Flitwick tiny forest planted in tennis court-sized plot

Earthwatch is aiming to plant 500 tiny forests by 2030

A tiny forest of about 600 trees has been planted by a group of volunteers in a tennis court-sized plot.

Residents and schoolchildren planted the trees at Hinksley Road Recreation Ground in Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

A tiny forest is a dense, fast-growing woodland in a space no larger than 200 metres squared.

Central Bedfordshire Council, Flitwick Town Council and the Forestry Commission worked with Earthwatch Europe to establish the forest.

Town mayor Andy Snape described the planting as part of the council's "commitment to improving our environmental impact".

He said: "The plan here is to connect people with nature, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change and also providing a nature-rich habitat to support urban wildlife."

A tiny forest consists of about 600 trees in a space no larger than 200 metres squared

Sophie Haines, a volunteer who battled the wind and rain to plant the trees, said she took part for her children.

She said: "It's somewhere they can come as it grows with them."

• Listen: Volunteers happy to create a tiny forest

The Flitwick resident said she was surprised how many people turned up despite the bad weather and admitted her foot had got stuck in the mud.

"I had to be dug out," she joked.

Volunteers in Flitwick braved adverse weather conditions to plant the tiny forest

It is hoped the forest will be an attractive location for wildlife as well as creating a green space for local people.

According to Earthwatch Europe, tiny forests can also "mitigate the impacts of climate change".

They believe the sites can "create opportunities for people with potentially limited access to nature" so are mostly planted in urban spaces with limited green spaces.

The charity aims to plant a total of 500 of the miniature woodlands by 2030.