Seeing the forest for the trees? An exploration of the Miyawaki forest method in the UK

The “Miyawaki forest” is described as a dense, fast-growing and biodiverse native forest. It is based on afforestation management methods pioneered by Dr Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s. The “Miyawaki Forest method (MFM)” relies on intensive ground preparation and dense tree planting from the onset, a system that claims to enhance tree growth and be biologically richer than other afforestation techniques. Applied in urban environments, it claims to reconnect people with nature and enhances human wellbeing. It has recently been introduced in Western countries culminating in hundreds of recent MFM tree planting projects in the UK dating from 2020 onwards. However, there is very little accompanying research investigating how feasible and applicable MFM is in the UK context. This paper addresses this gap by ascertaining the knowledge of, and attitudes towards, MFM of a small sample of professionals and practitioners (n = 12). The results showed how those opinions varied on the potential of applying the method in a temperate climate. Half the interviewees supported using MFM in practice and there was broad support for its application in specific urban landscapes, including school playgrounds and pocket parks. Cost was seen to be an important factor with perceived high initial costs and high tree mortality through competition. Interviewees did not consider MFM to be feasible in rural areas. Interviewees agreed that the MFM could be useful for ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and storage, flood management and connecting people to nature, but they also called for more, and longitudinal, research into the method to fully understand its suitability in the UK.