A tennis court sized ‘tiny forest’ has been created at a sports ground in Haringey, London, following a cross-sector partnership involving Tarmac Keir Joint Venture (TKJV), which is part of construction form Keir Group.

The firm has linked up with environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, Transport for London and the London Borough of Haringey to plant and care for the area.

The ‘tiny forest’ aims to create a diverse habitat for pollinators and other wildlife and is open to the public.

It involves the planting of 600 trees “densely packed to promote forest development without the need for chemicals or fertilisers”, said Keir Group.

It is also being used by local schools and the community to learn about the environment.

Through the partnership TKJV, which maintains roads in the area, pledged £4,000 towards the project and its staff are using their company volunteer days to maintain the forest.

“Our teams have enjoyed working in collaboration with our partners to bring this fantastic project to life, which will no doubt have a positive impact on the community for years to come,” said TKJV contract director John Coombes.

Earthwatch Europe project manager Georgina Sturgeon added: “This tiny forest shows that green spaces don’t have to be vast to make a big difference.

“It’s been wonderful to have local schools and people from the wider community join us to plant and care for this Tiny Forest. Helping the trees take root and monitoring them as they flourish creates a very special connection with the forest and the wildlife that call it home.

“Tree planting initiatives like Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with nature and supporting local biodiversity. We look forward to seeing this forest thrive and being enjoyed by the local community for generations to come."

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