Developed by Japanese botanist Professor Akira Miyawaki, the method reconstructs native woodland by planting a dense mix of locally appropriate species with intensive soil preparation upfront. The result is a forest that grows faster, survives better, and supports more biodiversity than conventional planting — on sites as small as a tennis court.
FAQs
About the Miyawaki Method
Three things set it apart: higher planting density, a richer native species mix, and front-loaded ground preparation. A UK government trial across 16 urban sites recorded 79% tree survival after three years against 47% with conventional methods — including through the 2022 drought. The cost per surviving tree was £10 against £50.
A Miyawaki forest plants up to 30 times more trees per hectare than a conventional plantation, and because they compete for light, they grow up to ten times faster. More biomass, accumulated faster, means more carbon sequestered sooner. A mature native tree sequesters around 20kg of CO₂ per year — in a Miyawaki forest, that process begins earlier and compounds more quickly than standard planting allows. Research from warmer climates records Miyawaki forests sequestering carbon at rates many times higher than conventional broadleaf woodland; the UK figures will be lower, but the directional advantage is consistent. We are working with academic partners to measure our own forests directly.
Faster than you might expect. The same UK government trial recorded trees reaching 15 feet within three and a half years, with planted areas resembling dense established thicket. The density of planting encourages trees to reach for the light, accelerating growth beyond what standard planting achieves.
Every species we plant is native to the UK and selected for the specific site — its soil, geology, and relationship to the surrounding landscape. A typical planting includes 15–20 species. Native species support native insects, which support native birds. The whole food chain follows.
The Miyawaki method was designed for exactly the kind of small urban land that conventional forestry can’t reach. We can plant on a site the size of a tennis court. If you have a patch of ground and want to know whether it’s suitable, get in touch.
Yes – we adapt the approach for rural settings through Miyawaki Lite and Miyawaki Hedgerows. These apply the same principles at lower densities, blending naturally into the surrounding landscape while retaining the core commitment to native species and no monoculture.
A natural forest develops slowly over decades through ecological succession — each species establishing conditions for the next. Miyawaki compresses that process by recreating the conditions of the final stage from the start: dense, mixed, native. The result is woodland structure and biodiversity within years rather than generations.
The opposite. Dense planting mimics what happens when a gap opens in a jungle canopy — everything competes for the light and growth accelerates. The trees support one another through drought and wind, and the competition drives them upward faster than isolated planting ever would.
We deliberately don’t. The saplings are mixed and planted in a random, organic pattern — which suits the biology of this kind of forest. Nature doesn’t follow a grid, and neither do we. The mix and the variety are the point.
The trees grow taller and more slender than conventionally planted specimens — reaching for the light among neighbours. The wood itself is no different in quality. But these forests aren’t planted for timber. They’re planted for canopy, biodiversity, and the long view.
Volunteering
None at all. We walk everyone through the technique before you start — it takes about ten minutes to learn, and most people have the hang of it within the first few trees. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting muddy and bring boots. We’ll provide everything else.
Yes — children take to notch planting immediately and rarely want to stop. We bring species ID sheets so they can learn what they’re planting. Let us know in advance that you’re bringing children so we can make sure the day works well for them.
You arrive to find the site prepared and signed with flags. Our team explains the Miyawaki method and the planting technique, then everyone gets to work. There are printed instruction sheets and species ID guides, fresh herbal tea, and biscuits. The day runs three to four hours and leaves the ground looking completely different.
Through our Eventbrite page, where you’ll also find parking information and practical details for each event. You can also register your interest directly through the volunteer form on this site and we’ll be in touch when a planting near you is scheduled.
Very unlikely. You’ll be handling small, live saplings — not rough timber. If you have sensitive hands or prefer, bring gloves. We have spares on site too.
Completely fine. The ground on a planting day is prepared and relatively forgiving. You might want to rinse your trainers under the tap afterwards, but no one has ever been turned away for their footwear.
They are significantly more concerned about you than you are about them. Planting days don’t involve disturbing nests or digging into anything unexpected. You’ll be putting trees in, not foraging through undergrowth.
Come for an hour and see how you feel. There are other jobs on a planting day too — fitting tree guards, for instance, which is less physically demanding than digging and takes longer than most people expect. Every pair of hands helps.
Yes, through the NHS Green Social Prescribing programme. Ask your GP to refer you to a Social Prescribing Link Worker, who can connect you with nature-based activities — including tree planting and conservation volunteering — as a supported intervention for mental health and wellbeing. Dream for Trees planting days are exactly the kind of activity the programme is designed for.
Getting a forest planted
Get in touch via our contact page. We’ll need to understand the site – its size, soil, and location – and talk through what the planting day would involve for your community. Every forest we plant is different, and we work closely with each site from the start.
We ask all landowners to sign a stewardship agreement before planting begins. The saplings are most vulnerable in their first three years — they’ll need watering during drought and their guards checked and maintained. We stay in touch with every site and advise on aftercare throughout.
Yes. We plant across the UK — schools, universities, community spaces, and rural sites. Recent plantings include sites in Sussex, Hertfordshire, and across London. If you have a site in mind, contact us and we’ll discuss whether it’s viable.
Donating & supporting
A sponsored Legacy Forest — 1,500 native trees with full site preparation and three years of establishment support — costs £8,000. Individual donations of any size go directly into the ground. For context, a UK government trial recorded the Miyawaki method delivering surviving trees at a fifth of the cost of conventional planting. That figure covers soil preparation, native saplings, mulching, and the expertise to establish a forest that will still be standing in a century.
Yes. If you’re a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid allows us to claim an additional 25p for every £1 you donate at no extra cost to you. The donation form on our website handles this automatically.
Yes — we welcome corporate partnerships and have worked with law firms, businesses, and institutions who share our commitment to urban greening. Support can take the form of funding, pro bono expertise, or hosting a planting for your staff and community. Get in touch to discuss.
A named forest planted in your honour or your organisation’s — with signage marking your contribution. It will be growing long after the planting day is forgotten. Contact us to find out what sites are available and what sponsorship involves.
About dream for trees
Yes. Dream for Trees is a registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), charity number 1194456, founded in 2021. We are governed by a board of trustees and our accounts are filed with the Charity Commission.
Directly into planting. Dream for Trees is a small charity with low overheads — your donation funds site preparation, native saplings, and the expertise to establish forests that last. We publish our accounts with the Charity Commission.
Dream for Trees was founded in 2021 by Ben Cooper KC, a barrister specialising in human rights and environmental law, in response to the climate crisis. The charity is governed by five trustees and employs one full-time director.
Volunteer with us
A planting day starts with bare ground and ends with a forest. Between those two things: a community of volunteers — different backgrounds, different ages — working together in the soil. Most come back. Some bring their children. That’s what this is for.