School children have helped plant more than 2,000 plants to create a ‘leaf shaped mini-forest’ in Brockenhurst.

A new woodland is being created at the New Forest Showground with the help of pupils from Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School and William Gilpin Church of England Primary School.

The ‘mini-forest’ has been planted as part of a Hampshire County Council Forest Partnership commitment to grow thousands of trees as a permanent reminder of King Charles III’s Coronation.

At the start of planting a mix of nearly 2,500 UK native tree varieties, the school children were joined by staff from the County Council’s Countryside Service, the New Forest Agricultural Show Society, Forestry England and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Councillor Kirsty North, the County Council’s cabinet member for universal services, said: “I want to thank local pupils, teaching staff and volunteers for getting behind this fantastic initiative in Brockenhurst.

“The children have been learning about the environmental value of trees, and even helped to design the woodland which will be planted over several plots in leaf formations."

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In planting, they used a Japanese method - ‘Miyawaki’ - which encourages the plants to grow up to ten times faster than traditional approaches.

Miyawaki applies the principle of planting the type of trees that would normally grow naturally in a specific area – that is without human interference. 

The seedlings are planted at very high densities which replicates the regeneration process that occurs in a natural forest when a clearing in the canopy opens up due to a larger tree falling.

The saplings grow very fast to compete for the light and then natural selection will favour the fastest growing individuals and act to thin out the trees.

The result is a densely packed pioneer forest that grows in 20 to 30 years instead of taking 150 to 200 years.

Denis Dooley, Chief Executive of the New Forest Agricultural Show Society, said: “The mini forests will be a showcase for different native tree species and create a diverse habitat for wildflowers, other plants and wildlife.

“Once completed, the project will form an immersive, educational and wellbeing focused space that will be a real asset to New Park and the wider community."