Castle Green Forest

An urban forest to mitigate pollution and bring biodiversity.

Barking and Dagenham, London, England

Parks

Miyawaki Forest

City

Trees

Square Meters

Native Species

The forest acts directly on its local environment. This area is heavily polluted and an urban biodiversity desert. The denseness of the Miyawaki method allows maximum potential Co2 drawdown and pollution mitigation. The trees chosen are also species that have evolved to live and even thrive in the urban environment.

Forest Maker
James Godfrey-Faussett

Forest Partner

“The Castle Green forest is an example of bringing an urban forest right into the heart of where they are needed most. This area is heavily polluted and lacking biodiversity. The dense forest will go some way in mitigating airborne pollution and provide a peaceful haven for biodiversity to set up home and thrive among the urban sprawl.”
James Godfrey-Faussett, SUGi Forest Maker

Forest Design

Forest Report: 2023

0 Years

Forest Age

Survival Rate

Average of Tallest 3 Trees

A linear forest block facing the main road and on the edge of the park. One or two warrens have been spotted in the middle of the forest planting area - a great sign that this forest is attracting wildlife and providing habitat. In general, all tree species seem to be thriving with potentially some new saplings that have self-seeded in the center of the forest. There is some patchy undergrowth with some bark mulch/hay still showing.

Biodiversity Notes:

Yarrow, dandelions, and various grass species are starting to self-seed among the planted saplings. One purple flower (perhaps Pelargonium/ Geranium sp.) was found on the edge of the forest; it potentially self-seeded from a private garden nearby.

Forest Report: 2022

0 Months

Forest Age

Survival Rate

Average of Tallest 3 Trees

Castle Green Forest is thriving at 1 year old and is bringing a visible change to this former biodiversity desert. It is a dense pocket of bright green in the heart of Castle Green Park. The sounds of bugs and birds can be heard as you stand by the forest, a welcome counterbalance to the busy traffic of the Ripple Road nearby.

The forest is demonstrating its resilience after the summer drought. Mulching thickly (with both willow mulch and straw) has benefited the forest and helped reduce the stressful effects of the summer heat of 2022.

Several species are doing particularly well - including dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), wild cherry (Prunus avium) and dog rose (Rosa canina). The tallest species currently is the elder (Sambucus nigra), with a girth of 30mm.

Biodiversity Notes:

Numerous ladybirds (Coccinellidae) have been seen. Various types of mushrooms have been observed too - mushrooms are the fruit of underground fungal hyphae forming and a sign of important initial fungal colonization in the soil.