A micro wood has been planted in Rother to commemorate the King’s Coronation.
Rother District Council organised the planting thanks to grant funding from DEFRA’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund which was established to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.
The council was awarded £27,149 from the fund to plant micro woods in Battle and Rye.
Planting for the first micro wood took place at Coronation Gardens in Battle on Thursday, February 6.
A total of 11 volunteers from Wild About Battle, Battle Area Green Drinks, environmental consultants Temple Group, and Battle Town Council joined two district council officers and two staff from Idverde, the council’s grounds contractors, to plant the 1,000 trees.
A micro wood, also called a Miyawaki Forest, involves densely planting a variety of native tree and shrub saplings on an area around the size of a tennis court, in a process pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.
This replicates the natural process of forest regeneration, promotes fast growth, increases resilience and reduces the need for ongoing maintenance.
Cllr Kathryn Field, the council’s portfolio holder for environmental and climate strategy, said: “We were delighted to be awarded a grant from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund to fund micro woods in Rother.
“I would like to thank the 11 volunteers and the council staff who worked so hard to plant 1,000 trees in record time to establish the Battle micro wood.
“This micro wood will not only help to tackle climate change in our district but will also provide more habitats for our local pollinator species and other wildlife. I look forward to seeing it flourish and grow.”
The Coronation Living Heritage Fund was established so more trees could be planted in non-woodland locations and close to where people lived, providing a visible and lasting tribute to the King’s Coronation within local communities.
Signage will be erected near the newly planted trees in due course to explain the micro wood concept and to dedicate the site to the Coronation of King Charles III.
The second micro wood is due to be planted on Mason’s Field in Rye in the coming weeks.
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Published: 19th February 2025
