Williamsburg is getting a first-of-its-kind “mini forest” at the end of North 4th Street, near the waterfront.
City Council Member Lincoln Restler’s office has allocated $35,000 to bring the concept to the neighborhood.
What exactly is a mini-forest? Great question. According to a press release from Restler’s office, mini forests (also known as Miyawaki forests, after the Japanese ecologist who developed the idea) are “a small, dense woodland of native trees and shrubs adapted well to the local environment that’s planted and designed to mimic natural forests in a small space.”
Though small in size, mini forests can have a big impact on their surrounding environment. They’re fast growing (up to 10 times faster than other tree collections), making them a great vector for biodiversity and promoting pollinating species of plants. They also help cool down urban areas affected by trapped heat.
“I’m thrilled that we’re bringing the first ever mini forest to Brooklyn!” Restler said in a statement to Greenpointers. “Once completed, the new mini forest in the Northside of Williamsburg will have an outsized impact on our community — by supporting biodiversity, improving air quality, preventing flooding, and beautifying a rundown, underutilized park space. Our office is working closely with the Parks Department to realize this project — and we’re excited to explore ways to replicate it district and city-wide.”
Part of the $35,000 will go towards hiring a gardener to maintain the project. The mini forest, set to be planted in late spring, will be fenced in, with benches placed near it.
Sounds very serene ,can’t wait to visit
Isn’t this just planting trees?
No, Zander, it’s not. Did you read the article?
sure to be destroyed shortly after planting by ding dongs and their dogs
Can we take our shoes off?
lol make sure it won’t smell like dog piss and shit
The Sugi Project, a non-profit that creates pocket forests in urban areas, did something similar on Roosevelt Island. Fencing the mini-forest is probably a good idea to keep dogs from urinating in the planting space. Excited to see this come to fruition!
Great… the rats need more places to hide. Get a clue Restler !
The worst idea it’s going to be a breeding count for the rats and also they should’ve made it into a dog park so that there is more land for the dogs save the money for the bushwick inlet park and citistorage site!!
Waste of funds
Great .. just more green space for the disgusting dog owners of GP and WB to ruin ..
It’s been my dream for years for New York to finally have a real Miyawaki forest. No it is not just another park with trees, nor a place for rats to hide. In fact, it is not a place for people to picnic, nor dogs to run around. It is a botanical miracle where a variety of native plants are planted so close together than instead of competing with each other for nutrients, and space, they actually help each other grow, by a system of shading, anchoring root systems, and self mulching. Other forests can take 20 years to grow, this type pf planting can produce a forest in 2-4 years providing shade, oxygen and an educational opporunity for the kids t learn about native plants. Ok, call me a tree hugger, but I am so excited.
Tree Hugger