by Doug McEvoy
On Sunday 2 March, 30 or so volunteers gathered to measure and compare plant growth and biodiversity in two new “pocket forests” that were planted last September in the wetland area of Victoria Park/ Pakapakanthi (Park 16).
One Victoria Park “pocket forest” was planted using standard horticultural methods (control), the other used the Miyawaki technique (intensive soil preparation, dense planting).
After 6 months it seemed to the naked eye that the plants had grown quicker in the Miyawaki pocket forest than in the control pocket forest. But to be sure, careful comparative measurements were needed.
The extensive plant, insect and soil data collected by the citizen science volunteers on March 2 are currently being analysed, with results eagerly awaited. They will help decide whether the Miyawaki method has the potential be more widely applied in Adelaide to enhance urban biodiversity.
The South East City Residents Association (SECRA) and the Green Pakapakanthi volunteer team gratefully acknowledges the financial support from SA Power Networks which made this latest Miyawaki project possible, and for the ongoing support from Earthwatch (for the Citizen Science), private donors and Green Adelaide.
All photos above: Andy Blanc and Tim Mares.
An earlier version of this article, and all pics were originally published on the Green Pakapakanthi Facebook page.
