Richmond plants its 11th Miyawaki forest at McLean Park

Richmond planted its 11th Miyawaki Forest at McLean Park on Sunday, Sept. 20. Volunteers and organizations including UPS took part in the planting, which was funded by WWF-Canada and the International Tree Foundation in the United Kingdom.

Miyawaki forests use dense plantings of trees, shrubs and perennials to mimic the diversity of a native forest on a smaller scale. Sharon MacGougan, president of the Garden City Conservation Society, said the forests provide environmental and social benefits in urban settings. She said the projects now bring people together as well as supporting birds, wildlife and ecosystems, with people signing up to learn about the forests and plant alongside their children.

Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki developed the method in 1976, planting the first such dense forest near his office at Yokohama University in Japan. Canada’s first Miyawaki Forest was planted in Ontario in 2016, while western Canada’s first was planted at Richmond Secondary in 2022. Similar forests have been planted across Richmond about every six months; the previous one was planted in Terra Nova on April 21, coinciding with Earth Day.