Restoring Nature One Tiny Forest at a Time
At first glance, the concept of a tiny forest might seem like a contradiction. But for Anna Noon, it’s a powerful tool for regeneration—of ecosystems, communities, and even hope.
Anna, founder of the not-for-profit The Groundswell Collective and 2024 Lake Macquarie Volunteer of the Year, discovered tiny forests in 2019 during a period of deep personal and societal change. “We’d just lived through the Black Summer bushfires, then the COVID lockdowns began,” she recalls. “I went back to university to study sustainable living because I felt a real urgency to do something. The climate crisis and biodiversity loss were no longer abstract—they were right on our doorstep.”
Living in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional areas, Anna was alarmed by the extent of land clearing in Lake Macquarie. “There was habitat destruction all around us,” she says.
“I started looking into nature-based solutions that were backed by science. That’s when I found the Miyawaki method.”
The Akira Miyawaki Method
Developed in 1970s Japan by botanist Akira Miyawaki, the technique involves planting densely packed native species in carefully improved soil. “It’s incredibly effective,” Anna explains. “These forests grow up to ten times faster than conventional plantings, they’re denser, and they support far more biodiversity.”
Anna describes the ideal site as a patch of barren grass—unused land without overhead powerlines or underground services, and with at least eight hours of sun a day. “We don’t cut down trees to plant trees. These are spaces that have been neglected, and we bring them back to life.”
The process begins with excavating and loosening the soil, then enriching it with compost, straw, and other organic material. The choice of species is critical—only plants indigenous to that exact site are used, based on historical vegetation data and local research. The planting is dense—three to four trees or shrubs per square meter—which encourages competition and speeds up growth.
Maintenance is surprisingly minimal. “We might water two or three times in the first six months, but after that, we let nature take over,” she says. “The forest becomes a closed-loop system, creating its own mulch and managing its own nutrients.”
Costs vary depending on the site and landscaping features—some include pathways, yarning circles, or sculptural elements. Projects typically range between $12,000 and $35,000. Despite the investment, the results speak for themselves. Their first tiny forest, planted in Teralba, Lake Macquarie, is now two years old with trees reaching nine metres in height and a survival rate of nearly 99%. “It’s now a vibrant space for the community. People visit to have lunch, hold workshops, or just enjoy the shade.”
The Groundswell’s success has spread beyond public spaces. Private landowners have commissioned forests too, often moved by environmental concerns and a desire to give back. In Cardiff Heights, two neighbouring properties now host tiny forests, forming an unexpected wildlife corridor.
Scientific monitoring is central to The Groundswell’s approach. Partnering with Earthwatch Australia, they conduct carbon studies, pollinator counts, water infiltration tests, temperature readings, and wellbeing surveys. “We want to know what impact these forests are having—not just ecologically, but socially,” Anna says. “And the results so far are incredibly encouraging.”
The citizen science component has fostered a deep connection between the community and the land. Volunteers help monitor tree growth, even crawling into dense canopies to measure tagged plants. “We didn’t expect them to grow so quickly,” Anna laughs. “They’ve already outgrown our tools.”
“We didn’t expect them to grow so quickly, they’ve already outgrown our tools.”
From Forests to Seeds
Some forests have begun to supply their own seeds, which are returned to local nurseries to grow future generations. “It’s all about closing the loop,” she explains. “These aren’t just one-off projects. They’re becoming part of a living, regenerative system.”
Those curious to learn more—or get their hands dirty—can follow The Groundswell Collective online or sign up to their newsletter. “That’s the best way to hear about planting days and workshops,” Anna says. “We’ve got our biggest project yet coming up—1,500 trees across three plots near the Eraring Power Station, including a creek bed restoration.”
As The Groundswell expands beyond the Hunter region into Orange, and the Central Coast, Anna is still chasing the next site, the next sponsor, the next opportunity to restore. Funding comes from a mix of sources, including private donors, local governments, nonprofit partners like Carbon Positive Australia, and crowdfunding. Each project is unique in its makeup and support.
But the vision remains consistent. “One tiny forest might not seem like much,” Anna admits. “But when you have twenty in a region, and thousands around the world, you start to see how small actions scale into big change.”
There are now over 3,500 tiny forests globally. For Anna, it’s a sign that the movement is not just growing—it’s taking root.
You can listen to the Anna and Dani talking about these tiny forests on the Citizen Science Show Podcast.
