By Isabel Pancake
Tiny oaks, small field maples, rosehips and blackthorns – a nano-sized forest is growing in Berlin-Neukölln! The piece of green measures only twelve square meters, but has a big effect.
The first project has been on Oderstraße since February. Two forests with twelve and 16 square meters respectively. “We plant very young trees that are native to Berlin very close together,” says Tobias Sierig (53) from TinyForestBerlin.
The TinyForestBerlin association has existed since November 2021, but the association only planted the first forest in Neukölln in February Photo: christian lohse
The English term “Tiny Forest” means small forest in German. Strictly speaking, the association plants even tinier forests! Because while Tiny Forests need between 100 and 2000 square meters of space, the Nano Forest grows in areas from ten square meters upwards.
Earth stays loose
The advantage: the groves loosen the soil, absorb heavy rainfall and keep the city cool over the long term. They also provide a home for many insects – and are also cheap. One square meter of Liliput green costs about six euros.
The nano forests also score points compared to city trees and tree disc plantings. “Because the trees are so dense, the ground is protected from foot traffic and sun rays. So it doesn’t become solid and absorbs the water instead of just flowing over it,” says Sierig.
Such a small pedunculate oak is particularly popular with many types of insects Photo: christian lohse
And what if the saplings grow into real trees? “After ten years, it’s just a bush. In 20 or 30 years you will definitely have to remove some trees because they are getting too big,” says the expert. The forests should stand on areas that would otherwise only serve as a dog toilet.
Sierig: “Our goal is that at some point there will be small nano forests distributed throughout Berlin.”