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This proposal outlines the creation of a 10m² woodland in Bristol city centre—an intimate, biodiverse micro-woodland designed as a living experiment in urban ecology. It aims to demonstrate how even the smallest of spaces can host nature, contribute to climate resilience, and offer a tactile connection to woodland processes for city dwellers.

This woodland will serve as a multifunctional green space that combines ecological, social, and aesthetic value within a dense urban fabric.

Project Goals

1. Biodiversity Support: Create a diverse planting palette that attracts wildlife, including birds, pollinators, and invertebrates.
2. Urban Resilience: Improve air quality, sequester carbon, mitigate heat, and manage surface water runoff.
3. Connection to Nature: Offer a calming space for visitors to experience a woodland ecosystem on an intimate scale.
4. Demonstration Project: Act as a replicable model of micro-woodlands for cities facing limited available space.

Site Requirements

• Location: A disused or underutilised 10m² site (e.g., corner of a public square, roadside verge, pocket park, or former paved space).
• Accessibility: Open to the public to maximise educational and experiential value.
• Environmental Suitability: Good drainage and enough light exposure to support woodland plant species.

Design Concept

1. Planting Strategy: Layered Woodland Structure

A woodland is more than trees; it is a multi-layered system. The 10m² woodland will reflect this in micro-form:

• Canopy Layer (Small Trees, up to 5m):
  • Species: Field Maple (Acer campestre), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia).
  • Purpose: Provide shade, shelter, and food sources for birds and insects.
• Understorey Layer (Shrubs):
  • Species: Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Hazel (Corylus avellana).
  • Purpose: Create structural diversity and habitat for small wildlife.
• Ground Layer (Herbaceous Plants and Grasses):
  • Species: Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum), Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Native ferns, and shade-tolerant wildflowers.
  • Purpose: Enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and provide seasonal interest.
• Soil Layer (Deadwood and Leaf Litter):
  • Incorporation of rotting logs, mulch, and leaf litter to support fungi, insects, and microbial life.

2. Hardscape and Edges

• Use reclaimed timber or natural stone to define the perimeter while allowing roots to grow freely.
• Small log seating or stepping stones invite visitors to immerse themselves in the space.

3. Water Management

• A micro-rain garden or permeable ground surfaces to absorb and filter rainwater, reducing surface runoff.

Ecological Benefits

• Introduces native woodland species to enhance local biodiversity.
• Provides habitats for urban wildlife: birds, pollinators, fungi, and insects.
• Creates a small carbon sink through plant growth and soil processes.
• Improves microclimate conditions by providing shade and reducing urban heat island effects.

Social and Cultural Value

• Acts as a sensory woodland experience for the community in a compact, accessible space.
• Offers educational opportunities about urban ecology, woodland processes, and biodiversity.
• Provides a quiet, reflective escape for city dwellers.

Budget and Phasing

Estimated Cost: £3,500 - £5,000 (including site preparation, materials, plants, and labour).

Phasing:

1. Site preparation and ground improvements (1 week).
2. Installation of planting layers and hardscape edges (2 weeks).
3. Establishment phase: watering and monitoring plant health (6 months).

Maintenance Plan

• Minimal maintenance: annual pruning, removal of invasive species, and mulch top-up.
• Encourage natural processes, such as leaf litter decomposition, to maintain soil health.

Conclusion

This 10m² woodland will be a small but powerful intervention in Bristol’s urban core. It will bring nature into the city at a human scale, demonstrating the immense ecological and social value of even the tiniest woodland spaces.

By celebrating processes of growth, decay, and interaction, this micro-woodland will offer a glimpse of the natural world’s resilience—an inspiring addition to Bristol’s urban landscape.