Paul Joly Forest
Bringing life and restoring soul to a newly built development in the Lorraine region.
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Paul Joly’s Forest is an ambitious project in a suburban city south of Metz - 7,200 trees bringing charm and soul back to this newly built park.
The summers in the east of France can be extremely hot and the few trees that were once scattered around the park were not sufficient to resist the heat. We hope that this SUGi Pocket Forest will help to mitigate this - reducing the temperature as well as shielding the view of the road and passing traffic.
The goal of this project is to not only boost biodiversity, reduce the harmful effect of air pollution, noise and excessive heat, but to also bring the community together.
Forest Maker
Nicolas de Brabandère
Forest Partner
Forest Design
City officials have been extremely passionate about this project. So much so that prior to the planting, they conducted extensive research into the archives of the city to learn more about the history of the location. This land was once dedicated to market gardening, on an estate that originally belonged to a renowned family at the time, the Ancillon de Jouy family. Their small "castle" can still be seen a few meters away from the Paul Joly park.
The history of this land presents a welcome opportunity to forge a strong link between the land as it has been handed down to us through the ages, and the land that we want to give to the future generations of the city. These generations will see this same forest in many years to come.
The city officials of Marly were also excited by the idea of recreating the link between the inhabitants through this participatory plantation, to stir in them the desire to invest for the common good, to teach the youngest some simple ancient gestures that connect us to nature.
The project was originally initiated by a group of citizens formed after the first worldwide climate protests. It was called “10,000 trees, 10,000 children". Their hope is to inspire other nearby cities to embark on similar projects.
Forest Report: 2023
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This year, there has been a dominant presence of Achillea millefolium L., with a height ranging from 1 to 1.5 meters. This plant species serves a crucial role as a protective and insulating buffer for humidity, helping to maintain favorable environmental conditions. As such, the decision to keep Achillea millefolium L. in the forest is deliberate, acknowledging its contributions to the ecosystem. We have also noticed the presence of rumex and various grasses, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the area.
The forest has already proven to be resilient and self-sustaining, especially during the summer of 2022, which was the driest in the region for decades. Despite this, the forest did not need to be watered, and still continued to grow well. The growth pattern appears homogeneous, reflecting a balanced and robust ecosystem.
Forest Report: 2022
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Paul Joly Forest is doing really well, after surviving the harshest summer in decades without any watering. With the Seille and the Renaulrupt stream being close to the planting area, the trees were able to access water by capillarity. They did not show any hydric suffering during the year. Growth rate is slower than usual, but overall, the situation is very good. This highlights the resilience of the Miyawaki method.
There was a successful day of maintenance conducted by 50 local people in May 2022. The forest is a real part of the community, with grandparents and their grandchildren now returning to the forest to see the trees they planted.
“The trees that we are going to plant will outlive us and benefit the children of our children. We see this project as an opportunity for the community to rediscover the history of this land and their successive owners, to “feel” the passing of time and raise awareness on our responsibility to protect our environment for the next generations.”
Celine Moguen, Collectif 10,000 Arbres 10,000 Enfants
Planting: October 2021
The Benefits:
Nestled between housing development and a highway, Paul Joly Forest will:
- Work as a sound buffer (traffic).
- Be an air purifier and air cooler.
- Reinforce the identity of the neighborhood.
- Become a meeting place for young and old.
