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Miyawaki Mini-Forests

First Two Miyawaki Mini-Forests Ever in Bellingham Planted by WMTP and Partners

WMTP Successes to Date

WMTP has partnered or led the development of the first two Miyawaki mini-forests established locally, in fact the first two north of the Seattle area.

PAGE CONTENTS

Introduction
About the Miyawaki Method
Scramble Miyawaki Mini-Forest at Barkley Village
WWU Miyawaki Mini-Forest
Future Miyawaki Mini-Forests
Volunteer Opportunities
Related Links/Resources

Introduction

Whatcom Million Trees Project has been spearheading the development of Miyawaki mini-forests in Bellingham. To date, WMTP has partnered or led the development of the first two Miyawaki mini-forests established locally:

— Scramble Miyawaki Mini-Forest at Barkley Village
— WWU Miyawaki Mini-Forest

Click either link above to jump to that project.

About the Miyawaki Method

The Miyawaki method was developed by botanist Akira Miyawaki in Japan in the 1980s. It mimics how a healthy forest grows by planting many native climax species closely together in loose, rich soil.

Like a naturally generated forest, Miyawaki mini-forests have five main layers: tall trees, small trees, shrubs, low plants, and healthy/fertile soil. Although the planted seedlings are initially small, the mini-forest will grow at an accelerated rate compared to a typical reforestation planting due to the amended soil and competition for sunlight, both of which mimic healthy forest floor conditions.

Locally-adapted Miyawaki mini-forests are thriving in cities throughout the world. The method is especially ideal for tight urban sites and can be as small as eight parking spaces! Nooks and crannies of schools/campuses, religious facilities, public spaces, and commercial sites can all be great places for mini-forests. Even the backyard of a home!

Key Benefits of a Mini-Forest

Trees in a Miyawaki mini-forest, like trees elsewhere in a city, provide oxygen, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity support. Mini-forests also help to:

Cool/shade the area from extreme heat
Reduce rain runoff, flooding, and erosion
Filter pollution from urban air and water
Capture atmospheric carbon
Improve people’s health & well-being
Create a desirable urban destination for families to enjoy, connect with, and learn more about nature.

Scramble Miyawaki Mini-Forest at Barkley Village

Photos Credit: Mataio Gillis/Talbot Group

Barkley Village is an ideal location for a mini-forest. Thousands of Bellingham residents live within or nearby, work and shop in the urban village and recreationally enjoy its many outdoor amenities.

Funded by a grant from the Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program, WMTP worked closely with Talbot Group (the owner/developers of Barkley Village) to locate and establish the mini-forest.

Our 3,500 square foot mini-forest site is located immediately west of the popular and unique Scramble Nature Playpark. Map/directions. An adjacent Greenway trail interconnects it with virtually all of Bellingham.

On April 26th, 2025 (during Earth Week) and over the following weekend, dozens of WMTP volunteers planted 800 seedlings at the site (See above photos.). We also created an interactive, family-oriented interpretive sign for the site (shown below), which will be installed and viewed from the edge of the Playpark.

Scramble Miyawaki Mini-Forest interpretive sign at Barkley Village, Bellingham | Whatcom Million Trees Project

Click here to view a larger version.

To learn more about this project, soon we will post here an interactive story map. (Stay tuned to its release by subscribing to our free monthly newsletter!)

WMTP staff and volunteers/residents will monitor and care for the mini-forest for several years. Irrigation is installed to regularly water the site. Eventually the site’s deer fencing will be removed.

WWU Miyawaki Mini-Forest

After months of coordination with City of Bellingham Parks & Recreation Department and Western Washington University’s L.E.A.D. student environmental group, on Earth Day 2023 over 170 volunteers from us all teamed up to plant the region’s first Miyawaki mini-forest.

This site is located in the Sehome neighborhood at the corner of Billy Frank Jr. Drive and E. Ivy Street on the northwest corner of the WWU campus. Map/directions.

More than 900 trees and understory plants were planted. Some volunteers that day also removed Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, and other non-native plants in the adjacent Sehome Hill Arboretum to help the survival of mature trees there.

Following the work party, WMTP led the design team that created an interpretive sign (shown below). We then secured necessary agency approvals, bids, and coordinated with A1DesignBuild to install the sign as part of a peaceful kiosk/bench in the middle of the Miyawaki mini-forest that they developed.

WWU Miyawaki Mini-Forest Interpretive sign | Whatcom Million Trees Project

Click here to view a larger version.

Eventually the mini-forest will be expanded northward and the kiosk trail through the site will become a convenient path to/from campus for students and neighbors. This will increase people’s enjoyment of the Miyawaki mini-forest even further.

Future Miyawaki Mini-Forests

Mini-forests are a valuable, compelling way to efficiently boost urban forest canopy. We are actively exploring additional Miyawaki mini-forest project possibilities within Bellingham and the broader Whatcom County.. Subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter for the latest mini-forest news!

Volunteer Opportunities

• Know of a small, publicly-accessible site that might be a good candidate for another Miyawaki mini-forest? Please contact us!

• Want to volunteer in a WMTP work party? Meet other tree-lovers, enjoy fresh air, have fun, and contribute to a cool project and important cause? Please join our work party contact list!