Attleboro, a city of 46,773 in Southeastern Massachusetts, once known as “The Jewelry Capital of the World,” plans to create a Miyawaki pocket forest in O’Connell Field at Capron Park near the High School.

Ocean River Institute summer interns, concerned about the plight of right whales suffering from stormwater pollution and water warmed by urban surfaces, approached Attleboro to create a pocket forest that would have ten times the soil and hold ten times the water of a stand of trees. They were well received by Attleboro’s conservation department and sustainability committee. Attleboro is concerned with stormwater management because property owners suffered damages from fast-flowing water that no longer infiltrates the ground.

Make a donation to buy a tree for Attleboro’s pocket forest.

Akira Miyawaki noticed that the trees near a temple were more lush due to the diversity of species. He also observed that a field takes a hundred years to become a mature forest. A Miyawaki forest is a dense planting of about 35 different woody plant species from all stages of succession, including sumacs and cedars, as well as oaks, maples, and beeches. The roots of these plants merge into fungal strands to form a single mycorrhizal network. Bacteria prepare nutrients and minerals for the plants. Spread across the wood-wide web, whatever one plant cell requests is available to all other plant cells. As a result, there is ten times the growth, ten times the soil depth, and greater water-holding capacity compared to a stand of one tree species. Moisture in the ground not only mitigates the damage caused by stormwater but also makes water accessible for plants and helps recharge rivers during the summer’s dry period.

A recent study found that the world’s soils have lost more water than the volume of Lake Huron. Attleboro is taking action to address climate change by slowing down water flow to enhance plant photosynthesis and prevent forest fires.

Attleboro gains many benefits from a Miyawaki pocket forest. There is rapid growth, reaching full maturity in 20 to 30 years. The dense habitat supports native plants and wildlife, including migrating birds, which enhances biodiversity. Vegetation absorbs pollutants, resulting in cleaner air. Deep soils retain more water; four inches of soil can hold seven inches of rainwater due to sticky carbohydrates that keep mineral particles spaced apart. There is a cooling effect with one less heat island. Overall, the community space is enhanced with visual appeal and recreation opportunities.

Plans involve creating a small pocket forest of approximately 2,050 square feet in O’Connell Field, visible from the entrance to Capron Park Zoo. The plants are spaced just eighteen inches apart, enabling the tall, vigorous woody species to compete for sunlight. Volunteers will form hourly teams on a Saturday to plant the many varied woody plants. A walkway with benches will encircle the forest, providing a scenic route. High school students will create signage.

Purchasing thirty-five different types of trees and shrubs in sufficient numbers will pose a challenge and incur significant costs. A foundation has challenged us to match dollar-for-dollar donations for the purchase of trees. A fund has been established to hold and roll over unspent funds to the next Miyawaki forest. O’Connell Field has space for four or five forests to be planted annually. People will be able to compare forests of varying ages in different stages of growth.

Donate to cover the purchase of plants costs, and a foundation will match your gift.