MDX students will work with citizen scientists at new North London community Tiny Forests

These new forests in Finchley, each housing around 600 trees, could attract hundreds of animal and plant species within a few years

Middlesex University staff and students will be working with citizen scientists to collect data and monitor tree growth at three new community Tiny Forests in North London.

Hundreds of volunteers including MDX students and local schoolchildren from across Barnet borough recently planted 1,800 trees to create the Tiny Forests in Mutton Brook, Finchley.

The three plots, each housing around 600 trees in an area the size of a tennis court, will provide nature-rich spaces which connect to an existing Tiny Forest and urban wildflower meadow, and it is hoped they could attract more than 500 animal and plant species within the first three years.  The green sites will also serve as a living laboratory for local citizen scientists, coordinated by environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, to harvest data and investigate techniques to promote faster tree growth. 

Each plot will use a slightly different planting system to improve understanding of soil condition, drainage and carbon sequestrations, which relates to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This project is being led by Barnet Council in partnership with Earthwatch Europe and local tech firm Pure Data Centres.

MDX students including from Middlesex Student Union Sustainability Society helped during the community tree planting and graduate and post-graduate students will be carrying out data analysis at the site.

“It was a fantastic experience, connecting with nature and learning about the activities involved in planting trees. The event was not only enjoyable but also stress-relieving. I loved every moment of it, from digging to placing the trees. This was my first experience participating in such a programme, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The sense of community and connection with nature was truly uplifting.”

Aneena Paul, a MSc. Sustainability and Environmental Management student who attended the tree planting

Dr Christophe Viavattene, an Associate Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Middlesex University who also attended, said: “Urban greening is crucial for developing sustainable and resilient cities. Initiatives such as Tiny Forest boost biodiversity and social values. They also provide great opportunities for our Middlesex University BSc and MSc students, in collaboration with Earthwatch Europe, to engage with real-life case studies, learn, research, and reflect on urban sustainability challenges and solutions through their research and sustainable actions.”

The Tiny Forests are part of Earthwatch’s Nature in Cities programme which aims to create greener, healthier cities and improve access to nature-rich spaces in urban areas.

Hannah Davidson, Senior Programme Manager at Earthwatch Europe, said: “The planting of these new Tiny Forests provides an exciting opportunity to explore a variety of elements that can influence the health and growth of the trees. We look forward to monitoring these forests together with citizen scientists and sharing our findings.”

Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure DC, said: “These Tiny Forests will provide measurable ecological benefits, improving air quality, supporting urban biodiversity and creating greener, healthier spaces for our communities.”

The scheme has been funded by Pure Data Centres and its subsidiary A Healthier Earth, while saplings have been provided by A Healthier Earth, which were grown at its ForestFactory® in partnership with Blenheim Palace. ForestFactory® uses innovative farming technologies, such as growing crops in vertically stacked layers, to increase the effectiveness, survival rate and speed of reforestation projects.

For more information about Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc courses at Middlesex University.

Pictures by Earthwatch Europe