During what has been a difficult and unprecedented time for everyone, Barking and Dagenham Council wanted to recognise the incredible work local NHS staff and keyworkers have done, and continue to do during the pandemic. To celebrate them, the council created a ‘Forest of Thanks’ at Parsloes Park in Dagenham.
The council partnered with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) who work across the UK to create healthier and happier communities, SUGi Projects, an international organisation specialising in urban rewilding, the Natwest Group who kindly donated all the trees for planting and the Thames Chase Community Forest
Planting, led by the council’s Ranger Services team started on 23 November and was completed during National Tree Week, 28 November – 6 December. There will now be opportunities for residents to help further with the planting next year, when it is safe to do so.
We wanted to recognise those individuals in a very special way and one that would benefit the local community. The ‘Forest of Thanks’ will be there for a long time to show our appreciation for all the incredible work they continue to do.
The project included planting 28,000 native trees and shrubs, with a further 4,000 being planted in the new year by volunteers, following a new planting method called Miyawaki, which establishes a forest up to 30 times more dense than conventional tree planting. It also grows 10 times faster than regular forests and is a chemical and fertiliser free forest that sustains itself once established and supports local biodiversity.
Just four years after planting, the ‘Forest of Thanks’ will deliver benefits including:
- Absorb 24,000 kg of carbon: up to 30 times better absorption compared to other tree-planting schemes
- Show a huge increase in Biodiversity
- Process 1,500,000 litres of rain
- Improve air quality by reducing polluting floating particulates by up to 10%
- Up to 30 times better noise reduction compared to other tree-planting schemes
When completed, the ‘Forest of Thanks’ will be the largest Miyawaki Forest in the UK and Europe. A garden/meadow of remembrance will be incorporated within the ‘Forest of Thanks’ at a later date to commemorate residents who lost their lives to Covid-19 during the pandemic.
Council Leader, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “With what has been an extremely difficult time for our residents people across the world, it is important that we recognise the sacrifices of those who work in the NHS, our keyworkers and others who have consistently gone above and beyond to help those who need it most.
“We wanted to recognise those individuals in a very special way and one that would benefit the local community. The ‘Forest of Thanks’ will be there for a long time to show our appreciation for all the incredible work they continue to do.”
Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement said: “This is such a beautiful way of expressing our thanks to our local NHS staff and keyworkers who throughout this pandemic, worked with resilience and compassion, during what has been a difficult time for our community. The ‘Forest of Thanks’ will be a wonderful addition to our borough’s green spaces and a place our residents will visit for years to come.”
Cllr Andrew Achilleos, Member Champion for Climate Change said: “The ‘Forest of Thanks’ is an incredibly positive project. This is the perfect way to pay tribute to our NHS and keyworkers, delivering a wide range of benefits for the community and the environment. The method of planting used improves air quality by capturing 30 times the carbon dioxide of traditional methods, it grows faster, and greatly boosts biodiversity.”
If residents wish to help plant this new forest, when it is safe to do so, or for more information about the ‘Forest of Thanks’, they can email rangers@lbbd.gov.uk.