A large open space on the eastern side of Willans Hill in Kooringal has become home to Wagga Wagga City Council’s first two ‘tiny forests’, as part of a creative new initiative involving Council’s Environment and Parks and Gardens teams.
Two garden beds were constructed in the Wilks Avenue park in August and September and planted out with 21 different native species that are expected to grow into compact patches of native bushland over coming years.
Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer, Catherine Conroy says tiny forests have been springing up in suburbs across Australia, and now it is Wagga Wagga’s turn to try the planting method, developed by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, in the 1970s.
“We’ve put in just over 500 plants in the two new gardens beds in the park, close to the existing nature corridor of Willans Hill, with Council’s Tree crew facilitating the initial tree planting and implementation of the design,” Ms Conroy said.
“We’ve been excited to have some local planting heroes involved in the initiative, from the Kooringal High School Enviro Group, Sturt Public School and Community Corrections, who’ve helped with the planting and mulching of the Tiny Forests.
“Each garden bed is about 500m2, so the planting rate is quite dense – the resulting plant competition should see the forest establish 10 times quicker than a traditional forest.
“Hopefully, it won’t be long before we have a tiny but mighty patch of bushland to provide additional habitat for wildlife and a cool place for residents to sit and immerse themselves in nature, enjoy the view and get to know their neighbours.”
Tree guards have been installed around all the plants to create a nurturing micro-climate for the young plants, while the garden border is made of coir logs (coconut fibre) which will break down within three years and be replaced by a Poa species border planted on the inside of the coir logs.
Tiny forests are a positive initiative that help address the objectives of both the Wagga Wagga Urban Cooling Strategy 2022-2052 and the Wagga Wagga Biodiversity strategy 2030: Maldhangilanha, said Ms Conroy.
“These power pockets of native vegetation have broad benefits to the environment and our community,” she said.
“As these plants grow, they increase shading that lowers urban temperatures, improve soil health, support biodiversity and local wildlife by creating habitat and corridors for birds and other animals, slow water runoff and enhance the neighbourhood.”
