Earth Day 2024, celebrated as Earth Week in Richmond, provided a high-profile opportunity to showcase ecological restoration through the expansion of a Miyawaki mini forest at a site surrounded by dense residential housing. Leveraging the visibility and community engagement associated with Earth Week, the project highlighted nature-based climate solutions and urban biodiversity in a highly accessible public space.

The project was delivered in partnership with the Garden City Conservation Society and the City of Richmond. Building on an existing 200-square-metre mini forest, the initiative focused on extending and enhancing the site while incorporating increased public engagement and education activities, supported by the City’s extensive promotion of Earth Week programming.

Located within the 136-acre Garden City Lands in the geographic centre of Richmond, the site holds significant ecological and cultural value. Saved from development approximately two decades ago, the lands served as a powerful backdrop for community dialogue around ecological loss, restoration, and long-term stewardship. Through this project, the mini forest became both a living demonstration and a catalyst for addressing the question: how can communities actively mitigate ecological loss while strengthening local resilience and biodiversity?