Tiny Forest

Tiny Forest bring the benefits of nature right into the heart of our urban spaces, where it’s needed the most.

Tiny Forest are more than just trees. They are a growing movement that reconnect people with nature, enhance wellbeing, help to mitigate the impacts of climate change and provide habitat for wildlife.

Join the Movement

We’re seeking future focused sponsors and landholders to join the tiny forest movement and help us expand our reach.

Introducing Tiny Forests

  • A tiny forest is a compact, self-sustaining ecosystem approximately the size of a tennis court (200m²)
  • They consists of a densely packed patch of native species growing in enriched, loosened soil.
  • They are based on a planting methodology developed in Japan in the 1970s, by world reowned botanist – Dr Akira Miyawaki and are sometimes referred to as ‘Miyawaki forests’.
  • We work to identify suitable sites for tiny forests in both urban and rural areas to restore nature and help mitigate climate change.
  • We engage local communities, businesses and schools to plant, maintain and monitor their forest over time. The forest reconnects people with nature, provides oportunities for education and raises awareness of climate change.
  • We collect environmental and social data on most of the forests we plant to document their benefits over time and between plantings.

Why Tiny Forests

Population growth is driving land clearing for housing, leading to habitat loss, species extinctions, and worsening the impacts of climate change, such as rising urban temperatures.

Nature-based solutions for urban resilience, such as tiny forests, engage and educate the community in understanding the true value of biodiversity and climate action, and how they can play an important role in contributing to the urban forest.

Program benefits

  • Rapid regeneration
  • High biodiversity
  • Thermal cooling
  • Improved soil health
  • Stormwater mitigation
  • Reduced air and noise pollution
  • Improved community wellbeing and resilience
  • Education and nature connection

This initiative aims to address and the support the following Sustainable Development Goals

Forest Projects

  • Edgeworth School Tiny Forest

    • Edgeworth, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 26/03/2025
    • 1000
    • 400 m2
  • Cedar Brush Creek Tiny Forest

    • Cedar Brush Creek, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 03/11/2024
    • 1100
    • 620 m2
  • Little Hill Grove Tiny Forest

    • Cardiff Heights, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 19/10/2024
    • 700
    • 300 m2
  • St Paul’s Primary School Tiny Forest

    • Gateshead, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 27/09/2024
    • 500
    • 100 m2
  • Tocal Tiny Forest

    • Patterson, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 01/09/2024
    • 1100
    • 350 m2
  • Teralba School Tiny Forest

    • Teralba Public School
    • The Groundswell Collective
    • 07/05/2024
    • 500
    • 192 m2
  • Urban Hum Tiny Forest

    • Cardiff Heights, NSW
    • The Groundswell Collective, Urban Hum
    • 29/10/2023
    • 744
    • 240 m2
  • Lake Mac Tiny Forest

    • Booragal, NSW
    • Releaf Lake Mac
    • 24/05/2023
    • 750
    • 340 m2