Edge Hill University Plants Miyawaki Micro-Forest to Boost Biodiversity
Edge Hill University has strengthened its commitment to environmental conservation by planting a Miyawaki micro-forest on its Ormskirk campus. This dense, rapid-growth ecosystem will serve as a permanent biodiversity hub, representing a significant step in the university's ongoing mission to achieve a sustainable and carbon-conscious future.
Collaborative Effort for a Greener Campus
Staff from the Corporate Sustainability and Grounds teams, along with students from the Department of Biology, are collaborating with Lancashire County Council (LCC) and the Tree Council to create this small but perfectly formed forest along the picturesque Trim Trail. Micro-forests are tiny, fast-growing, ultra-dense, and highly biodiverse native forests, typically no larger than a tennis court.
Keziah Stott, corporate sustainability manager, stated: "This small plot really will make a big difference to biodiversity. The micro-forest is Edge Hill's latest contribution to sustainability, supporting the creation of new habitats and in turn our Biodiversity Action Plan."
Ground Preparation and Planting Process
The ground was specially prepared for the project, with soil cultivated to a depth of about 30cm and combined with an organic growing medium. This preparation creates ideal growing conditions for young trees, allowing them to thrive in a warm, well-drained, aerated soil rich in nutrients and fungi.
Dr. Anne Oxbrough, head of Biology, added: "Students from our department were keen to help prepare the ground and plant the new vegetation. We're all really excited to watch our new micro-forest grow, and the plot will really help bring to life the topics our students are studying."
Environmental Benefits of the Micro-Forest
As approximately 850 young trees, known as whips, grow, they will provide multiple environmental benefits:
- Pump out oxygen and capture harmful particle emissions in their canopies, offsetting carbon emissions from campus and local sources.
- Mediate extreme weather by casting shade in summer and acting as a windbreak during storms.
- Abstract water during the growing season, reducing the risk of waterlogging and localized flooding.
This micro-forest, part-funded by Biffa, the university's waste management partner, returns a plot of grassland to its original woodland status to improve local air quality and boost biodiversity.
Edge Hill's Ongoing Sustainability Initiatives
This project is the latest in a series of efforts by Edge Hill University as it progresses toward a more sustainable future. The university campus has been recognized as one of the country's best green spaces, winning a Green Flag Award annually for the past 14 years. In 2024, the university made a three-year commitment to source all electricity from renewables.
Grounds manager Neil Toner emphasized: "The Grounds team are always keen to contribute and support improving biodiversity and projects in collaboration with students and key stakeholders. This was a real team effort."
