Claire Narraway

Tiny Forest | Super Tiny. Super Powerful. Tiny Forest brings the benefits of woodland right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces: connecting people with nature, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing…

You too can get involved and see what wildlife #TinyForest is bringing to your doorstep. Check out our map here: www.tinyforest.earthwatch.org.uk , complete some of the citizen science surveys, and go explore.

🪹 Towerside Crescent Wee Forest had toads, flowering Rowan, ladybirds and their larvae, another bird's nest hidden in the trees, and an Ichneumon wasp.

🦋 Kennedy Drive Wee Forest was a much wetter site and full of flying ants. A juvenile robin joined me, I might have found its nest hidden in the trees, and a Red Admiral landed on my shoulder.

🌱 Maxwell Park Wee forest was probably the tallest - with trees measuring over 6m tall - and lots of self-seeded Ash and Norwegian Maple popping up.

A couple of weeks ago I too visited three Wee Forests in Glasgow. All were planted during the 2021-2022 planting season following the #Miyawaki method of afforestation. I was wowed by how different each were, despite similar tree species and climates.

How Japanese 'tiny forests' are sweeping Scotland Grown using the Miyawaki method, fast-growing miniature forests in the middle of cities can bring surprisingly big benefits for people and the environment.

🌳 🌱 Nature doesn’t need decades to take root — sometimes just a few years and a little space.

That's what Jocelyn Timperley found when she visited some of the growing network of #WeeForests springing up across Scotland, by NatureScot and Earthwatch Europe.

www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

The first article from Hanyu's PhD was published last year entitled 'Seeing the forest for the trees? An exploration of the Miyawaki forest method in the UK' - read it here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

and the Conversation article it inspired here: theconversation.com/japan-style-...

🌳🌳Is this the first UK PhD on #MiyawakiForests?

Congratulations to Hanyu Qi on passing your PhD viva with minor corrections! It was an honour to serve as external examiner and discuss your phenomenal work exploring perceptions of Miyawaki forests among UK forestry professionals & community groups.

Thank you to my wonderful co-authors and the #TinyForest community. If it hadn't been for meeting you and seeing the ways you connect with and value the forests, this article would never have been inspired. 🌿✨

In this piece, we explore how new tree plantings can be supported to grow more than roots and branches — they can grow stories, meaning, and community. All of which are key to helping plantings flourish long term. 🌳💚

What a wonderful gift to come back from holiday to ... 🎁🌱
Our article 'Saplings of significance: Nurturing cultural value of new tree plantings through participatory opportunities' has been published in People and Nature!

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

If your new years resolution is to learn more about biodiversity& citizen science I have just the thing … 3 fully funded PhDs, deadline 8th Jan 👇👇👇

Just over one week left for international applicants to get in touch for this PhD studentship opportunity. #damselflies

Species‐rich old grasslands have beneficial effects on the health and gut microbiome of bumblebees Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

This new study suggests that high-quality old grassland may be particularly good at supporting pollinators because diverse food sources provided by such grassland provide additional health benefits.

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
| Pornon et al. @funecology.bsky.social

Don’t Miss the Boat!🚢

One week left to submit your proposals for the #EUSEA25 Conference!

Set sail into the uncharted waters of #PublicEngagement and #ScienceCommunication. Expect smooth sailing, insights from past voyages and exciting opportunities.

euseaconf.eusea.info

Biological recorders… welcome to Bluesky! Start following UK biological recording accounts through this starter pack.

Suggestions for organisations to add in the comets please!

#BiologicalRecording #NaturalHistory 🧪

go.bsky.app/RboM6sR

Please note that while CENTA studentships are fully #funded, this funding is subject to confirmation from #UKRI

🏘️ Can village ecologies be truly #sustainable in the Anthropocene at the University of Leicester. Build a high-resolution model of a village community’s interactions with its local biosphere and evolve strategies for enhancing biodiversity

🧬 Development of eDNA approaches for monitoring ecosystems by citizen scientists at Uni of Leicester with Prof Celia May.
Develop methods and infrastructure for in-field sequencing of #eDNA by #CitizenScience, improving community ability to assess biodiversity.

🌳 Small and beautiful: Assessing the importance of Miyawaki ‘Tiny forests’ for urban biodiversity at University of Birmingham, with Prof Jon Sadler.
Understand biodiversity patterns across #TinyForest plots, distributed across a gradient of urbanisation.
lnkd.in/emxJkjks

Let's kick off the week with THREE opportunities for Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA) #PhD studentships, focusing on #biodiversity in partnership with #EarthwatchEurope … deadline: 8th January 2025

Durham cathedral in crepuscular winter light

📣 I'm recruiting PhD students for several projects: jonathanpdrury.com/opportunitie... #PleaseRepost

@pmnogue.bsky.social was there anywhere else to bring the Bees of Bensham than Bangkok flower market?!