Where Can You Plant a Pocket Forest?
SUGi Pocket Forests do not require a huge amount of space – you can plant them almost anywhere, in sites as small as three 3 square meters to 1,000+ square meters.
Even at this size, they fast become a habitat for countless species and offer multiple ecosystem services all at once. These pocket forests are perfect for the fast regeneration of urban areas, and SUGi’s forest makers have transformed school playgrounds, city parks, and urban rivers from grey to green.
Beirut, Lebanon
Back to Play Forests – Armenian Evangelical Central High School
Restoring resilience after the blast.
Following the horrific blast on August 4, 2020, the city of Beirut was left devastated. These micro Miyawaki forests have been planted as part of the rehabilitation of school playgrounds through depaving and reintroduction of green spaces.
We hope that these beautiful forests will help to heal the community through the physical act of planting, educating the students on the different native species, and exposing them to forest ecosystems in the context of highly urbanized Beirut. These forests are not only contributing to the restoration of the schools, but also to a great city still in dire need of regeneration.
We need the forest around us wherever we are, and instead of going out into the wilderness, the Miyawaki method brings the wild to you.
SUGi Pocket Forests can be created at the front door of a community, and the social benefits of this to mental and physical health are as important as the ecological and environmental.
The Miyawaki method is community-based and people-centered and can be used to reclaim and reimagine public space for the benefit of people and the planet. For SUGi founder Elise Van Middelem, it’s all about creating "pockets of hope."
Lambeth, London, UK
Soutbank Centre – Natura Nostra Forest
Giving nature a chance to thrive within the brutalist architecture of London's Southbank Centre.
Located within the iconic Southbank Centre's complex and in connection with Hayward Gallery, this unique project will restore a pocket of native British ecosystem in the heart of London, supporting the wellbeing of both people and planet.
Set to be planted in conjunction with the Hayward Gallery’s international group exhibition ‘Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis’, our pocket forest aligns with the aims of the exhibition by attempting to inspire a deeper emotional connection to nature through rewilding its urban surroundings.
Within a chaotic concrete jungle, the forest will be a restorative and awe-inspiring space for the millions of people who visit London’s Southbank each year.
“Within a forest, biodiversity means balance. Birds control pests, insects pollinate plants, and beneficial fungi keep the trees healthy. Every organism has a role to play, and all these roles interact. And if you build a healthy, biodiverse habitat that can look after itself, it become self-sustaining. You can step away and let nature get to work.”
James Godfrey-Faussett, SUGi Lead Forest Maker
Roosevelt Island, New York, NY, USA
Manhattan Healing Forest
Planting for Resilience.
Nestled along the southern banks of Roosevelt Island, the Manhattan Healing Forest stands as a beacon of hope, offering a haven of tranquility for the almost 12,000 residents amidst the bustling cityscape.
The strong currents of the New York Estuary, aka East River, lap at our shorelines, an ever present reminder of the island’s beauty and vulnerability. As storm surges threaten Roosevelt Island, and flood models paint a concerning picture, Manhattan Healing Forest emerges as a symbol of hope and adaptation. This SUGi Pocket Forest is strategically positioned to stabilize the land and capture water, serving as a living barrier against flooding and erosion, preventing pollutant runoff and enhancing air quality.
