_{Ballinlough Mini-Forest is located The Japanese Gardens, Ballinlough Park.}

_{Ballinlough Tidy Towns sourced native trees for the forest through ‘Trees on the Land’ in September, 2023.}

_{We grew the tree saplings first in our Tree Nursery in October (located in our community garden).}

_{We met with ‘Green Spaces for Health’ and Cork City Council representatives to locate a place in our local park that would be the best possible location for our Mini-Forest.}

_{We needed to make sure that the drainage was suitable, and it would get sufficient light and shelter in order for the trees to establish.}

_{We started preparing the ground in February of 2024.}

_{We measured the area and decided upon the number of trees that we would need.}

_{Ballinlough Tidy Towns members made a fence with a gate so that the area would be marked. We also put up a sign letting residents know what the area would be used for.}

_{We then enlisted the help of local Transition Year students from Douglas Community school to help mulch the area with leaf mould.}

_{We invited members from Nano Nagle’s Lantern Project, local councillors, ‘Green Spaces for Health’, Cork City Council’s Tree Officer and members of St. Anthony’s primary school ‘Green Schools’ committee to plant the 25 native trees on February 28, 2024.}

_{We hope that our Mini-Forest helps increase biodiversity by attracting more birds, insects, plants and animals to the park.}

_{These forests help lower temperatures, provide shade and shelter.}

_{Mini forests mimic the structure of natural forests by planting the trees closely together and also help preserve our native tree stock.}

#Watchusgrow!