Two New Miyawaki-style Forests Coming to Uxbridge!

The Township of Uxbridge is proud to partner with the Rotary Club of Uxbridge to announce two new tree planting initiatives implementing the Miyawaki method, which was used to install the first mini forest at the Fields of Uxbridge last year.

A mini forest is a densely planted community of native trees and plants in a small area the size of a tennis court. Pocket forests are smaller, usually the size of a few parking spaces. These forests hold many benefits as they grow up to 10 times faster, sequester carbon dioxide up to 30 times more effectively, and are 20-100 times more biodiverse than conventionally planted forests. To create a pocket forest or a mini forest, the site is prepared by laying down cardboard, spreading compost and mulch, and allowing these materials to settle over the next few months before planting in the fall.

These initiatives build on the success of the original mini forest planted at the Fields of Uxbridge in 2024, the first of its kind in Durham Region.

The first project will see three pocket forests installed at the King Street Parkette (233 King Street West), while the second project will create a new mini forest planted adjacent to the original at the Fields of Uxbridge (335 Durham Regional Road 1).

Site preparation at the King Street Parkette is scheduled for June 21, 2025. Community members interested in volunteering are encouraged to register at: Pocket Forest Site Preparation @ King St Parkette

Site preparation for the Fields of Uxbridge (Phase Two) will follow on July 5, 2025, with registration available at: Mini Forest 2.0 Site Preparation @ Fields of Uxbridge

Tree planting is tentatively scheduled for October 25, 2025 at King Street Parkette, and November 1, 2025 at the Fields of Uxbridge Phase Two site. More details will be made available closer to the planting dates.

The King Street Parkette pocket forest project is supported through funding from Tree Canada and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

The second mini forest at the Fields of Uxbridge is funded by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the Rotary Foundation, and the Rotary Clubs of Etobicoke, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Toronto Eglinton, Uxbridge, Whitby, Whitby-Sunrise, Woodbridge, and York.

Little Forests Durham will be expert consultants in the planning and implementation of both projects, and we are grateful for the generous in-kind contributions of compost and mulch provided by Durham Region and UTS Tree Care.

For more information about this project, please email trails@uxbridge.ca.