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Learn how to plant a pocket-sized forest in Sooke

Master gardener to share expertise on Miyawaki method for creating ultra-local native ecosystems
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Tiny pocket, called Miyawaki forests, are small scale densely planted native urban forests. Miyawaki forests grow incredibly fast, reaching maturity in 20 to 30 years. (Unsplash)

Cory McInnis | Contributed

Tiny pocket, called Miyawaki forests, are small scale densely planted native urban forests.

Miyawaki forests grow incredibly fast, reaching maturity in 20 to 30 years. This is in stark contrast to traditional forests, which can take 150 to 200 years to mature.

Paula McCormick will discuss Miyawaki forests at the May 22 meeting of the Sooke Garden Club.

Born and raised in the Niagara, Ont. region with family fruit farming and the love of gardening, McCormick is an active member of the Victoria Master Gardener Association and trained at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP).

McCormick works as the school and youth programs coordinator at HCP, developing and delivering programs to help children and their families with plants and nature.

She is also enrolled in the Pollinator Partnerships (PP) Pollinator Stewardship Program and with a grant from PP her project is to create mini/tiny forest on site at HCP. It will be an ultra-small version termed a pocket forest planted with native plant species.

Sooke Garden Club members are welcome to the meeting on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. If you would like to become a member, check out the group’s Facebook page, website sookegardenclub.ca or email Sookegc@gmail.com.

Cory McInnis writes for the Sooke Garden Club.

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