining and in ol es hem in decisions abou he
g een places whe e hey li e, wo k, and play.
In he u u e, F ui & Nu Village would like o un ha es days wi h olun ee s and
o e su plus o local ood dis ibu ion cha i ies, sha ing he boun y o delicious ood
hese edible landscapes p oduce.
Websi e: ui andnu illage.o g.uk/abou us
Ins ag am: ins ag am.com/ ui nu illage
Facebook: acebook.com/ ui nu illage
X: wi e .com/ ui nu illage
YouTube: you ube.com/channel/UCsh H_i4I7 pHa PONFCGjQ
A model we can lea n om
Find ou mo e abou F ui & Nu Village
Fo es Ga den Diag am by G aham Bu ne
(Image ia Wikimedia Commons licensed unde GNU F ee Documen a ion License)
1312
Mo e T ees
BANES
Ba h and No h-Eas Some se (BANES).
Dynamic and di e se ee- ich landscapes ha egene a e he en i onmen ,
communi ies and he na u al wo ld.
Inspi ing and enabling people o come oge he o g ow, plan and ca e o
clima e- esilien ees.
Mo e T ees was se up in 2008 by Adam G e on and a g oup o iends who we e
conce ned abou he en i onmen . They wan ed o ake ac ion whe e hey li ed and
decided o plan ees. They wo ked wi h o he small communi y g oups a ound Ba h
and managed o ind a si e o small-scale plan ing p ojec s. In hei i s ew yea s,
he small g oup o en s uggled wi h pes s and disease a ec ing he su i al a e and
heal h o he saplings. Pu ing hese issues down o hei use o impo ed ees, hey
looked o sou ce ees ha we e g own locally bu quickly ound his was easie said
han done.
Loca ion
Vision
Tiny aco n
In 2021, he g oup came up wi h he idea o collec ing seeds in local woodlands and
g owing hei own ees. They se up a couple o communi y ee nu se ies on a piece
o land belonging o some local people who we e happy o help. They began collec ing
seeds om local ancien and semi-na u al woodlands, s a i ying and sowing hem,
nu u ing he young saplings and hen using hei own na i e, locally g own ees
o plan ing p ojec s in he a ea. This p ocess educes he eliance on impo ed ees,
which, in u n, lowe s impo ed disease isks and ca bon oo p in .
O e ime, he idea snowballed and soon he e we e lo s o o he people who wan ed
o ge in ol ed in di e en ways, including o e ing land on which o g ow he ees. In
2022, he o ganisa ion became a egis e ed cha i y (CIO) and began employing people.
Pu ing down oo s
Mo e T ees BANES con inued o expand and, o da e, has plan ed a ound 16,000 ees in
Ba h and No h-Eas Some se , ocusing on a eas o highe dep i a ion. They now ha e
a ne wo k o 17 communi y nu se ies ha oge he p oduce enough saplings o plan
a ound 4000 ees annually, mos o which a e plan ed by olun ee s. O e ime, Mo e
T ees BANES ha e buil us wi h di e en communi ies in and a ound Ba h and No h-
Eas Some se and ha e a good epu a ion o deli e ing heal hy ees, inspi ing local
leade s and mobilising people o ge ac i ely in ol ed h ough di e en olun ee ing
oles and e en s. Regula ac i i ies and sessions wi h olun ee s in ol e seed collec ing,
seed plan ing, looking a e saplings, unning he communi y ee nu se ies, wo king
wi h schools, plan ing ou ees in new si es, wa e ing and weeding young ees and an
annual calenda o un, inclusi e and educa ional communi y e en s.
Migh y oak
1514
[A communi y membe ] migh do a bi o seed p ocessing, cleaning
seeds, ge ing hei hands eally mucky and hen hose seeds a e
sown and we see wha hey look like in six mon hs’ ime as li le
seedlings… One o he s eng hs o ou model is ha 360 app oach
o g owing and plan ing, as i eaches people abou ha p ocess.
A big pa o ou mission is o sha e knowledge abou he whole
li ecycle o ees, in ol e people in e e y s age o g owing ees, and
inc ease communi y membe s’ unde s anding o and connec ion o
local en i onmen s.”
“
An exci ing and scalable aspec o Mo e T ees BANES is hei communi y ee nu se y
model. They use a ‘hub and spoke’ s uc u e, wi h one Cen al Nu se y Hub and 17
communi y ee nu se ies (see illus a ion). Each aspec is desc ibed b ie ly below.
The Cen al Nu se y Hub
The Cen al Nu se y Hub se es as he ope a ional hea , coo dina ing he ini ial seed
collec ion and ge mina ion and hen nu u ing he seedlings o a ound six mon hs.
Equipped wi h a poly unnel and building in as uc u e, i o e sees he ea ly g ow h
s ages whe e young ees need he mos ca e and a en ion. Recen ly eloca ed o a
dep i ed a ea o Ba h, he Hub is now mo e accessible o u ban communi ies.
Communi y ee nu se ies
A six-mon hs old, saplings a e mo ed o one o he communi y ee nu se ies
whe e hey a e plan ed in he g ound o con inue g owing o one o wo yea s.
The communi y nu se ies a e un au onomously, en i ely by olun ee s. Cen al o
he o ganisa ion’s success, olun ee s ake owne ship o nu se y ope a ions and a e
in ol ed in decision-making, especially ega ding nu se y design, compos ing sys ems,
ainwa e ha es ing sys ems and plan ing schedules. A dedica ed s a membe
ocuses on olun ee engagemen and managemen , ensu ing inclusi e oppo uni ies
ac oss seed collec ion, nu se y ca e, and plan ing.
Plan ing si es
When land becomes a ailable and he young ees a e s ong enough, hey a e li ed
and plan ed in u ban g een spaces, pa icula ly in a eas o social dep i a ion. A e he
plan ing season, any emaining unplan ed ees a e o e ed ou h ough communi y
gi eaways.
Ne wo k o communi y pa ne ships
Mo e T ees BANES success ully in eg a es i s nu se y model wi h he wide communi y.
Nu se ies a e hos ed in schools, allo men s, p i a e land, and o he sha ed spaces
– including a local men al heal h cha i y (Mind), a ci y-cen e building socie y, and
an A on Needs T ees si e. The o ganisa ion collabo a es wi h ho icul u al he apy
p og ammes and social housing p o ide s o di e si y pa icipa ion. Pa ne ships wi h
schools a e pa icula ly impo an , as child en lea n how o ca e o ees om seed o
sapling h ough cu iculum-linked, sel -di ec ed and senso y ac i i ies. The p og amme
suppo s con idence, emo ional egula ion and engagemen , especially o pupils who
ind he class oom di icul .
A model we can lea n om
Find ou mo e abou Mo e T ees BANES
Websi e: mo e ees.ea h
Ins ag am: ins ag am.com/mo e eesbanes/?hl=en
Facebook: acebook.com/mo e eesbanes
X: wi e .com/Mo eT eesBANES
Mo e T ees BANES
T ee Nu se y Plan ing Si e Model Key
The Cen al
Nu se y Hub
Coo dina ion
and sapling
dis ibu ion
Communi y
ee nu se ies
Plan ing si es
and ne wo k
o communi y
pa ne ships
1716
3130
The O cha d
P ojec
UK-wide, wi h a cen al o ganisa ion ha suppo s independen communi y o cha ds
ac oss he UK.
B inging o cha ds in o he hea o u ban communi ies.
The O cha d P ojec was ounded in 2009 by wo iends, Ca ina Mills one and Rowena
Ganguli, who me whils s udying o a Mas e ’s deg ee in Leade ship o Sus ainable
De elopmen . The s o y goes ha one o hem was jogging h ough he local pa k
and had a sudden epiphany abou how much ui could be g own in London o
communi ies o ea . Inspi ed by he Vic o ian-e a plan ing o o cha ds and he cu en
abundance o unde used g een spaces, he wo iends launched he London O cha d
P ojec , which la e e ol ed in o The O cha d P ojec .
Loca ion
Vision
Tiny aco n
In he ea ly days, The O cha d P ojec de eloped some key pa ne ships h ough hei
Helping B i ain Blossom p og amme ha enabled hem o expand beyond London in o
ci ies such as Bi mingham, Manches e and Edinbu gh. In 2016, he Na ional Lo e y
He i age Fund suppo ed a h ee-yea “Celeb a ion o O cha ds” p ojec o es o e
e e an o cha ds and de elop acc edi ed aining p og ammes, which now include
Le el 1 and 3 Communi y O cha ding and Le el 2 Fo es Ga dening cou ses. They wen
on o secu e mo e unding in 2020, enabling he es ablishmen o a new hub and small
egional eam in Swansea. Whils he wo k has expanded o e ime, The O cha d P ojec
emains oo ed in communi y empowe men and sus ainable u ban g eening, wi h a
s ong ocus on suppo ing u ban biodi e si y and, mo e ecen ly, o es ga dening.
Pu ing down oo s
Today, The O cha d P ojec con inues o employ a small co e eam who wo k alongside
a wide ne wo k o communi y g oups and local pa ne s o c ea e, es o e and ca e o
communi y o cha ds and o es ga dens ac oss he UK. The p ojec has been in ol ed
in c ea ing o es o ing a ound 600 o cha ds and o es ga dens o e he las 15 yea s.
A key ocus o he ini ia i e is ans o ming neglec ed o unde used u ban a eas,
pa icula ly in places expe iencing dep i a ion o whe e communi y g oups may no ye
exis . In hese cases, The O cha d P ojec p o ides he essen ial ing edien s o ge ing
communi y o cha ds and o es ga dens s a ed, including communi y mapping and
engagemen o ind some keen esiden s who wan o ge in ol ed.
O cha ds o e seasonal ouchpoin s ha nu u e people’s connec ions wi h ees
– om beau i ul blossom in sp ing o delicious ui in au umn. This gen le cycle
encou ages egula , meaning ul engagemen wi hou being o e ly demanding. O e
ime, hese spaces p o ide mo e han jus ee ood: hey os e communi y cohesion,
enhance he beau y o local a eas, and suppo u ban wildli e. A cen al pa o he
p ojec ’s mission is o enhance habi a s and biodi e si y, and his in ol es hinking
ca e ully abou plan ing plans and a oiding pes icides. These bene i s help explain
why so many olun ee s a e inspi ed o gi e hei ime o s ewa d o cha ds and o es
ga dens in hei communi ies.
Migh y oak
Making a piece o ameni y g assland look much mo e
in e es ing and mo e beau i ul; gi ing people an
oppo uni y o mee hei neighbou s and olun a ily
ca ing o ees oge he ; ge ing pa en s and ca e s
ou side wi h hei kids, wa e ing ees; collec i ely
app ecia ing he ees and na u e a ound us…
Ou wo k is abou communi y and biodi e si y”
“
The O cha d P ojec has an inspi ing way o wo king wi h local communi ies. Thei model is
buil on collabo a ion, empowe men and ecological s ewa dship. C ucially, The O cha d P ojec
does no own o manage he si es i helps o c ea e. Ins ead, i collabo a es wi h local g oups
like ‘ iends o ’ g oups, schools, chu ches and housing associa ions o collec i ely co-design and
plan o cha ds on publicly accessible si es. These g een spaces – ypically pa ks, housing es a es,
schools o communi y ga dens – a e hen le in he hands o hose communi y g oups and
o he local people o manage and main ain. Some imes, g oups app oach The O cha d P ojec
eam di ec ly wi h eques s o help. In a eas o highe dep i a ion, s a may ake a mo e
p oac i e app oach o engage communi ies. The O cha d P ojec ’s i e-s ep model is illus a ed
wi h he diag am and explained below.
1. Ga he ing in o ma ion
The p ocess begins wi h a si e assessmen , habi a o biodi e si y su eys and communi y
mapping o iden i y po en ial pa ne s and olun ee s.
2. Co-design wo kshop
The O cha d P ojec acili a es a wo kshop whe e pa icipan s use an O cha d Design Ki wi h
scaled maps and minia u e ees o plan hei o cha d. Decisions on species, a ie ies and layou
a e made collabo a i ely, wi h The O cha d P ojec s a o e ing
expe guidance on sui abili y and biodi e si y.
3. Plan ing days
Plan ing days a e led by The O cha d P ojec bu ca ied ou by olun ee s. The model has
e ol ed o include mul iple plan ing laye s – ui ees, bushes, and pollina o - iendly plan s –
e lec ing a o es ga den e hos.
4. T ain o cha d leade s
Key olun ee s a e ec ui ed as O cha d Leade s and p o ided wi h a dedica ed
aining session. Each si e ecei es a ailo ed o cha d managemen plan de ailing ca e
equi emen s and ee a ie ies.
5. A e ca e and ongoing suppo
Finally, a e ca e is a co ne s one o he model. The O cha d P ojec e u ns in he second
and hi d yea s a e plan ing o deli e p uning and main enance wo kshops, ensu ing
ees es ablish success ully. In his way, e en i he o iginal communi y g oup dissol es, he
o cha ds ha e he bes chance o su i ing. The O cha d P ojec also uns an o cha d suppo
p og amme, seasonal webina s and newsle e s o main ain engagemen and p o ide
ongoing ad ice.
Communi y in ol emen
...is in eg al a e e y s age – om he o cha d design o i s signage c ea ion, which o en
in ol es child en o local a is s. The model is lexible, adap ing o he needs and p io i ies o
di e en landowne s, including local au ho i ies and schools, and occasionally esponding o
eques s om councils o ins i u ions.
Ul ima ely, The O cha d P ojec ’s model is abou c ea ing esilien , mul i unc ional and low-
main enance g een spaces ha a e co-managed by communi ies, en iching bo h hei sense o
place and he u ban ecosys ems hey’ e pa o .
A model we can lea n om
Find ou mo e abou The O cha d P ojec
Websi e: heo cha dp ojec .o g.uk
Ins ag am: ins ag am.com/ heo cha dp ojec
Facebook: acebook.com/WeA eTheO cha dP ojec /
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/ he-o cha d-p ojec -cause-l d
3332
2. Co-design wo kshop
4. T ain o cha d leade s
Expe
guidance
O cha d
design ki
Communi y
mapping
Newsle e s
P uning &
main enance
wo kshops Seasonal
webina s
O cha d suppo
p og amme
Si e
assessmen
Habi a &
biodi e si y
su eys
O cha d
Managemen Plan
Rec ui o cha d
leade s
Communi y In ol emen
1. Ga he in o ma ion
3. Plan ing days
5. A e ca e and
ongoing suppo
3534
Tiny Fo es s
UK-wide, wi h a cen al o ganisa ion ha suppo s independen Tiny Fo es s ac oss
he UK.
G ea ci ies a e g een ci ies: b inging he bene i s o woodlands in o he hea o ou
ci ies and u ban spaces.
A li le di e en o he o he iny aco ns his bookle showcases, Tiny Fo es s is a iny
solu ion by design. The Tiny Fo es s p og amme began in 2020 led by Ea hwa ch
Eu ope, an en i onmen al cha i y, as a collabo a i e expe imen oo ed in he ideas o
u ban g eening, na u e eco e y and communi y engagemen . I was inspi ed by he
Miyawaki plan ing me hod, a way o es ablish woodland on deg aded land de eloped
by Japanese bo anis D . Aki a Miyawaki. This me hod has been backed by o he
o ganisa ions, including The T ee Council, T ees and Design Ac ion G oup, and se e al
local au ho i y ee managemen eams.
Al hough he Tiny Fo es s p og amme is coo dina ed by an ENGO, each indi idual Tiny
Fo es is eques ed, es ablished and nu u ed by a local communi y and/o landowne .
Tiny Fo es s seek o eplica e dense, biodi e se o es ecosys ems in small u ban
plo s, in ol ing communi ies a e e y s ep o design, deli e y and ongoing ca e. Any
gi en communi y o landowne who would like o g ow a iny o es can each ou o
Ea hwa ch and make i happen oge he . They can be cul i a ed on a 200m2 plo –
which is abou he size o a ennis cou and, in o es e ms, e y small! This means
you don’ need much land o g ow a Tiny Fo es , making i an appealing model o
landowning o ganisa ions.
Loca ion
Vision
Tiny aco n
Despi e ini ial unknowns abou how ecologically success ul Tiny Fo es s would be in
he UK, he idea i sel has gained a lo o in e es and ac ion. Since he p og amme
s a ed, Tiny Fo es s deli e y eams ha e emb aced a lea ning-by-doing e hos, whe e
each p ojec con ibu es new lea ning abou how bes o g ow a Tiny Fo es , as well
as an awa eness o he many ecological and social ou comes hey p o ide. Funding
cons ain s ha e shaped he p og amme ajec o y, bu Tiny Fo es s emains commi ed
o e ining i s app oach and expanding i s each o mo e communi ies and places.
Pu ing down oo s
Today, Tiny Fo es s emains ocused on plan ing new and main aining exis ing Tiny
Fo es s by wo king collabo a i ely wi h communi y g oups in neighbou hoods.
The o es s a e designed no only o suppo u ban biodi e si y bu also o se e as
accessible g een spaces o communi ies, pa icula ly in a eas o highe dep i a ion.
Wi h almos 300 Tiny Fo es s plan ed and a g owing ne wo k o 900+ olun ee s,
Tiny Fo es s show how small-scale, communi y-led g eening can ans o m u ban
landscapes. Despi e challenges in unding and capaci y, he Tiny Fo es p ojec
con inues o g ow, o e ing a eplicable, inclusi e app oach o u ban na u e es o a ion
and clima e esilience.
Migh y oak
Pa ne ship is absolu ely key o how you deli e hese kinds o p ojec s. No one
o ganisa ion knows e e y hing. The pa ne ship wi h Ea hwa ch has been eally qui e
ex ao dina y because we ha e a scien i ic app oach o how we ope a e and Ea hwa ch
is able o c ea e a communi y connec ion o ha .”
Alas ai Collie , A Heal hie Ea h
[I li e in] a e y unde p i ileged a ea. Locally, we ha e people who don’ ha e hei
own ga dens. So ha ing access o some g een space nea by ha is local, easily
accessible, is jus so hugely impo an o people’s wellbeing, o socialising, o
gi ing you ha oppo uni y o check on he ees and o be connec ed o na u e.”
Ma ia, a Tiny Fo es T ee Keepe based in No h London
“
“
The Miyawaki me hod, adap ed by Tiny Fo es s, is a compac , high-densi y app oach o
woodland c ea ion designed o u ban en i onmen s aimed a c ea ing closed canopies and
accele a ed ee heigh s. I in ol es plan ing app oxima ely 600 na i e ees in a 200m² a ea.
The goal is o ec ea e he laye ed s uc u e o na u al woodlands, including canopy, sub-
canopy, unde s o y and sh ub laye s, os e ing ich biodi e si y and ecological esilience.
Each Tiny Fo es begins wi h someone – usually a landowne o local communi y ac ion g oup
– aking he ini ia i e o eques a Tiny Fo es . I can ake some ime o nego ia e unding and
land a angemen s, bu once hey a e in place, se e al p ac ical s eps a e ollowed:
1. Soil es ing and p epa a ion: de e mines compac ion, ex u e, pH, and nu ien le els.
Soil is hen de-compac ed and en iched wi h compos , manu e, and s aw o imp o e
ae a ion and wa e e en ion.
2. C ea ing a plan ing plan: plan s and ees a e selec ed so ha i g ows canopy co e ,
unde s o y, sh ubs and g ound co e . Species selec ion is in o med by local condi ions
and nea by semi-na u al woodlands, ensu ing ecological compa ibili y and su i al. A
simple plan ing plan may include benches o ou doo class oom a eas.
3. A communi y ee plan ing day: whe e ees a e plan ed densely and andomly o
mimic na u al g ow h pa e ns. B inging oge he esiden s, school pupils and s a , and
o he olun ee s, hese days os e a sense o sha ed owne ship and connec ion o he
young Tiny Fo es .
4. Rec ui men o T ee Keepe s: usually happens du ing he communi y ee plan ing
day. These a e he key olun ee s who will ake on leade ship oles o con inue communi y
engagemen and moni o he Tiny Fo es ’s heal h and de elopmen o e ime.
5. Communi y in ol emen : Local communi ies a e in ol ed a all s ages o Tiny Fo es
de elopmen , including si e selec ion, o es design and ongoing s ewa dship. Despi e
limi ed esou ces, Tiny Fo es ’s paid s a eam os e s pa icipa ion h ough newsle e s,
seasonal ac i i ies and e en s like Disco e y Days. On an ongoing basis, T ee Keepe s and
o he olun ee s suppo ca e and main enance, de elop ci izen science su eys abou
biodi e si y ca bon s o age and lood mi iga ion, and o ganise communi y e en s based a
he Tiny Fo es .
To ensu e he bene i s o Tiny Fo es s a e sha ed wi h communi y membe s, Tiny Fo es s
a e ypically plan ed in public o school-owned spaces, wi h a ocus on a eas o low g een
in as uc u e and high dep i a ion. Collabo a ion wi h councils, schools, landowne s and
unde s helps o secu e new plan ing si es, which usually in ol e a 10-yea enu e ag eemen .
Fo es designs o en include class oom a eas o benches o encou age use as communi y
spaces, and o widen access, Tiny Fo es s ha e s opped using ga es. The cen al p og amme
eam collec s eedback om communi ies o lea n lessons and in o m ongoing design
imp o emen s, including sea ing adjus men s and po en ial pa hways h ough o es s.
O e all, he success o he Tiny Fo es model lies in i s adap abili y, posi i e ecological impac
and social alue.
A model we can lea n om
Find ou mo e abou Tiny Fo es s
Websi e: ea hwa ch.o g.uk/p og am/ iny- o es
Ins ag am: ins ag am.com/ea hwa cheu ope
Facebook: acebook.com/ea hwa cheu ope
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/ea hwa cheu ope/
YouTube: you ube.com/channel/UCcV271W7TPqy55zS _7gi Q
Tiny Fo es Moni o ing Repo 2024
Ge in ouch wi h hem di ec ly: iny o es @ea hwa ch.o g.uk
The T ee Council ha e made his ilm explaining he Miyawaki me hod
and encou aging o he s o use his ee plan ing app oach.
37
36
1. Soil es ing
and p epa a ion
3. A communi y
ee plan ing
day
2. C ea ing a
plan ing plan
Communi y in ol emen
4. Rec ui men
o T ee Keepe s
Common g ound
38
G owing he u ban
o es oge he
F om iny aco ns, migh y oaks uly do g ow. The s o ies in his bookle show
how small, local ac ions can blossom in o powe ul mo emen s o change a a
neighbou hood, ci y o e en na ional scale. Whe he i ’s plan ing a single ee, s a ing
a communi y o cha d, o ans o ming a o go en pa ch o land in o a h i ing
woodland, each ini ia i e began wi h a spa k o passion and a hand ul o commi ed
people. O e ime, hey’ e become pa o a mo emen which is g owing and ca ing o
he u ban o es all o e he UK. Whils he eigh p ojec s highligh ed he e di e in size,
shape and se ing, hey sha e some powe ul common g ound.
39
Communi y leade ship and collabo a ion
A he hea o e e y p ojec is communi y leade ship. Local people saw a need, ook ac ion, and
in i ed o he s o join hem. Many began in o mally wi h a ew neighbou s, a school g oup, o a
conce ned esiden . They g ew h ough collabo a ion wi h councils, cha i ies, landowne s and
o he o ganisa ions.
Na u e o e e yone
These p ojec s o en ocus on a eas wi h limi ed o less-biodi e se g een spaces, ensu ing ha
he bene i s o ees and na u e a e sha ed mo e ai ly. They p io i ise inclusion, making space o
e e yone – om school child en and NHS pa ien s o communi y membe s who ha e no p io
olun ee ing expe ience – o ge in ol ed and eel connec ed o he ees hey ca e o and o
each o he .
Educa ion and empowe men
These p ojec s go a beyond simply plan ing and looking a e ees: hey help people o
build knowledge, skills and con idence. Whe he i ’s lea ning how o p une apple ees, leading
communi y engagemen e en s, o pa icipa ing in ci izen science biodi e si y su eys, hese
p ojec s empowe o dina y people o be e unde s and, ca e o and ad oca e o u ban ees.
S ewa dship and connec ion
Long- e m ca e is buil in o each model h ough s ong olun ee and coo dina ion ne wo ks
which co e he li espan o ees. These include communi y ee nu se ies, gua dianship schemes
and seasonal e en s. The p ojec s celeb a e he many ways people al eady ela e o ees
and na u e and deepen hese connec ions h ough c ea i e ac i i ies like poe y walks, a s
wo kshops, s o y elling and spi i ual p ac ices.
Ac ion o e expe ise
Looking a e he u ban ees a ound you can be joy ul, healing and communi y-building. E en
he smalles spaces – alleyways, hospi al g ounds, school playg ounds – can become ha ens
o wildli e and people alike. You don’ need o be an expe , ha e lo s o money o own land o
make a di e ence. The e’s no single “ igh ” way o s a . Wha ma e s is ha you begin.
F om iny aco ns o
shows us ha cul i a ing u ban o es s, edible
landscapes and o cha ds isn’ jus abou inc easing
ee co e . I ’s abou people c ea ing places ha eel
ali e, beau i ul, welcoming
and ull o possibili y.
Toge he , we eally can g ow he u ban o es –
one ee, one pa ch, one neighbou hood a a ime.
So, wha nex ?
I you’ e eeling inspi ed, you may al eady be buzzing wi h
ideas, so we encou age you o s a explo ing how o pu
hem in o ac ion. I you’ e unsu e, he e’s some places o s a :
• Join a local ee gua dianship scheme o communi y o cha d
• S a a con e sa ion wi h neighbou s o you local council abou
ees in you neighbou hood
• Use he links in his bookle o ind suppo and esou ces o s a
some hing whe e you li e
• Plan a ee, a end a walk, o olun ee a a simila p ojec nea you
– communi y g oups who ca e abou u ban ees a e e e ywhe e!
S a small, sha e you ideas and connec wi h o he
people along he way.
migh y
oaks
40 41
‘‘
”
Who p oduced his bookle and why?
This bookle was p oduced by esea che s in he ExCASES eam, pa o he Na u al
En i onmen Resea ch Council unded RENEW p ojec , a collabo a ion be ween he
Uni e si y o Exe e and he Na ional T us . I sha es insigh s om he esea ch mission
‘Cul i a ing communi ies who ca e o u ban ees’, which in es iga ed how biodi e si y
enewal was being ac ioned h ough communi y-d i en, na u e-based app oaches in
u ban spaces.
Websi e: enewbiodi e si y.o g.uk/u ban- ees
© 2025. This wo k is openly licensed ia CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
This wo k was suppo ed by he Na u al En i onmen Resea ch Council unded Changing he
En i onmen p og amme’s p ojec ‘Renewing biodi e si y h ough a people-in-na u e app oach
(RENEW)’ (NE/W004941/1)
Au ho : Cla e Bissell
Ci a ion: Bissell, C., Twena, M., Ai chison, B., Ba in, D., C owley, S. L., Hea d, M.S. (2025).
F om iny aco ns o migh y oaks: inspi ing s o ies o communi y ac ion o he UK’s u ban o es .
RENEW.
Design and Illus a ions: Xan hia Hallissey
