Dagenham, LONDON, UK

Castle Green Forest

An urban forest to mitigate pollution and bring biodiversity.

The forest will act directly on its local environment. This area is heavily polluted and an urban biodiversity desert. The denseness of the Miyawaki method allows maximum potential Co2 drawdown and pollution mitigation. The trees chosen will also be the ones that have evolved to live and even thrive in the urban environment.

Forest Maker James Godfrey-Faussett

1,400

TREES

400

SQUARE METERS

NATIVE SPECIES

The site of Castle Green Forest in Dagenham, London, UK

The pocket forest after 1 year growth

“The Castle Green forest is an example of bringing an urban forest right into the heart of where they are needed most. This area is heavily polluted and lacking biodiversity. The dense forest will go some way to mitigating airborne pollution and provide a peaceful haven for biodiversity to set up home and thrive among the urban sprawl.”

— James Godfrey-Faussett, SUGi Forest Maker

Forest Report: 1 Year

DATE: 21.09.2022

Survival Rate: 92%

Average of Tallest 3 Trees: 150cm

Castle Green Forest is thriving at 1 year old and is bringing a visible change to this former biodiversity desert. It is a dense pocket of bright green in the heart of Castle Green park. The sounds of bugs and birds can be heard as you stand by the forest, a welcome counterbalance to the busy traffic of the Ripple road nearby.

The forest is demonstrating its resilience after the summer drought. Mulching thickly (with both willow mulch and straw) has benefited the forest and helped reduce the stressful effects of the summer heat of 2022.

Several species are doing particularly well - including dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), wild cherry (Prunus avium) and dog rose (Rosa canina). The tallest species currently is the elder (Sambucus nigra), with a girth of 30mm.

Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Biodiversity Notes

Numerous ladybirds (Coccinellidae) have been seen. Various types of mushrooms have been observed too - mushrooms are the fruit of underground fungal hyphae forming and a sign of important initial fungal colonisation in the soil.