Inside/Out: Worcester Miyawaki Forest

We are thrilled to invite you to the sixth year of "Inside/Out" -- landscape architecture site tours across our region. Prioritizing issues of climate and health, equity and resilience, each tour discusses ideas and implementation as we explore these landscapes together.

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Our 2025 series continues in Worcester...

This tour focuses on Miyawaki Forests and the Ecological Function of the Urban Wild.

We invite you to learn more about Worcester's efforts to build climate resilience and mitigate the effects of extreme heat in this environmental justice community. Join us for a brief presentation at the Worcester Public Library, followed by a guided tour of the nearby Worcester McGrath Parking Lot Miyawaki Forest (located at 3 Salem St, Worcester, MA).

In 2024, two Miyawaki Forests were designed and planted in Worcester, Massachusetts. The McGrath Lot site -- a municipal parking lot -- replaced 6,500 SF of asphalt with forest. At maturity, this forest will hold up to 60 canopy trees.

If you were inspired by the related panel at , you'll love exploring this project firsthand!

This tour will be led by

Caseylee Bastien, RLA, CPSI, Senior Landscape Architect and Ecologist at BSC Group

Aqsa Butt, SITES AP, Senior Planner, BSC Group

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Luba Zhaurova, Director of Projects at City of Worcester, Department of Sustainability & Resilience

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About the Site:

Planted in 2024, this compact urban forest replaced inefficient parking infrastructure, advancing Worcester’s climate resilience goals for the downtown core. It incorporates regionally specific innovations that build upon the Miyawaki method, integrating the latest principles of ecological restoration. Serving as a prototype, it lays the foundation for a broader network of nature-based solutions across the city and the state.

The tour will explore:

• Forest growth since implementation
• Management techniques, including the “chop and drop” method for W**d control
• Wildlife habitat enhancements, such as a cavity nesting snag and a ground-nesting bee box
• Creative reuse of logs and brush to build habitat thickets for local fauna

Family-friendly activities Include:

• ID Tags for Plants Learn about the species thriving in this urban forest and help us tag them using iNaturalist.
• Scavenger Hunt for Kids Participate in a nature scavenger hunt. Kids’ Prize: Special Plant Pencils!
• Macroinvertebrates Petting Zoo Observe small creatures that indicate ecosystem health.

About the Miyawaki Method:

The Miyawaki Method is a unique reforestation approach developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki that creates dense, biodiverse, native pocket forests. These fast-growing tiny forests provide a wide range of ecological and human health benefits, including improved air quality and enhanced biodiversity.

In 2024, two Miyawaki Forests were designed and planted in Worcester, Massachusetts. The McGrath Lot Site (municipal parking lot) replaced 6,500 SF of asphalt with forest. At maturity, this forest will hold up to 60 canopy trees. The Plumley Village Site (private Section 8 housing development) replaced 8,000 SF of sod. At maturity, this forest will hold 50-60 canopy trees.

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Members and non-members, coworkers + friends + families too. Tickets are FREE, tour size limited, registration appreciated. Please come dressed for the weather, prepared to walk outside.

We aim to go in most weather. We will email all ticket holders and post any changes here.

This tour extends the educational program of Fieldday outdoors...

We look forward to exploring with you!

DIG DEEPER

Read more about...

(storymap) "Building Community Resilience through Miyawaki Forests" by City of Worcester, including this video: "The Buzz with City Manager Batista | Miyawaki Forests"

"From Parking Lot & Lawn to Miyawaki Forests: Transforming Worcester, MA" by Alexandra Ionescu, Biodiveristy for a Livable Climate, June 2024

"Public invited to planting for Worcester's first Miyawaki forest Saturday near library" by Henry Schwan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 26, 2024

Photos above during planting in 2024, and below -- one year's growth. Courtesy BSC Group.

Organized by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, "Inside/Out" is an ongoing series of small group, outdoor, on-site walking tours of landscape architecture throughout our region. Prioritizing issues of climate and health, equity and resilience, tour discusses ideas and implementation as we explore these landscapes together.

View a short video of Inside/Out highlights.

Is there a landscape you'd like to visit -- or one you'd like to share? Let us know!

Join us outside.

Host or Publisher Boston Society of Landscape Architects