I was passing along one particular neighbourhood following a trail on the north shore, when I came across an intriguing idea called a mini-forest.
What is a mini-forest? According to the info-board beside the enclosure, this is the basic idea:
Inspired by Japanese botanist Akira Miayawaki, mini-forests are natural spaces that offer the biodiversity of a mature forest within a limited area. They are created by planting native trees and shrubs closely together to create a small, diverse forest in an urban landscape.
It also lists the benefits of such a project, which include carbon capture & storage, rain absorption, soil stabilization, food & shelter for animals, and pollution filtration.
I like how motivated this community is in bringing back some of the original looks of the land. As you can see in the photographs, it is a well developed neighbourhood, but it is not very far from mountainous wilderness and rugged terrain.
The mini ecosystem is held together by logs placed around the forest area. It is young and looks sparse, but one day, I imagine, it will be a sight to behold.
