19 February 2021
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The Government, Jersey Trees for Life, Earthwatch Europe and Jersey Electricity have joined forces with Hautlieu School to plant the Channel Islands’ first tiny forest as part of Jersey’s Climate Conversation.
Jersey’s Climate Conversation is a six-week initiative to enable Islanders to consider climate change and contribute to the debate on how Jersey can become carbon neutral.
A tiny forest is made up of densely packed native trees in a limited space. The site at Hautlieu will see 600 species which are native to Jersey planted in an area that is just over 200m2, roughly the size of a tennis court.
Students will begin planting the trees on Monday, 22 February, and they will monitor the tiny forest’s progress and impact closely over the years to come.
Head Groundsman for Jersey Trees for Life, Robin Hart, said: “These tiny forests provide big benefits, they absorb 30 times more carbon-dioxide absorption and they grow five to 10 times faster than regular forests as well as providing vital wildlife corridors.“
Hautlieu Teacher, Leonie Bedward said: “Students from Hautlieu are being taught the importance of sequestration and carbon absorption as part of the International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems & Societies course and these types of citizen science projects really help put learning into practice.“
Eco-Active Programme Manager, Jane Burns said: “The first of our tiny forest projects is a fantastic reminder of the important role that local sequestration plays in achieving carbon neutrality. Their ability to absorb so much carbon is incredibly exciting, and I am looking forward to watching this one flourish.“
Jersey Electricity CEO Chris Ambler said: “Jersey Electricity is hugely committed to sustainability and has been behind a number of planting programmes across Jersey. Partnering with Earthwatch Europe for this project is hugely exciting. They are an independent research organisation who use science to better understand the environmental challenges we face, and to find solutions to these issues. We are keen to understand the benefits of tiny forests in Jersey and are confident that the results seen in other places that have introduced the Tiny Forest concept can be realised in Jersey.”
gov.je